easy rainbow science experiment

Preschool Inspirations

Preschool Activities and Learning

Super Fun Rainbow Science Activities Just For Kids

March 8, 2018 by Editor Leave a Comment

Rainbows are one of my favorite parts of Spring. It usually means that the sun is shining and I’m always happy with that. Even though it usually means it is raining as well, but I’ll take the sunshine when I can get it! Incorporating rainbows in science activities is not only fun but super easy. These Rainbow Science activities are perfect for the classroom or at home. Most of them don’t require much prep but all of them will have kids smiling in science giddiness!

Rainbow Science Activities

Finally a rainbow discovery bottle that the colors don’t run together! I’ve been trying and experimenting for a while now and finally figured it out! It’s not quite liquid and not solid either. It’s a perfect combination of awesomeness! Want to make one of your own? The full tutorial is here .

We’ve all done baking soda and vinegar experiments, right? This  Baking Soda & Vinegar Reaction  though is the most colorful I have seen and I can just imagine how excited kids will be to see the rainbow foam explosions!

Oil and water make science experiments super easy and fun. This  Rainbow Jar  is extra fun, not only because of the colors, but it is mesmerizing how the colors stack up on top of each other!

These candies are fun to eat but even more fun to play with. This  Skittle Rainbow  is beyond the best candy experiment I have seen. I could watch this for hours!

Chromatography is a fun way to incorporate science and art together. These  Rainbow Filters  are fun to create but then also fun to create with!

Did you know that dish soap can do magical things? This  Magic Rainbow Milk  is purely magical. The colors move seemingly on their own, but are they moving on their own?

When science and sensory connect, it is always a great activity. This  Scented Rainbow Science  is perfect for sensory seekers! Plus, adding the scent is probably the easiest part!

This  Exploding Rainbow  is exciting to create and even more exciting to watch. Kids will enjoy these hands-on mini ‘explosion’. Even if we know it is only a simple reaction, kids will love to pretend their rainbows are exploding!

There is something incredibly fun about swirling your hand around in a big bowl of soap foam! This  Rainbow Foam Bubbles  activity is not only a fun sensory activity but also helps teach about color mixing as well.

Rainbows are pretty but  Giant Crystal Rainbows  are even more beautiful. Kids will enjoy watching the crystals grow on their rainbow! It may take a day but the magic of the crystallizing process will not be lost!

This  Fizzy Rainbow Slush  takes baking soda and vinegar to a whole new level. Plus if it is hot outside, you can place this slush in the fridge for a while and the kids can play in cold slush!

This  Rainbow Sugar Water Density  shows that adding sugar to colored water can help the colors separate instead of mixing together, which is excellent for younger children. This is also a fantastic way to introduce or teach about density for older children!

Pumpkin Seeds are not only for fall. These  Pumpkin Seed Discovery Bottles  are rainbow all the way and is a go-to activity for any time of the year!

Do your kids love playing with ice? And melting ice with hot water? This  Rainbow Ice Tower  is filled with colorful items frozen into a tower and the excitement is getting them out! I can see kids being occupied for quite a while with this one!

Science these days is not complete without slime and this  Rainbow Slime  is a MUST. It is absolutely beautiful how the colors connect but don’t mold together. This recipe is anything but icky!

Just like with the skittles experiment above, this  M&M Rainbows  is mesmerizing! It is incredible how candy can taste AND look so beautiful!

I love how this  Erupting Rainbow  comes out of little test tubes. Kids will feel like real scientists even though this experiment is incredibly simple!

This twisted rainbow is sparkly in all the right ways. Kids will enjoy creating this  Salt Crystal Rainbow  and displaying it all Spring long!

Sometimes science is simple and other times it is purely magical. The art that this  Rainbow Paper  experiment can make is fantastic! This would be beautiful to put on the front of cards or notes!

This  Walking Rainbow  experiment has me screaming HOW in my head. I want to explore this experiment because it just looks unreal. Science is so fascinating and this is one of those worldly mysteries that would be fun to solve!

This  Ice & Salt Rainbow  actually creates craters. As pretty as it is, it can do crazy things when combined together. This would be a fun science activity to add to a small world play with dinosaurs or superheroes!

This  Rainbow Colored Ants  activity is purely fascinating. This would be a fun lesson to teach for either a bug unit or even Spring. Super interesting!

Rainbows are beautiful in the sky and can create magic in the real world. These Rainbow Science activities are a close second to being magical in the real world. Whether you are teaching a spring unit, teaching about the weather or just wanting some fun colorful activities – these science activities are sure to please!

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Walking Water Rainbow Science Experiment

Let’s make a walking water rainbow! There’s no better way for little scientists to learn about capillary action and color mixing than by making water walk (yes – walk!) in this colorful rainbow science experiment. This science experiment is a favorite of ours because it’s so easy to set up and the results are almost immediate.

Check out the simple step-by-step below and then gra b 30 more jaw-dropping (but easy prep!) science experiments kids will love from our shop!

Getting Ready

To prep, I gathered our supplies:

• 6 wide-mouth glasses or jars
• Paper towels (use the kind where you can select a size)
• Food dye or liquid water colors (red, yellow, and blue)

I grabbed the six small glasses first .  We’ve had success using wide-mouth drinking cups and canning jars, too.  Even though they all worked, just remember that bigger glasses will need more food coloring.

I ripped off six sheets of paper towel and folded each sheet in thirds, lengthwise.

We were using pretty small glasses, so I cut a few inches off the folded paper towel so it would fit in the glasses.

It’s a good idea to test your paper towel strip to make sure they fit properly in your glasses.  They should be able to go from the bottom of one jar to the next without sticking up in the air too much. The paper towel on the left shows the just-right height.  It’s important to set up this rainbow science experiment for success!

Making a Rainbow

This colorful rainbow science experiment is so simple and quick, it’s perfect for even the youngest little scientists.  My 3 year old, Q, couldn’t wait to get started.

First, I had him line up the glasses and fill the first one with a good squirt of red watercolor , the third with yellow, and the fifth glass with blue.  We left the other glasses empty.

Next, I helped Q add water to the glasses with color until the colored water almost reached the top.

We moved the glasses into a circle and added the paper towels .  Starting with the red, we added one end of the paper towel and then put the other end in the empty glass next to it.

We continued around until the last paper towel was placed into the red glass.

We saw the color wick up the paper towel right away.  This rainbow science experiment doesn’t take long to get going!

