With schools emphasizing STEM subjects, it’s never too early to start introducing science to kids. It’s a well-known fact that children gain the most from a lesson when they are engaged and interacting. It’s no surprise then, that science experiments are a fantastic way to excite children and engage them with learning. Suitable for preschool children up to primary school, these visually stimulating, hands-on, sensory-rich science experiments will fascinate them. Moreover, you can plan these experiments by using a variety of common household items. From baking soda, food colouring and dish washing liquid ̶ these simple items can be used to create volcanoes, lava lamps, rainbows and much more.

*All experiments are to be done with parental supervision.

1: Make a DIY Lava Lamp

Making a lava lamp teaches about density, hydrophobic properties, and chemical reactions. Kids can observe how oil floats on water due to density differences, how food colouring mixes with water but not oil, and how baking soda and vinegar create carbon dioxide gas that causes the "lava" to bubble and move about.

To make a homemade lava lamp, you will need

• a clean glass jar

• a small glass

• white vinegar

• baking soda

• food colouring

• vegetable oil (or cooking oil).

Put in about two heaping tablespoons of baking soda into the jar, and pour in the vegetable oil until it is ¾ of the way to the top of the jar. Separately, using the small glass, pour in about four to five tablespoons of vinegar and put in a few drops of your favourite food colour. Give your glass a swirl to mix the food colouring with the vinegar, then pour the mixture into the jar of oil. Watch how the oil separates from the vinegar and then floats to the top leaving the vinegar at the bottom. This is happening because oil has a lower density than the vinegar and the food colouring and is therefore lighter. Wait a few minutes and then watch as the coloured bubbles start to rise to the top and swirl around.

What is happening is that the vinegar is reacting with the baking soda to produce carbon dioxide gas which causes the coloured bubbles to rise. Carbon dioxide bubbles are less dense than water so they rise to the top of the jar. When enough bubbles pop at the top, the water and remaining gas become denser than the oil, so the ball of water sinks down and joins the rest of the water. This is how a lava lamp is created. This hands-on experiment demonstrates key scientific principles in a visually engaging way. You can even make the bubbles glow by shining a torch at your jar.

2: Make a Rubber Egg

By making a rubber egg, kids learn about chemical reactions, acids and bases and osmosis (a process by which molecules of a solvent pass through a semipermeable membrane such as the egg’s membrane), which transforms a hard-shelled object into a bouncy, rubbery one when soaked in vinegar. The vinegar's acetic acid reacts with the eggshell's calcium carbonate, creating carbon dioxide bubbles while it dissolves the shell. The egg's remaining inner membranes hold the liquid contents together, allowing the egg to bounce.

You will only need two items.

• A jar of white vinegar

• A raw fresh egg

Put the egg into the jar of vinegar making sure that the vinegar fully covers the egg. Then watch as bubbles begin to the surround the eggshell. The acid in the vinegar is reacting with the calcium carbonate in the shell to break it down. Now leave the egg in the vinegar for 24 to 48 hours to dissolve the shell completely and create a bouncy egg.

After 48 hours, remove the egg and rinse it off. You may notice a brown scum on the egg that is easy to wash away. The scum is the remnants of the dissolved hard shell. With the shell gone, a thin membrane now surrounds the egg white (albumin) and yolk. You can now squeeze the egg or bounce it. It will most probably burst if you bounce it too high. For this reason, it is recommended to bounce the egg in the sink.

You will also notice that the egg has become bigger. This is due to the osmosis process where the water in the vinegar has entered the egg through its semipermeable membrane. However, the tiny holes in the membrane are not big enough to allow the egg to come out so now the egg and water are inside the cell membrane together. This is why the egg has grown bigger.

3: Make a Rainbow in a Jar

Making a rainbow in a jar teaches kids about the scientific concept of liquid density, how different molecules are packed together, and why some liquids float on others. They also learn to carefully follow instructions, practice patience, and observe how different coloured liquids can be layered to create a beautiful, multi-layered effect.

You will need:

• 4 glasses or cups

• Warm water

• A measuring cup to measure the exact amount of water

• Sugar

• Measuring spoon

• Food colouring

• A baster or pipette

• A tall glass or jar

Set out the glasses and measure one cup of water into each glass. Add a few drops of different food colouring into each glass. Measure and add a different amount of sugar into each glass.

For example:

• Red colour ̶ 2 tablespoons of sugar

• Yellow colour ̶ 4 tablespoons of sugar

• Green colour ̶ 6 tablespoons of sugar

• Blue colour ̶ 8 tablespoons of sugar

Stir until as much of the sugar in the glass is dissolved as possible. This creates a sugar solution with various concentrations.

Use your baster or pipette to add a layer of sugar solution to create a colourful rainbow in a jar. Use the baster to measure and ensure you get the same amount of each colour into the jar. Begin with the densest water (blue), followed by the green colour and so on. You will notice that the colours will sit on top of each layer according to their density. Be sure to add the layers very, very slowly and release the water along the jar’s side until you get a rainbow in a jar.

Density is a measure of how densely packed molecules are within a liquid. For this experiment, the more sugar you add into each glass of water, the greater the density of the water. You can experiment with different liquids such as honey, juices, dishwashing liquid or oil and challenge your kids to come up with a plan of action to make a rainbow in a jar.

