Liquid Science Experiment

Liquid Science Experiment: Making Cloud Dough

Experimenting with Viscosity {This post may contain affiliate links to materials I recommend. Anything you purchase through these links helps support Lemon Lime Adventures. Thank you in advance for choosing to support us.}

If you follow along regularly, you know that we host a series called 12 months of sensory dough where we and 12 other bloggers try out a popular dough and present a spin to the recipe. Here at Lemon Lime Adventures, we love science. So, naturally we did a liquid science experiment to prepare for our Cloud Dough.

I am so excited to be the newest member of Saturday Science Blog Hop with 3 other amazing blogs. I decided to join along, as motivation to post all the fun science experiments, activities, and learning we are doing each week.

This week I am excited to share our experiment with liquids when we made our recent Cloud Dough recipe.

Saturday Science Blog Hop

Setting up the Liquid Science Experiment

 This month our dough experiment was to determine which liquid would be best suited for our Cloud Dough Recipe. In our liquid science experiment, we talked about variables and constants in experiments.

{A variable is the part of the experiment that you are going to manipulate and change; while the constants are the part of the experiment that will remain the same from trial to trial. }

After determining the correct ratio for our recipe, we chose 4 liquids to test. (I chose the liquids so the boys had to investigate and compare them without knowing what the liquids were.)

I chose:
Baby Oil
Vegetable Oil
Corn Syrup
Baby Lotion

To prepare, I put each liquid in a glass container and set out 4 bowls, hid the containers the liquids came in, and explained the experiment to the children. The vocabulary I focused on was variables, properties, and viscosity.

Observing the Liquid Properties

Science Experiment: observe liquids  Comparing viscosity of liquids.

Step One: Explore the various liquids and describe them.

We talked about the colors, the thickness, and the ability to see through the liquids.

I asked questions such as: “What do you notice?” “How does it move?” “How is it the same or different than…” “What happens when you look through it?”

For 10 easy questions to ask during a science exploration, you can read my Getting Started with Science post.

Both boys (age 6 and 8) really wanted to guess the liquids, but at this point I wanted them to focus on describing the properties and comparing each one.

Observing viscosity in liquids

Step Two: I introduced our vocabulary.

Instead of using thick, slow, or sticky… I presented them with Viscous. They were able to understand that viscosity is a way to describe a liquids movement against gravity (it’s thickness)

Matching Liquids to Real Word Items

Matching Liquids

Step Three: Matching liquids to their real world examples.

Now was the time we got to math the liquids. The boys loved this step. They loved finding out that the oil was not water. This surprised them (although they suspected it wasn’t water because of the properties they had noticed)

Ordering Liquids by Properties

 Step Four: Ordering Liquids By Properties

The last stage before experimenting with our liquids was to compare the viscosity of the liquids and order them least to greatest.

We did this so that we could determine and predict to outcomes each liquid might have on our Cloud Dough.  We made labels for each liquid and predicted how the thickness of the liquid might effect the cloud dough mixtures.

Which Liquid Makes the Best Cloud Dough?

Step Five: Create 4 different Cloud Dough Recipes

Finally, we used our liquid science experiment to make our cloud dough recipe. Be sure to read more to find out which liquid worked best!

Creating the Perfect Cloud DoughAren’t you curious which liquid we used to Create the Perfect Cloud Dough?

Tip: Don’t let the vocabulary scare you or your kids.

I am a strong believer that even children at a very young age can be exposed to academic language and provided hands-on experiences to understand it. This activity would be suitable for children preschool through elementary. The level of guidance and support might need to vary, but science and learning can be fun!

Time for Saturday Science Blog Hop!

Visit these great bloggers for more fun Saturday Science experiments too!

Saturday-Science-Pinterest-300x120

Celery Science Experiment

{P is for Preschooler}

Snowflake Search  

 {Little Bins for Little Hands}

Science Books for Preschoolers & a Sink/Float Experiment

{Stir the Wonder}

What is your favorite science activity? I would love to hear! Follow me on FacebookTwitterGoogle+PinterestInstagram or subscribe by email. I can’t wait to hear your ideas.

Getting Started with Science

10 Simple Question to Ask During Science Explorations

FREE DOWNLOAD

Discover how to get siblings to get along even when all they do is annoy each other with the Sibling “Get Along” Poster Pack!

16 thoughts on “Liquid Science Experiment”

  1. Pingback: Winter Snowflake Baking Soda Science Experiment {Saturday Science} | Little Bins for Little Hands

  2. Pingback: Science Books for Preschoolers & a Sink/Float Experiment | Stir The Wonder

  3. What a fun way to experiment! We’ve never tried cloud dough, but it’s on my to-do list for our next snowy day (which just happens to be very soon!) By the way, welcome to Saturday Science Blog Hop! Happy to have you on board!

  4. Rita Jacuzzi Huber

    Very interesting. Great way to explain the beginning to d
    Solids and liquids.

  5. Great experiment! I love how you set it up. Thanks for sharing at my STEM Tuesday.

  6. Just wanted to let you know that I am including this post in my science experiments round up for After School Blog Hop next week (I am mixing up links from After School and links submitted through STEM Tuesday on my FB page)

    1. Oh that is so nice of you! Thank you so much. I love the After School Blog Hop and I have not been making it over there!

  7. Great science activity! Thank you for linking up to the Thoughtful Spot Weekly Blog Hop!

  8. Pingback: 50 Homeschool Science Experiments (that cost next to nothing) | Free Homeschool Deals ©

  9. Pingback: 15 Awesome Science Experiments For Older Kids - Lemon Lime Adventures

  10. Pingback: Ice Cream Dough | The Science Behind The Dough - Lemon Lime Adventures

  11. Pingback: Does Snow Sink or Float | Winter Science for Kids - Lemon Lime Adventures

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

CONNECT WITH ME

Scroll to Top