After another several minutes, the colored water had almost travelled the whole length of each paper towel.

Five minutes later, the water had traveled all the way up and then down the paper towel and was dripping into the empty glass.

The yellow and red water dripped into the empty cup to make orange!  It made for a good lesson on color mixing.

After another five minutes, we could see the water level had dropped in the red, yellow, and blue glasses and rose in the once empty glasses as the water continued to travel from the more full glasses to the less full glasses.

We grabbed a snack and watched our beautiful rainbow science experiment during the next 20 minutes. The water continued to walk from the primary colored glasses to fill the secondary-colored glasses until all the jars were filled equally.

Not Working?

If you aren’t seeing much movement within a few minutes, it may be that you need to add more water to your colored water glasses.  It really needs to be almost at the top for the water to walk quickly.  So try topping off those glasses and seeing if that gets things moving.

If you see the water moving up the paper towel but it seems like it’s taking forever , it may be the type of paper towel you are using.  You want a paper towel that will really hold a lot of water.  We have used Bounty Select-a-Size and Target’s Up and Up Brand Select-a-Size with success.

It really is worth the extra effort of trying different cups and paper towels to get this activity to work.  And once you have had success, don’t throw out those beautifully-colored paper towels or the colored water!  We gently squeezed out our paper towels and let them dry in a heap on a baking sheet.  We ended up with gorgeous tie-dyed looking paper towels to use for crafts and we used the leftover water as watercolors for painting with later.

The Science Behind It

This rainbow science experiment is as magic as the science behind it.  The colored water travels up the paper towel by a process called capillary action . Capillary action is the ability of a liquid to flow upward, against gravity, in narrow spaces.  This is the same thing that helps water climb from a plant’s roots to the leaves in the tree tops.

Paper towels, and all paper products, are made from fibers found in plants called cellulose .  In this demonstration, the water flowed upwards through the tiny gaps between the cellulose fibers.  The gaps in the towel acted like capillary tubes, pulling the water upwards.

The water is able to defy gravity as it travels upward due to the attractive forces between the water and the cellulose fibers.

The water molecules tend to cling to the cellulose fibers in the paper towel.  This is called adhesion .

The water molecules are also attracted to each other and stick close together, a process called cohesion .  So, as the water slowly moves up the tiny gaps in the paper towel fibers, the cohesive forces help to draw more water upwards.

At some point, the adhesive forces between the water and cellulose and the cohesive forces between the water molecules will be overcome by the gravitational forces on the weight of the water in the paper towel.  

When that happens, the water will not travel up the paper towel anymore. That is why it helps to shorten the length that colored water has to travel by making sure your paper towel isn’t too tall and making sure you fill your colored liquid to the top of the glass.

Rainbow Science Activity Extensions

Turn this demonstration into a true experiment by varying the water level (volume) you start with and seeing how long it takes the water to reach the empty glass.

Or start with the same volume of colored water and change the brand, type (single vs double ply, quilted vs not) or length of paper towel to see how long it takes for the water to “walk” to the empty glass.

You could even use the same volume of water, same length and brand of paper towel but vary the height of the filled glass , by raising them up on books, to see how that affects the speed of the water as it “walks” to the empty glass.

Have you had enough fun with the paper towels?  Try using other paper products to see how the type of paper effects the results.  Try toilet paper, printer paper, newspaper or a page from a glossy magazine.  What do you predict will happen?

Grab a Record Sheet

Help kids keep track of their results by grabbing our free record sheet! Then grab 30 more jaw-dropping (but easy prep!) science experiments kids will love from our shop!

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Science Experiments

Rainbow in a Jar Science Experiment

Want to make your own rainbow? In this simple science experiment, kids can build their own rainbow in a jar while exploring density, mass, and volume.

Watch our demonstration video, gather your supplies, and print out our detailed instructions to get started. An easy to understand explanation of how it works is included below.

JUMP TO SECTION: Instructions | Video Tutorial | How it Works

Supplies Needed

• Tall Glass Jar
• Food Coloring: Red, Blue and Green
• 1/4 cup Honey
• 1/4 cup Blue Dish Soap
• 1/4 cup Water
• 1/4 cup Olive Oil
• 1/4 cup Rubbing Alcohol
• Jars for mixing and pouring
• Teaspoons for mixing

Rainbow in a Jar Science Lab Kit – Only $5

Use our easy Rainbow in a Jar Science Lab Kit to grab your students’ attention without the stress of planning!

It’s everything you need to  make science easy for teachers and fun for students  — using inexpensive materials you probably already have in your storage closet!

Rainbow in a Jar Science ExperimentInstructions

Step 1 – Add one drop of red food coloring and one drop of blue food coloring to 1/4 cup of honey and stir until combined. This creates a purple color liquid. Pour the purple liquid carefully into the tall jar.

Step 2 – Next add about 1/4 cup of blue dish soap to the tall jar.

Step 3 – Add a few drops of green food coloring to 1/4 cup of water and mix until combined. Then, carefully pour the green liquid into the tall jar. Tip: When pouring in the green liquid, tilt the jar so the liquid runs down the side of the jar slowly.

Step 4 – Wait a few moments and then slowly pour 1/4 cup of olive oil into the jar. Again, be very careful when pouring in the liquid. Make sure to tilt the jar and pour very slowly so the colors don’t mix.

Step 5 – Add a few drops of red food coloring to 1/4 cup of rubbing alcohol and mix until combined. Then, carefully pour the red liquid into the tall jar. Tip: I can’t stress enough how important it is to tilt the jar and pour slow. Otherwise, the colors will mix together and you won’t get a distinct rainbow.

Do you know why you were able to make the liquids form the rainbow in a jar? Find out the answer in the how does this experiment work section below.

Video Tutorial

How Does the Science Experiment Work

Density is the reason that this experiment works! Density is a measure of how much mass (or “stuff”) there is in a given volume. Density is a ratio of mass to volume and can be found by dividing an object’s mass by its volume (D=m/v).

Based on this equation, if the mass of something increases but the volume stays constant, then the density increases. Also, if mass decreases but the volume stays constant, then the density decreases. Density is all about how tightly packed the matter making up the material is in a given volume. Lighter liquids (like olive oil and rubbing alcohol) are less dense than heavier liquids (like honey and dish soap) because they have less matter in a given volume. Because olive oil and rubbing alcohol are less dense, they will float on top of liquids like water, dish soap, and honey. Liquids with a lower density will always float on top of liquids with a higher density.