4: Make Pepper Scatter

In making pepper scatter on a plate of water, kids can learn about surface tension, which is the "skin" on water that keeps the pepper floating, and how dish soap disrupts this tension, causing the pepper to scatter. They can also learn about hydrophobic (water-repelling) substances, such as pepper as it doesn't mix with water, and the concept of hygiene and how soap works to "wash away" germs, represented by the pepper.

For this experiment, you will need:

• A plate

• water

• pepper

• dishwashing liquid

• A cotton bud or your fingertip.

Pour water and fill the plate with a thin layer of water. Sprinkle a good amount of pepper across the surface of the water. You will notice that the pepper sits on the surface of the water. First dip in your finger or a cotton bud in the centre of the plate and watch how the pepper sticks to your finger or cotton bud. Then wipe off that finger and dip it or dip a cotton bud into the dishwashing liquid, then dip that finger or cotton bud into the water. This time, the pepper will immediately scatter to the side of the plate.

What kids will learn is that soap is a surfactant ̶ a substance which will reduce the surface tension of a liquid. When soap is added, it breaks the attraction between water molecules that forms the “skin” on water. The surface tension is thus weakened and the water is pulled outwards, taking the pepper with it. The sudden movement of the pepper away from the soap creates a visual effect, similar to how germs are scattered when we bathe or wash our hands with soap and water.

5: Make an Erupting Volcano

Making an erupting “volcano” by combining baking soda and vinegar is a fun way to observe a chemical reaction. Watch as the contents fizz over the container just like a volcano! Children learn that the acidity of the vinegar reacts with the baking soda to produce carbon dioxide gas, which creates a bubbly eruption. Parents, this experiment can get a little messy, so make sure you’ve got some towels ready to clean up afterwards!

You will need:

• 4 to 6 tablespoons of baking soda

• 1 cup of white vinegar

• Food colouring

• Dishwashing liquid

• A container such as a large tray to hold everything to avoid a big mess

• Paper towels or a cloth to wipe up in case of spills

Pour in a cup of vinegar into the jar. Squeeze in a fair amount of dishwashing liquid. Adding the dishwashing liquid is key to this experiment as it slows down the reaction and makes the bubbles really foamy. Add in a few drops of food colouring for added effect and stir the contents with a spoon.

When you’re ready, scoop up about 4 tablespoon of baking soda and pour it into the jar. Stand back and watch the reaction. The volcano will “erupt” with fizz and bubbles. You can get a bigger reaction by putting in more baking soda and vinegar.

The baking soda and vinegar volcano experiment teaches kids about chemical reactions, specifically the production of carbon dioxide gas, which causes the fizzing "eruption". Kids can learn that mixing an acid (vinegar) with a base (baking soda) creates an unstable carbonic acid that quickly breaks down into water and carbon dioxide gas. This gas, similar to that in soda, builds pressure and escapes, creating the "eruption," much like pressure in a real volcano which causes molten rock and ash to escape.

For extra effect, you can make a realistic looking volcano out of cardboard or dough. Wrap the cardboard or dough around the glass jar and paint it up to make it resemble a volcano. It takes some craft skills, but will make your vinegar and baking soda eruptions look even more impressive!

Morinaga Chil-kid

While you and your kids are having fun with these science experiments, don’t forget to keep the children eager to learn and inquisitive by ensuring they receive good nutrition. Nutrition is central to kids’ learning as it supports crucial cognitive functions like attention and memory.

To support children’s nutritional needs, there is Morinaga Chil-kid ̶ a fully-imported Japanese growing up milk made for Asian children. There are two formulations: Morinaga Chil-kid Step 3 which is made for children aged 1 to 3, and Morinaga Chil-kid 4 which is made for children aged 3+ to 9.

Packed with 45 essential nutrients such as ARA and DHA, Inositol, GOS, 5 Nucleotides, Omega 3&6 Long-Chain Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids (LCPs) and 21 Vitamins and Minerals, Chil-kid 3 and 4 support children’s growing up needs when complemented with meals, and fill in nutritional gaps should there be deficiencies in their diet.

Chil-kid 4

With children becoming more active during their preschool age, Chil-kid 4 provides the energy for their continued Golden Age of Growth. Through its increased DHA, ARA, Protein, Calcium, Phosphorus and Vitamin D content, Chil-kid 4 builds on the foundational nutrients provided by Chil-kid 3 which are for immunity, brain, eye and gut development in the toddler age.

Chil-kid 4 fuels continued brain development, builds strong bones and teeth and provides sustained energy for bone development, focus and learning performance for preschool to school aged children.

Chil-kid 3 and 4

Children’s nutritional needs change rapidly with age. Although both formulas have the same types of nutrients, Chil-kid 3 and 4, with its optimised nutrient content, are designed based on the right levels and amount of nutrients for the right age.

Formulated without Sucrose, both Chil-kid 3 and 4 dissolve easily in lukewarm water and feature a subtle vanilla taste that children love. Just two to three servings a day alongside meals, Chil-kid 3 and 4 help children meet their daily Recommended Nutrient Intake (RNI).

Chil-kid 3 and 4 are the result of over 100 years of child nutrition research by Japanese scientist. The focus is on how nutrition supports immune health, brain health, physical growth & cognitive development. Everything in the formulation such as DHA, ARA, GOS, 5 Nucleotides, is backed by research and are tested and refined by the Morinaga R&D Institute in Japan.

Wholly produced from dairy farms to the packaging process in a state-of-the-art plant in the Netherlands, both milk formulas are fully imported and go through stringent hygiene processes as well as a double inspection process with samples sent to Japan for a second inspection before they are shipped to Malaysia.