We have put together this science kit for you so that you can do a range of exciting experiments. See below for instructions and helpful videos.

Microscope

• Plug your microscope into the USB socket of a computer
• Open up the camera app on your computer (try pressing the windows key and then typing ‘camera’ if you can’t find it) or start a video call.
• Place the microscope directly on an object
• Use the dial on the side of the microscope to adjust the focus
• Try looking at leaves, hair, skin, clothing, coins and much more to see what it looks like up close!

Chromatography

• Take one of your chromatography circles from the bag.
• Take one of the felt tip pens and draw a circle/dot in the middle of it.
• Get a cup of water and dip your finger in so that it is a bit wet on the end.
• Touch the dot that you drew.
• Watch the water spread out from the middle of the circle and the colours start to appear from your felt tip! Which colours can you see?

Click here to see Chemical Cress explain why this colourful reaction happens

Litmus Test Strips

Litmus strips tell us if something is an acid or an alkali, or neutral (not an acid or an alkali). Watch this video first to learn a little bit about acids, alkalis and the pH scale – Your litmus strip may look a little different to Chemical Cress’ – that’s ok! It will still work the same. 

• Choose 4 liquids – these could be found in your kitchen e.g orange juice, vinegar, washing up liquid, milk. You don’t have to choose these liquids, you can choose any that you like (as long as a grown-up says it’s okay!).
• Lay out your litmus strips – one for each liquid.
• Using your finger, put a drop of the liquid onto the strip.
• Which colour did it turn? Match it to one of the colours on the strip, this will tell you if it is an acid or an alkali! 1-5 = Acid 6-7 = Neutral 8-14 = Alkali
• Try each of your liquids – did any surprise you?

Extra expriment: Did you know? Cabbage water also works as a pH indicator! Just chop up some red cabbage, put it in some boiling water until the water changes to blue/purple, then add your chosen liquid and watch it change colour! If you add an acid it will turn red/pink and if you add an alkali it will turn blue/green!

Rainbow Spinners & Diffraction Glasses

• Cut out your colourful rainbow spinner. You may need to ask a grown-up to help you!
• Carefully poke your cocktail stick through the middle of the spinner.
• Hold it in front of you and spin it quickly, what do you notice?
• You should see that the spinner starts to look white!
• Now take your diffraction glasses and put them on. What can you see?
• If you look somewhere bright, like out of the window, you should be able to see lots of rainbows!

Extra acivity – why not try colouring in your blank rainbow spinner (colouring pens or colouring pencils will work)?. Make sure you only use the colours of the rainbow! Click here to learn all about rainbows –

Blowing Up a Balloon

• Get an empty plastic bottle (any bottle will work)
• Fill your bottle 1/4 to 1/2 way up with water
• Add 1 teaspoon of citric acid 
• Put the lid on the bottle and shake until the citric acid has dissolved 
• Put 1 tsp bicarbonate of soda into the balloon. You may need to use a funnel or have someone help you! 
• Put the neck of the balloon over the neck of the bottle. 
• Lift up the balloon so the bicarbonate of soda falls into the bottle.
• The balloon should blow up!
• Watch the video at the end of this section to find out why this happens! 

Exploding sandwich bag

• Mix 2tsp of citric acid into 500ml water and pour into one of the sandwich bags
• In the other sandwich bag, put 3 tsp of bicarbonate of soda. 
• Carefully place the bag of citric acid and water into the bag of bicarbonate of soda, making sure this bag sits on top of the powder and is the right way up. Do not seal the inner bag.
• Seal the outer bag (you might want to ask a grown up to make sure it is completely sealed) and take it outside or do the next part in the sink or in a tray. 
• Tip the bag back and forth so that the acid water starts to mix with the bicarbonate of soda.
• When it starts to expand (blow up) place it on the floor/in the sink/in the tray and step back! 
• Watch the video at the end to find out why this happens! 

Popping Test Tube

• Take the lid off your test tube
• Fill it half way with water
• Then add 1/4 of a fizzy tablet (the orange tablet in your kit)
• Quickly put the lid on. Make sure you don’t hold it under your face just in case it pops before you are ready. 
• Hold it in front of you with your arm stretched right out. Make sure it’s not pointing at anyone!
• If it doesn’t pop straight away, keep your arm stretched out and shake the test tube gently. 
• If you are quick enough, put the lid back on and see if it will pop again! 
• Watch the video at the end of this section to find out why this happens! 

Safety – Never aim the test tube at anyone. Don’t hold in under your face or look directly over it. If it doesn’t pop after 30 seconds, ask a grown up to remove the lid and try again.  Now lets go back to Chemical Cress and find out the science behind these experiments