All liquids have their own unique density. Water has a density of 1 g/mL (g/cm3). Objects will float in water if their density is less than 1 g/mL. Objects will sink in water if their density is greater than 1 g/mL.

I hope you enjoyed the experiment. Here are some printable instructions:

Instructions

• Add one drop of red food coloring and one drop of blue food coloring to 1/4 cup of honey and stir until combined. This is create a purple color liquid. Pour the purple liquid carefully into the tall jar.
• Next add about 1/4 cup of blue dish soap to the tall jar.
• Then add a few drops of green food coloring to 1/4 cup of water and mix until combined. Then carefully pour the green liquid into the tall jar. Tip: When pouring in the green liquid, tilt the jar so the liquid runs down the side of the jar slowly.
• Wait a few moments and then slowly pour 1/4 cup of olive oil into the jar. Tip: Again, be very careful when pouring in the liquid. Make sure to tilt the jar and pour very slowly so the colors don’t mix.
• Add a few drops of red food coloring to 1/4 cup of rubbing alcohol and mix until combined. Then carefully pour the red liquid into the tall jar. Tip: I can’t stress enough how important it is to tilt the jar and pour slow. Otherwise the colors will mix together and you won’t get a distinct rainbow.

Reader Interactions

October 15, 2017 at 3:22 pm

It was cool. Was it density

October 30, 2017 at 11:33 am

Hi it was Cooooolllllll….. It was because of the density

June 12, 2018 at 10:22 am

my kids enjoyed this presentation. They are doing it for a stem project

March 25, 2019 at 3:41 pm

How long did this project take to make and how long did it last until the colors started to mix? Also, what would be the guiding question of an experiment like this?

March 2, 2023 at 11:46 am

1.This experiment took around 20 minutes to put together. 2. It lasts for as long as you need if nobody touches it. 3. A leading question to this experiment could be ” Will all of the ingredients mix while i am pouring?”

I hope this helped:)

January 23, 2020 at 12:41 pm

its amazing my students loved it!

March 2, 2023 at 11:40 am

I did this exact project for the science fair this year and I won 2nd place. I made a full board about destiny and I made a question saying ” If I do not tip the jar or if i pour too fast, will the colors mix? The answer is yes! The colors did mix whenever I didn’t tip the jar and the rubbing alcohol sank down and mixed with the green and then since the extra liquid was in the green it mixed with the blue dish soap and began to be a big bubbly mess! 🙂

June 12, 2023 at 10:15 am

Can you put a top on the jar, shake the jar, mixing the liquids, will the liquids separate after sitting for hours or days?

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Simple Rainbow Science Experiment for Kids

• Rainbows Science St. Patrick's Day

Spring is here and you and your students will love this Simple Rainbow Science Experiment for Kids that is quick and fun to do! This would be a great experiment to try around St. Patrick’s Day or perhaps while studying a weather unit. Students may want to draw or color their rainbows in a science notebook as well. We love doing science experiments in my classroom and this easy rainbow experiment proves that they don’t have to be complicated or hard to prep for!

*Pair with our  St. Patrick’s Day Centers and Activities for Pre-K & Kindergarten !

Bring some hands-on science fun to your classroom with this easy, no-mess experiment! You can do this science experiment in the springtime or any time of the year!

Teach your early learners all about reflection, refraction, and dispersion of light!

To make your own rainbow, you will need:

• a glass of water
• a sunny window
• a sheet of white paper

How to Make a Rainbow

To begin, invite your child to place a glass of water near a sunny window. For best results, look for a direct beam of sunlight. When the sun is low in the sky (early or later in the day) works best.

Next, place a sheet of paper on the other side of the glass. You should notice a rainbow that is projected onto the sheet of paper!

RELATED RESOURCE: Easy Readers – Color Words Collection

Here’s how it works.

Sunlight is made up of various wavelengths, and each wavelength appears as a different color. The water is used to reflect and refract light. As the sunlight passes through the water, the sunlight is separated into a spectrum of colors forming a rainbow.

Questions to Consider:

• Can you think of another way to make your own rainbow?
• What happens if you change the shape or size of the glass of water?
• What happens if you place the paper further away from the glass?
• Add a few drops of food coloring to the water. Are you still able to make a rainbow?
• Replace the water with mineral oil . What happens?
• If there were no signs of rain, would you be able to see a rainbow outside? Why or why not?
• Draw and color your observations in a notebook .

Want unlimited access to even MORE of our activities and resources? Join us in the Print and Play Club!

Your planning will be so much easier with instant access to:

• hundreds of printables
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Be sure to request an invitation so that you don’t miss your chance to be part of the best early childhood club around!

One Response

So simple but so amazing. Thank you!

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Fantastic Fun & Learning

Fun learning activities and things to do with kids

Rainbow Science Experiments

By Shaunna Evans 1 Comment · This content may contain affiliate links.

Colors and rainbows provide so many excellent options for incorporating art and STEAM activities.  And you know I love incorporating science experiments into our preschool theme activities . I thought you’d also like these fun rainbow science experiments. Use them as part of your preschool rainbow theme or any time to learn about colors and color mixing.

FIND EVEN MORE RAINBOW THEME IDEAS IN OUR PRINTABLE  RAINBOW THEME LESSON PLANS

These Rainbow Bubble Snakes are so easy to make and use materials you probably have lying around the house.

With just a few simple ingredients, you can make your own Rainbow Jar .

Your kids will love exploring the spectrum of light sources with this Homemade Spectroscope .

If you are looking for a fun messy play activity for your kids, consider this Scented Rainbow Science and sensory play activity.

These fizzing rainbows are a great science experiment with bright and beautiful colors.

Grow Your Own Rainbow Crystals with this fun borax crystal growing activity.

Make your own pots of gold with these Rainbow Fizzing Pots .

Learn about how you can mix colors to create a rainbow in this Color Mixing activity.

If you’re looking for something fun and easy, you can’t go wrong with this Easy Make a Rainbow Experiment .

This fun Making Rainbow Reflections will teach your kids all about rainbows.

This fun Rainbow Science Absorption walking water activity is a fun recipe your kids will love.

Teach your kids about the different colors of the rainbow with this Fizzy Rainbow experiment.

Learn what happens when marshmallows dissolve in water using this Marshmallow Rainbow Science Experiment .

