Simple Saturday: Sandwich a la Liquid

Today's activity couldn't be easier or more fun. You've got the goods, right? The clear bottle, water, funnel, cooking oil, glycerin, and food coloring?

To make a Liquid Sandwich use the funnel to fill the bottle one third full with water. Drip 4 or 5 fat drops of food coloring directly into the water.  Fill the bottle another third of the way with the glycerin and lastly with the cooking oil. That's it! What could be simpler?

Look at the way the liquids separate, will you? Like a liquid sandwich, wouldn't you say? The bottom layer is oh, so glycerin clear. The middle layer is oceanic blue topped of with sunny golden cooking oil. Kind of poetic, isn't it?

A word of warning, though. To keep these distinct layers separate you will need to handle your Liquid Sandwich with care. I wouldn't shake it up, if I were you. When it gets shaken the glycerin mixes with the water. The end result is something like the Ocean in the Bottle we made a few weeks ago. It's cool and still fun to play with, but the clear glycerin layer is gone...or is it? 

Where does it go? Why does this mixing of liquid layers happen, you ask? What is your hypothesis? Something to do with the molecular structure of the  liquids, I'll bet. You think?

You know, my Simple Saturday friend, this activity would make a dynamite project for your school Science Fair. Of course, you would have to do a wee bit of research to explain the scientific reasoning behind the liquid separation. Wouldn't it be fun to study the science behind an activity as fascinating as this one?

Isn't that what the scientific process is all about? To find out more about something that interests us? Don't we state our hypothesis, or our own reason why we think something is happening, and then set out to prove it?

Well, go for it, Einstein. Let me now what you find out!

Simple Saturday Prep: The Liquid Sandwich

A sandwich is all about layers, right? Yummy stuff layered between two or more slices of bread. Something hearty you can sink your teeth into...substantive, scrumptious, splendiferous.

Well, forget about a sandwich like that one. Tomorrow's will be one of the liquid variety. Liquid, you ask? How can that be? Gather up the following materials and I'll show you what I mean. You'll need a clear bottle, water, a funnel, cooking oil, food coloring, and some glycerin (You can buy glycerin at the pharmacy for cheapo. In fact, a while back we used some to make Monster Bubbles, remember? You might have a some left over from that project. I did.).

See you tomorrow! We'll have some simple fun then.

Simple Saturday! Macaroni Gems

Doesn't John look dapper wearing my snazzy macaroni necklace?Did you gather the supplies? The macaroni with big holes, food coloring, rubbing alcohol, plastic lunch bags, string, and paper towels? Now follow these very simple, yet-can-be-a-bit-messy, instructions and you will make beads lovely enough to wear to the prom.

To play it safe, go ahead and spread out the paper towels first. Make them at least two or three ply thick. (If you would rather not use paper towels, newspaper works just as well. While it doesn't absorb as quickly, it serves as a perfectly suitable drying surface. You'll see what I mean in a minute.)

Grab a handful of macaroni and put them in a bag. Squirt 8 or 9 hearty drops of food coloring on the macaroni. Next, put a capful of alcohol in. 

Zip lock the  plastic bag. Squish the macaroni-food coloring-alcohol mixture around until all of the noodles are saturated.

Lay the beads out on the paper towel to dry.

Repeat process with all of the other colors. After, oh...say...15 minutes you'll have some fantastic beads!!!!! 

I like the way my necklace turned out. It has a has a sort of Native American feel to it, don't you think?

Remember, you can dye any type of macaroni. Actually, my favorite shape to use are the pinwheels.

Oh...how I wish I could see what your necklace looks like. I'll bet it is great.

Simple Saturday Prep: Vividly Vibrant Macaroni Jewels

The Austin weekend weather forecast predicts rain, rain, and more rain. Yes! This Simple Saturday activity is perfectly suited for a damp, soggy rainy day.

I rummaged around the house to gather our needed supplies. Here's the list: paper towels, macaroni with big holes in them, food coloring, plastic lunch bags, yarn, and rubbing alcohol. That's all we need to create dazzlingly stunning macaroni beads. Simply divine!

See you tomorrow.

Simple Saturday: Painted Bread!

Get ready to have some tasty fun. Even though you might not like the ingredients or if food coloring makes you feel a bit wiggly inside, I think you'll have fun making Painted Bread. If you don't want to eat it your toast, give yours to your dog. (My dog Tripod loved the piece I gave to him...just joking.)

Here we are back in my kitchen.Do you have everything you need? Millk? Brushes? Food coloring? Toaster? Bread? I used wheat bread this time. For the optimum Painted Bread color contrast, white bread works best. Oooo...those bright colors against that milk-toast white is breath-taking!

Go ahead and put around 7 or 8 drops of food coloring in each glass of milk. Remember we're using red, yellow, and blue. (Those are pretty special colors with their own important name...primary colors.) Stir the food coloring in the milk using your super clean brushes. Now we're ready to really have some simple fun.

Paint your bread. Go ahead. Do it. Fill those bristles with lots of paint and spread it right on your bread. Use all the colors. Make rainbows, or cars, or hearts, or your name, or anything you'd like. Have a blast!

I must caution you to avoid the urge to saturate your bread with the paint. Soggy bread falls apart in the toaster. Trust me. I have had first hand experience in crummy things like this. 

I bordered the crust with red.Now put your bread in the toaster. Wait for it to toast. (The waiting is the hardest part.) Pop! Out it comes! Awesome! Go ahead and spread some butter or maybe a bit of peanut butter on it and you have a delicious simple feast, my friend.  

What do you think about Painted Bread? Post a comment. Tell me. I'd simply love to know.