Use cars and gravity to create this amazing and beautiful Rainbow Painting Gravity Experiment .

Your kids will love making their own candy heart rainbows in this Candy Heart Rainbow Science Experiment .

Get a full week of playful rainbow theme ideas!

Save time and get right to the playful learning with our printable lesson plan sets. Each set includes over 30 playful learning activities related to the theme, and we’ve provided different versions for home preschool families and classroom teachers so all activities are geared directly toward your needs.

Get Your Copy

Also available on Teachers Pay Teachers .

Reader Interactions

March 12, 2014 at 1:22 pm

Thanks for featuring make the rainbow experiment!

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10 GROW A RAINBOW EXPERIMENTS FOR KIDS

By: Author Agnes Hsu

Posted on Last updated: March 18, 2021

Categories Create , Latest

Who doesn’t love rainbows ? Let your kids explore colors and learn all kinds of cool things through these rainbow science experiments. Examine how colors mix, grow vibrant crystals, or let them have some gooey fun with rainbow neon slime! Put on the safety goggles and let the rainbow learning begin.

What are your favorite rainbow activities to do with the kids?

Rainbow Neon Slime (via hello, Wonderfu) Make a big batch of colorful slime and mix the colors up to create this awesome sensory activity that stretches and oozes.

Rainbow Color Wheel (via Chasing Cheerios) Learn how color absorption works by setting up this easy rainbow color wheel.

Giant Rainbow Crystal (via hello, Wonderful) Make a giant rainbow crystal and learn the chemical reaction to growing the crystals.

Erupting Rainbow Experiment (via She Knows) With just some kitchen ingredients, you can make a colorful volcano in minutes that will mesmerize your kids.

Rainbow Flower Experiment (via hello, Wonderful) An easy color absorption experiment that results in stunning effects every time!

Rainbow Spin Mixing (via Babble Dabble Do) Create brilliantly colored artwork and learn all about centrifugal force in this fun rainbow spinning project.

Rainbow Baking Soda Experiment (via Fun At Home With Kids) Get the insider tip on how to make this classic baking soda and vinegar experiment extra foamy and fun.

Make Rainbow Rock Candy (via Growing a Jeweled Rose) What kid will refuse making candy?! This sweet rainbow experiment is guaranteed to be a winner.

Fizzy Rainbow Science (via Fun a Day) This fizzy and foamy colorful experiment is also a fun sensory activity for little ones to dip their hands into.

Rainbow Crystals (via hello, Wonderful) Learn how to make these gorgeous rainbow crystals with just two ingredients!

Check out more vibrant rainbow projects here !

Agnes Hsu is a mom of three and has been inspiring parents and kids to get creative with easy activities and family friendly recipes for over 10 years. She shares her love for creative play and kids food to her 2MM+ followers online. Agnes' commitment to playful learning and kindness has not only raised funds for charity but also earned features in prestigious nationwide publications.

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• Activities for Kids

6 Incredibly Easy Rainbow Science Experiments

If you can’t find one, make one of your own, right in your kitchen, porch, or stoop

No rainbow in the sky today? No problem. Just pick one (or all) of these easy kid-friendly science experiments with your rainbow-making know-how. From reflection (mirror) to refraction (water glass) to learning about density, we’ve found six science experiments to make or learn from the rainbow. If you want more ideas, check out our sidewalk science ideas or dry ice science experiments .

1. The Mirror Method

Lesson: Demonstrate the principles of reflection and refraction with this easy experiment . Light bending, aka refraction, takes place as light waves pass through the water. When you shine your flashlight (or position your glass so the sun comes in) you are bending the light waves, each one of the waves at slightly different angles resulting in the different colors of the rainbow. This is the same basic principle that occurs when water and sunlight create a rainbow in the sky. Reflection is the light bouncing off of the mirrored surface.

You will need:

A small mirror (like a compact mirror)

A glass of water (big enough to hold the mirror)

A flashlight (or sunlight) 

A piece of white paper or a white wall

1. Put the mirror in the glass of water.

2. Turn off the lights and draw the curtains. Make sure the room is totally dark.

3. Shine the flashlight on the mirror and check out the cool mini-rainbows that appear above the mirror. Put your hand behind the glass for extra fun. 

2. The Garden Hose Technique

Lesson: Refraction, as above. This time, instead of using a mirror to reflect the light, you are going to basically mimic the natural formation of a rainbow by causing the water to hit the light in a fine mist.

A spray bottle or a hose

1. Put the hose on mist or grab your mister and spray it into an area of your yard/house/garden that has natural sunlight hitting it.

2. Let the kids ooh and ahh over your rainbow-making skills, then let each of them take a turn.

3. Water Density Rainbow

Lesson: By adding more or less sugar to each water solution you are creating different density levels. When you add coloring to the glasses you will be able to see which solution is the heaviest. Add the colors in rainbow order to impress the kids. Visit Little Bins for Little Hands for the experiment that shows you how to make a rainbow. 

Food coloring

Five glasses or plastic cups (clear)

4. The Glass o’ Water Approach

Lesson: The most simple form of light bending, this lesson in the light waves is similar to #1 above.

A glass of water

A piece of paper

1. Put the glass of water in the sunlight.

2. Put the paper next to it.

3. Let the sunlight stream through the water and create a rainbow on the paper.

5. Advanced Glass o’ Water Approach:

A spray bottle

1. Put the glass of water on a table or windowsill where there is sunlight.

2. Put the piece of paper on the floor where the sunlight hits, in the line of the glass.

3. Spray the window with warm water where the sun is coming through, and so it lines up with the paper. 

4. Move the glass and paper around until you see a neat little rainbow on the paper.

6. The Bubble Method

It doesn't get any easier than making a rainbow by blowing bubbles. You can use regular dish soap and a bit of water and shake ingredients inside a bottle, or just blow bubbles and observe. Want to up the fun factor? Make your own bubble mixture out of ordinary kitchen ingredients.

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Awesome Rainbow Science Experiments for Kids

Rainbows are so much fun! They are even more fun to experiment with! That’s why I’ve gathered up some must-try awesome rainbow science experiments for kids!

Whether its mixing colors, making colors, or just using colors to demonstrate an idea, rainbows make science a whole lot more colorful!

10 Awesome Rainbow Science Experiments for Kids

Rainbow Reactions are a great way to explore chemical changes and test hypothesis!

Test and learn about density with this  Rainbow in a Jar .

These   rainbow eruptions are perfect for any age!

This might be one of the simplest demonstrations of how to make a rainbow , but still so awesome!

I have always been fascinated by this experiment using rainbows to feed ants . You have to check it out!

Have you seen these rainbow crystals ? So cool I had to include the video for it!

Want to experiment with color mixing, try setting up a simple color laboratory !

Let your kids experiment with chromatography with this simple rainbow filter !

Have you ever made crystals? What about an entire crystal rainbow ?

Get your toddler involved with this simple rainbow and milk experiment !

For more rainbow fun, be sure to check out these awesome Rainbow Learning Activity and Snacks over at Melissa & Doug!

Do you have a favorite rainbow experiment? I would love to hear all about it!  You can share them on   Facebook ,  Twitter ,  Google+ ,  Pinterest ,  Instagram  or  subscribe by email  in the sidebar.

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These are amazing

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Can I just use lemon juice for the rainbow eruptions rather than lemon juice and citric acid?

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Toddler and preschool activities

Written by Nadia T • Feb 7, 2024 • 18 Comments

Magical Skittles Rainbow Science Experiment

Not only can you use Skittles to taste the rainbow, but you can also create your very own Skittles experiment to make a rainbow too! Your little scientists will love this simple science experiment that takes just a couple of minutes to do.  Learn how to make a rainbow with Skittles candy in this post.

Related : Make Ice Cream In A Bag

Don’t you love it when you find easy arts + crafts for kids that use minimal supplies you probably already have at home? I do!

You’ll be glad to know that your kids do not need to eat all that leftover candy from Halloween or Valentine’s Day! Turn that candy into an easy science experiment for kids !

This is a great activity that is suitable for all ages, especially for toddlers, preschoolers, kindergarteners, and even grade schoolers.

Skittles Rainbow Science Experiment

My kids absolutely love science experiments! They still can’t stop talking about the  volcano science experiment . I think that one won me mother of the year. This one is no different.

I don’t think I’ve ever had as many “oooooh” and “aaaah” sounds coming from such an easy science experiment before.

With this science activity, we saw a beautiful rainbow of colors that included yellow, orange, red, green, and purple.

Video Of the Skittles Experiment

Materials Required:

Please note that affiliate links are used in this post.

This activity only requires 3 things… 2 of which will already be found in your home.

• A plate or bowl
• Warm or Hot Water – Warm tap water worked great for me and that is what I used in this tutorial. The hotter, the better. Unless you are working with young children, then safety definitely needs to come first.
• Skittles  – You will use one bag per time you do the experiment. You could also use M&M’s

Watch my kids do the skittles science project below.

How to do the Rainbow Skittles Science Experiment rainbow

Step 1: Place the Skittles in a circle around your dish at the edge of the plate.

If working with younger kids, they will be strengthening their fine motor skills while doing this. They will also use their pincer grasp to place the skittles onto the plate. It is a great activity and fun way to get some pincer grasp practice.

Pincer grasp refers to using the middle finger, forefinger, and thumb together to grasp an object. It is an important fine motor skill that helps with holding a pencil.

This is a great time to talk about patterns. Create different patterns by using different colors. If you alternate the colors in the same order you will see a rainbow similar to the one in my pictures.

You could also do color blocking by placing the same color Skittles next to each other.

Once you have completed the circle, add in warm water from the middle of the plate. Make sure you add enough water to go right to the edge of the candy on both sides.

Wait thirty seconds to see the colors begin to release into the surrounding areas of water out. This happens when the sugar dissolves.

If you used cold water instead of warm water for the skittles experiment, then it will take longer for the colors to begin to release.

As the dye dissolves from the candy shell the rainbow of colors will start to come together.

Then be completely amazed by your beautiful results! At the end you can have your child mix all the colors together using a toothpick or their finger. You can discuss how when you mix colors together it becomes a brownish color.

For my three-year-old, it really helped that the bowl I chose had the outline of the perfect circle. This helped her create a circle easily.

What is the science behind the skittles experiment?

Each Skittle has a colored shell that is made up of food coloring and a sugar coating. The sugar molecules are then dispered into the water in areas that have a lower sugar concentration.. Because the sugar water has food coloring in it you can observe this process.

The amount of sugar dissolved within the colored water should be the same and therefore they are the same density. That is why the colors stay separated and don’t mix together.

The reason you use warm water or hot water instead of cold water is because the temperature can effect the result. If you use cold water the rainbow will form more slowly. That is because the water molecules in hot water (and warm water) move around more quicker than in cold water.

More creative ways to do this experiment:

• Try out different patterns.
• When teaching a young child about colors, you can use just 1 or 2 colors of Skittles. For example if you are teaching the color red, then only include red skittles. When you pour the hot water in you will see red water. If you are teaching a child the color purple then use just purple skittles. You will then see purple water.
• Adjust the temperature of water. Use two plates. In one plate of Skittles Candy use hot or warm water. In the second plate use cold water. Observe the differences between how the experiment works in each plate.
• Make this a seasonal activity by changing the colors as we did in this Valentines Skittles Experiment . Make it a St. Patrick’s Day activity by using just green skittles.

Looking for more candy experiments? Check out the Fizzing Candy Canes experiment too.

Check out these other rainbow activities too

• How to Make Crystal Rainbows
• How To Make Rainbow Colored Rice
• Rainbow Bubble Foam Recipe
• Make a Rainbow with Play Dough

More fun Candy Learning Activities from around the web.

• Graphing Candy (Busy Toddler)
• Preschool Learning Activities With Candy (Toddler Approved)

This post was originally published on January 9, 2017.

More Science Experiments

Nadia is a mom of 4, with a passion for making childhood education fun through play. She encourages parents to spend quality time with their kids through fun kids activities and enjoys art, traveling, and doing activities with her children.

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18 Comments

March 11, 2017 at 9:50 am

Could you do the skittle rainbow on a cardboard plate then you could save the rainbow after it dries. You could discard any skittles that didn’t disolve.

May 22, 2017 at 9:25 am

that’s a cool idea too Fran.

May 22, 2017 at 9:26 am

I have been gathering fun ideas to do with my two boys during the summer break.. adding this one to the list.

May 28, 2017 at 6:53 am

I came over from Happiness is Homemade and I am so glad I did. This will be amazing for my twin grandsons to try. And they love Skittles. I’ll have to double the amount! This proves there is are in science.

Wishes for tasty dishes, Linda

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[…] Easy Skittle Rainbow Science Experiment (Fun with Mama):  Kids of all ages can enjoy this homeschool science fun!  Preschoolers can practice patterns, color recognition, and sorting. […]

[…] Skittles Rainbow Science Experiment […]

[…] to use for some science fun are M&Ms and Skittles. You can make rainbows (M&M Rainbow, Skittles Rainbow) , see if they float,  balance them, dissolve them and do math games like counting with […]

[…] You can Skittles or M&Ms, and the beautiful rainbows you will create are downright magical! Easy Rainbow Skittles Science Experiment by Fun With […]

[…] Rainbow Candy Science Experiment | Fun With Mama -Yum! Use that left over candy for the sake of science! Your kids are going to love watching their favorite candy transform and mix! […]

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Grow a Rainbow Experiment

Want to grow your own rainbow? Try this simple science experiment! You only need paper towel, water and washable markers. Kids will love to see their rainbow “grow” in this easy activity!

RELATED: Surprise Rainbow Activities 

You will love seeing the rainbow come together in this simple science experiment! You can even do different patterns and colors too.

Grow a Rainbow Experiment for Kids

Here is what you will need for this activity:  

• Paper Towel
• Washable Markers
• 2 Small Glasses

Watch the Full Video Tutorial Here

What is the science behind this experiment.

This science experiment is a great example of chromatography. Chromatography is a way of separating out a mixture of chemicals. If you ever got a paper with ink wet you would have seen the ink move across the page in streaks.

Capillary action makes the marker dye move up the paper towel.  The water moves upward through the paper towel, lifting the washable dye molecules with it. Because the washable markers are water based, they disperse in water.

Set up a few different scenarios and hypotheses. For example, if you were to try this experiment without any dye, you would still see the water rising upwards towards the center of the paper towel.

If you were try this experiment with permanent markers it would not work. This is because the markers are not water based (they are alcohol based) so the dye in the marker does not travel with the water. You can also show that permanent markers will disperse with rubbing alcohol but not with water.

• You need absorbent paper towel or napkin – we used the brand Bounty
• You must use washable markers – make sure to check it’s washable as not all Crayola brands are washable
• Do not place the end of the paper towel too deep into the water or the dye will dissolve into the water instead of traveling up the paper towel
• The shorter the paper towel – the better it works as there is less for the marker dye to have to travel across
• Add lots of marker to the ends.  You need lots of dye for it to travel upwards.

Growing Rainbow Experiment Instructions

1. Fold over a piece of paper towel (so you have 2 pieces on top of each other). Trim the length to be 7.5 inches (any longer and the rainbow may not connect fully).

TIP : The shorter your piece of paper towel, the better it will connect. Also make sure you are using an absorbent paper towel. We used Bounty.

2. Draw rectangles of the rainbow colors on each end.

You want to make sure to fill these colors in well so there is enough dye to travel across the paper towel.

TIP: Add lots of marker to the ends, you want a good amount of dye to travel up the paper towel.

3. Place 2 cups with water filled 3/4 full. You only want the bottom of the paper towel in so leave some space from the top of the cup.

Then place the paper towel into the cups, with one end in each cup.

TIP: Do not place the ends too deep in the water or the dye may dissolve into the water instead of moving up the paper towel.

4. The washable marker dye with slowly make it’s way up with the water to meet the other side in the center of the paper towel.

5. Leave the paper towel for 10-15 minutes and it will eventually connect the colors together.

We love how simple this science experiment is! Expand on the learning by testing with permanent markers or just water to see what happens in those scenarios.

More Rainbow Activities

Your kids will also love to try these surprise rainbow activities !

See this fun rainbow slime. Kids will love building a rainbow out of slime!

Make some rainbow playdough! This playdough recipe is super soft and lasts for months!

For another fun rainbow activity, this rainbow rice is our favorite sensory bin!

Related Ideas:

Cloud Dough

The BEST Playdough Recipe

50+ Christmas Crafts for Kids

Salt Dough Recipe

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8 comments on “grow a rainbow experiment”.

Me and my neighbors did the rainbow paper towel one and had lots of fun!

Hi can you pre color the paper towel? And do the experiment another day? We want to do it for a party and have it pre colored so all the kids have to do is dip it in water. 

Yes that should still work!

I love it. Thanks. I’m doing this as a virtual library lesson for a 25 minute class. If anyone is pressed for time like me it actually works faster with an unfolded cheap paper towel <5 minutes.

BEST experiment crafts I have seen in a long while. I hunt down ideas for my grandchildren when they come to visit and these are all on point and they will love them Thanks. I will use all of them (except the rice) . GREAT ideas.

Thanks so much Lee!

What is the purpose of folding the paper towel in half (step 1)?

We found that the colors moved across the paper better when there are 2 layers.

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How To Make A Rainbow – Simple Science Experiments

Making a rainbow is a fun and educational science experiment that can be easily done at home or in the classroom.

It involves using a light source, such as sunlight or a flashlight, and a medium to separate the light into its component colors.

The result is a beautiful display of the colors of the rainbow, which can be used to teach about the nature of light and color.

This experiment is an engaging way to introduce children to the basics of optics and the physics of light.

How Are Rainbows Formed?

Sunlight or white light is a mixture of all the rainbow colors. The different rainbow colors are essentially mixed together to result in a white color.

You may wonder why when you mix all the different colors of paint together result in black instead of light. That is because light mixing is additive while pigment mixing is subtractive.

When light passes from one medium to another medium of a different density (e.g. from air to water ), the light bends. This is known as refraction of light ​1​  (More  light experiments ).

How much a light is refracted depends on the wavelength of the light. The shorter the wavelength, the more it bends. Because lights of different colors have different wavelengths , each color is refracted by different amounts.

Therefore, white light is split up after passing from air to water and the individual colors become visible. This dispersion of light allows us to see the spectrum of colors that form a rainbow ​2​ .

In nature, a rainbow is formed when sunlight is refracted on entering a droplet of water, reflected inside the back of the droplet and finally refracted again on leaving the droplet.

Seeing A Rainbow

To see a rainbow caused by sunlight, the sunlight needs to come from behind us because rainbows only appear in the part of the sky directly opposite the sun.

Red has the longest wavelength among the visible colors. So it tends to bend the least and the angle between the incident light and our line of sight for red is approximate 42 degrees. As a result, red appears on the top of the rainbow

Violet has the shortest wavelength. It tends to bend the most. To see violet, the angle between the incident light and our line of sight is roughly 40. So violet appears at the bottom of the rainbow.

Why Are Rainbows Arched?

Rainbows are not two dimensional . A rainbow is seen at an angle that is between 40-42 degrees from the incident sunlight . So all the water drops that produce each color in the rainbow lie on a three dimensional cone . Our eyes are at the tip of the cone.

That is why rainbows are arched. The circular shape below the ground is invisible.

Rainbow Experiment

Now are you ready to make some rainbows? Here are 3 easy ways to make your own rainbows at home. 

Warning: Adult supervision is vital in experiments involving sunlight. Do not look directly at the sun or at the reflection of sun in a mirror.

1. Rainbow Prism

One of the easiest and most visually stunning ways to see an artificial rainbow is by using a prism. Creating rainbows using a prism is really fun.

• strong sunlight
• glass prism
• white cardboard / paper (optional)
• adult supervision

Instructions

• Place a piece of white paper on the ground under the sunlight.
• Put the prism on or above the paper.

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2. Rainbow On The Wall

No prism? No problem. Using a small mirror and a glass, you can make a beautiful rainbow on the wall.

• a clear glass
• small mirror
• Fill the glass with water.

• Position the glass so that sunlight shines directly at the mirror. You may have to shift the mirror to find the right angle.
• Look for a reflection on the wall.  It would be easier to see if the room is dark.

3. Make A Rainbow Using Flashlight

You can still make a rainbow without natural light. Try this experiment using a whitelight flashlight.

• clear glass
• flashlight that emits strong focused white light . Flashlights that emit only yellowish light won’t work. Flashlights that don’t emit focused light also won’t work. Look for one with parabolic reflecting mirrors inside to focus the light, or one with a strong LED light.
• 2 pieces of white cardboard
• Cut a narrow rectangle in the middle of one piece of paper.

• Place the other piece of paper on the floor on the other side of the glass to catch the rainbow.

• Start from the glass and slowly move the flashlight farther and farther from the glass.

More Making a Rainbow Experiments

If you’re a rainbow enthusiast, want more rainbow experiments, or wonders what makes a rainbow, here are a few fun science projects for you.

• Rainbow Water
• Rainbow Walking Water
• Crystal Rainbow

Learn More About Rainbows

Have Fun With Rainbows

• 1. Jiang W, Chen RT, Lu X. Theory of light refraction at the surface of a photonic crystal. Phys Rev B . June 2005. doi: 10.1103/physrevb.71.245115
• 2. Whitaker RJ. Physics of the Rainbow. The Physics Teacher . May 1974:283-286. doi: 10.1119/1.2350374

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Fizzy Rainbow Science Experiment

This fizzy rainbow science experiment just takes a few simple ingredients that you probably already have at home! This experiment is perfect for kids of all ages and is sure to bring some colorful fun to your day.

This baking soda experiment is sure to be a hit. Your kids will love watching all the different colors erupt in the baking soda!

Be sure to check out these Rainbow Science Experiments too!

Rainbow Walking Water Grow a Rainbow Skittle Rainbow Science Experiment

Fizzy Rainbow Science Experiment Instructions

To get started, you’ll need the following supplies :

• Shallow container or tray
• Baking soda
• Food coloring (red, blue, green, and yellow)

1. Fill each cup or glass half full with vinegar.

2. Put a few squirts of the food coloring in the cups and mix with a spoon.

3. Fill up the tray with a layer of baking powder. Use a spoon to flatten out any chunks of baking soda.

4. Using a dropper, squirt out the colored baking soda mixture onto the tray. You’ll want to move quickly as the reaction will start happening immediately and you don’t want to miss any of the fun.

5. Watch as the vinegar and baking soda mixture react, causing a fizzy eruption. As the reaction slows down, you’ll see the colors start to blend together, creating a beautiful fizzy rainbow effect.

6. If you want to extend the fun, you can add more baking soda and food coloring to keep the reaction going.

Tips for this baking soda and vinegar experiment:

• This will stain, so put this on a tray or some kind of protective layer over your table.
• If you are not seeing a lot of bubbles, squeeze the mixture out of the droppers faster.

Fizzy Rainbow Science Experiment Video

How does this simple science activity work.

Not only is this experiment a blast to watch, but it also teaches us about chemical reactions and how different substances can interact with each other. The baking soda and the acid in the vinegar react when they interact with each other by trapping the carbon dioxide to form bubbles. The mix creates a liquid and a gas which become a foam.

Plus, it’s an opportunity to practice our observation and prediction skills as we try to predict what will happen next.

So gather your supplies and get ready to create your own fizzy rainbow. Happy experimenting!

Printable Rainbow Math & Literacy Pack

These  rainbow theme math and literacy centers  are perfect for preschool, pre-k and kindergarten. Your students will have a blast with these fun  rainbow activities  for your math and literacy stations, centers, or homeschool units!

More Science Fun

Grow a Rainbow with this fun science experiment! This is quick to setup and you just need markers, a paper towel and two cups of water!

Your kids will love this fun skittles rainbow activity ! This also comes with free recording sheets to add to your lesson plans!

Your kids will love watching the flowers change color with this color changing flowers science experiment !

Looking more fun science experiments? Here are 30 fun science experiments your kids will love!

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Rainbow baking soda science experiment for kids

• rainbow walking water science experiment ,
• rainbow skittles science experiment ,
• colour changing flower science experiment .

Rainbow Baking Soda Science Experiment

Supplies needed for your rainbow baking soda science experiment.

• 2-ounce paper cups (or any small containers you can find)
• Baking soda
• Food colouring

Directions to make yourrainbow baking soda science experiment

Step 1: gather your supplies.

STEP 2: Prepare paper cups

STEP 3: Add food colouring

STEP 4: Add vinegar

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Erupting Rainbow Science Experiment

I might just be waiting for Spring, but I love rainbows. With the 19″ of snow we got yesterday, I figured what better time than to share an erupting rainbow science experiment  with you. So pretty and easy to do with kids, you can check out simple kids science in so many different ways.

AWESOME RAINBOW SCIENCE

This isn’t the first time we have enjoyed rainbow themed science ! Look at all the fun but simple ways to explore beautiful colors while incorporating great science ideas. Slimes, crystals, LEGO, and more! We have tons of science projects to choose from.

My son has been really into our test tube science experiments, but you can use any clear jar or cup whether it’s mixing potions   or   dissolving candy . Adding a few science-themed items and tools can bring out the junior scientist with little expense.

WHAT’S THE  RAINBOW BAKING SODA SCIENCE

The science behind this fizzing, erupting rainbow activity is all about chemical reactions and states of matter!

When the acid (vinegar) and the base (baking soda) mix together, they form a gas called carbon dioxide. This gas is all the fizzing, bubbling action you can see, hear, and even feel if you put your hand close enough! Would lemon juice work, too?

All three states of matter are present: liquid (vinegar), solid (baking soda), and gas (carbon dioxide). When the liquid and solid combine, they form a gas.

You can continue to add vinegar and baking soda to keep the reaction going as much as you like. We had to work fast to get the whole rainbow fizzing simultaneously.

RAINBOW SCIENCE EXPERIMENT SUPPLIES

• Baking Soda
• Dish Soap {optional}
• 12 Test Tubes
• Test Tube Rack
• Food Coloring
• Spoon  and Measuring Cup

ERUPTING RAINBOW SCIENCE EXPERIMENT SET UP

STEP 1: Mix up small containers with rainbow colors by adding food coloring to vinegar to each! We set up two rows of 6 test tubes and filled one row with vinegar. Practice color mixing by adding food coloring to the vinegar.

STEP 2: Add a couple of spoonfuls of baking soda to the other row of test tubes. If you don’t have test tubes, you can use mini water bottles, clear plastic cups, or small vases.

See our homemade lava lamps with plastic cups!

You want to use something narrow enough to force the chemical reaction up and out for the eruption effect. If you use a wider top vessel, the gas will have more room to spread out before it spreads up! You must also consider adding more baking soda to a larger container.

STEP 3: Lastly, add a couple of drops of dish soap to each test tube containing baking soda.

STEP 4: Now for the fun part, mixing! Once you have explored the original rainbow science reaction experiment, my son was thrilled to go ahead and mix colors together and add more baking soda. Science can be really fun!

MAKE SURE NOT TO MISS: Rainbow STEAM Activities for Kids

Beautiful rainbow science you can find in your kitchen cupboards! Kids will love this cool chemical reaction and erupting rainbows science experiment the next time you have a free hour to play and explore.

MORE RAINBOW ACTIVITIES

• Rainbow Art in a Bag
• Rainbow Crystals
• Rainbow Tape Resist Art
• Rainbow Oobleck
• Rainbow Slime
• Rainbow Coffee Filter Craft
• Rainbow Rice

Printable Rainbow Projects Pack

Perfect any day of the year if you love rainbows. This Rainbow Projects Pack can be used all year long; not just for March!

• 10+ Rainbow theme science activities and STEM projects  for kids that are easy to set up and fit into your available time, even if it’s limited!
• Printable Rainbow theme STEAM activities that are simple but engaging for home or classroom. Perfect for K-2 and beyond but easily adaptable to many skill levels.
• Dive into simple background science explanations to share with kids while they explore hands-on and playful experiments, projects, and activities such as growing crystals, making oobleck, and more!
• Engaging Rainbow STEM activities pack with theme activities, journal pages, and design process steps! Learn about the design process and think like an engineer while you design and build rainbows and more!
• Fun rainbow-themed writing and drawing prompt to get kids thinking
• Try rainbow-themed brick-building challenges perfect for a brick center, screen-free time, or rainy days!

You asaid fish soap not dish soap I can’t waith to try

LOL thank you!

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Easy Magic Milk Rainbow Science Experiment for Color-Loving Kids

Categories Science Experiments

Preschoolers will love this amazing science demonstration on surface tension! This magic milk rainbow science experiment is perfect for little scientists.

We’ve done the milk surface tension science experiment before, but I’ve never done it with Bo. She absolutely loved this magic milk rainbow science experiment!

She wanted to keep trying it over and over again until we ran out of milk (and almost ran out of food coloring).

This science demonstration and St. Patrick’s Day STEM activity is a hit with kids of all ages, but preschoolers will especially love it.

Rainbow Milk Science Experiment for Kids

This quick science experiment is the perfect easy science experiment for kids, especially for younger kids, like preschoolers!

If you love working with preschool science, try these preschool science experiments! And don’t forget to check out the full list of rainbow science experiments and preschool STEM activities.

Magic Milk Experiment Hypothesis

My kids thought that the colors would sink right into the milk and start mixing right away.

They thought that the soap wouldn’t do anything when we put it in the milk.

Even though their hypothesis was wrong (the food coloring didn’t mix into the milk and the soap helped mix the colors), they still loved doing this surface tension science experiment!

We do this quick science experiment with our kids every now and then when we have milk that’s about to go bad, even though my girls are much older now!

Milk Rainbow Experiment Explanation

The results of this science experiment are so dramatic due to the effects of the oil in the milk (the fat) and the soap. Milk is a non-polar molecule and won’t dissolve in water. When soap is added to the milk, it allows the fat to be carried through the water (which is why we use soap to clean dishes).

When the soap is dropped into the milk, the soap and fat molecules combine, which causes the food coloring to move rapidly through the milk, creating pretty, swirling patterns.

You could even use this experiment to learn about color mixing if you choose colors that mix well together!

What you’ll need to make magic milk rainbows:

• Milk (whole milk works best)
• Food coloring ( the pure liquid , not the gel)
• Shallow container

How to Do the Magic Milk Experiment

First, cover the bottom of your container with about 1/2 an inch of milk. You don’t need tons of milk to get this to work. We used about a cup total.

Next, drop a few drops of food coloring in a rainbow pattern on the milk. The color will spread a little, but not much.

Instruct your preschooler to drop a tiny bit of dish soap onto each spot of color.

The results are immediate and spectacular. Suddenly, the color flies all over the place!

When you’ve completed the experiment, take a look at the bottom. You’ll see some really cool colors!

If you want to try the experiment again, just rinse out your container and fill it up with more milk. You can get results in a shallow container, but we also liked how the rainbow spread through a jar!

More Rainbow Science Experiments for Kids

How to Make an Instant Ice Rainbow

Flip a Rainbow Light Refraction Experiment

Super Fun Fizzing Rainbow Experiment for Little Scientists

Rainbow Mentos and Coke Experiment

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