rainbow experiment for toddlers

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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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• 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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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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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!

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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Copyright © 2024 · Cool Science Experiments HQ

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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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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40+ Amazing Toddler Rainbow Activities

March 1, 2020 by Sheryl Cooper

Last Updated on May 9, 2024 by Sheryl Cooper

 Inside: Over 40 toddler rainbow activities that include art, sensory, snacks and books. Easy and fun ways to teach color recognition!

When planning ideas for toddlers in our classroom , I look for ways that toddlers can have fun without rigid guidelines.

Basically, I like to set the activity on a low table, pull the chairs away, and let them walk right up and get busy.

Because their attention spans are shorter, they might only want to spend a minute or so and then walk away.

However, they will often return to do more exploring, so we leave it out awhile.

As toddlers transition into preschoolers , they will be able to sit for longer periods of time. So, for now, my goal is to get my toddlers excited about exploring , no matter how short or long they intend to do so.

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Providing hands-on rainbow activities is a wonderful and fun way to expose toddlers to different colors!

Rainbow art:

• Rainbows on Bubble Wrap
• Hanging Rainbows
• Rainbow Sponge Painting on the Easel
• Stacking Rainbow Felt Board Idea  (Mama, Papa, Bubba)
• Rainbow Puzzle Felt Page (Powerful Mothering)
• Painting Rainbows with Cars
• Rainbow Suncatchers
• Rainbow Mobile
• Cardboard Rainbow Collage
• Colorful Cardboard Rainbows
• Rainbow Collage Craft (Happy Hooligans)
• Giant Color Wheel
• Toddler Rainbow Fun
• Cotton Ball Rainbow (Fireflies and Mud Pies)
• Cupcake Liner Rainbow Craft (I Heart Crafty Things)
• Watercolor Rainbow Art (Buggy and Buddy)
• Rainbow Potato Printing (I Heart Arts N Crafts)
• Sensory Rainbow Shaving Cream Painting (Learning and Exploring Through Play)
• Handprint Rainbow (3 Dinosaurs)
• Rainbow Sand Art (Adventure in a Box)
• Paint Mixing and Painting on the Easel (Meri Cherry)
• Shaving Cream Color Mixing (Meri Cherry)
• Taste-Safe Rainbow Finger Paints (Fireflies and Mud Pies)

Rainbow sensory activities:

• Fun Rainbow Sorting Sensory Bin
• Sticky Wall Rainbow  (Mama, Papa, Bubba)
• Sticky Tissue Paper Rainbow (3 Dinosaurs)
• Sticky Wall Color Matching Game (Mama, Papa, Bubba)
• Rainbow Play Dough Kit (Mama, Papa, Bubba)
• Edible Scented Rainbow Play Dough (Preschool Powol Packets)
• Rainbow Spring Sensory Paints (FSPDT)
• Taste-Safe Sensory Rainbow (Powerful Mothering)
• Rainbow Sensory Play Bottles (My Little 3 and Me)
• Rainbow Oats Sensory Play (And Next Comes L)
• Shaving Cream Rainbow Roads
• Water Bead Sensory Bottles (Living Montessori Now)
• Rainbow Clean Mud (FSPDT)
• Rainbow Letter Sensory Bin (Growing Book by Book)
• Shaving Cream Gold Coin Dig (House of Burke)

Edible rainbows:

• Rainbow Fruit Snack (Mama, Papa, Bubba)
• Rainbow Parfait (Lemon Lime Adventures)
• Rainbow Fruit with Chocolate Fondue (See Vanessa Craft)
• Edible Rainbow (Adventures of Adam)
• Rainbow Salt Writing Tray (FSPDT)
• Frozen Rainbow Yogurt Pops (Coffee Cups and Crayons)
• Rainbow Bento Box (Hello Bee)
• Rainbow Green Bean Salad (Super Healthy Kids)

You might also like:

20 Simple Toddler Sorting Activities

25+ Hands-On Number Games

20 Fun Ways Toddlers Can Play at Home

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About Sheryl Cooper

Sheryl Cooper is the founder of Teaching 2 and 3 Year Olds, a website full of activities for toddlers and preschoolers. She has been teaching this age group for over 25 years and loves to share her passion with teachers, parents, grandparents, and anyone with young children in their lives.

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!

Super Fun Fizzing Rainbow Experiment for Little Scientists

Categories STEM Activities

If you want to try STEM projects for toddlers and preschoolers, start with easy, fun things! This fizzing rainbow experiment fits the bill perfectly and is so easy a toddler can do it! My kids love STEM activities. Most of what we do is geared toward my fifth grader, but Bo, in preschool, also loves science experiments and STEM activities. I made these toddler STEM challenge cards as a way to have plenty of toddler-friendly STEM ideas on hand at all times. You don’t have to be a big kid to enjoy fizzing baking powder and vinegar rainbow science!

Keep reading on how to do the fizzing rainbows baking soda experiment as well as some reasons you should try simple STEM activities and STEM projects with toddlers!

Table of Contents

What are Toddler STEM Activities?

Toddlers can barely walk, so why should they be doing toddler STEM activities? A STEM  activity (with elements of science, technology, engineering, and math) isn’t just about academic learning.

When toddlers and preschoolers complete STEM activities, they are learning about how the world works.

My Favorite STEM Products for the Preschool Classroom

These STEM products are perfect for the preschool STEM classroom!

Homer Technology App for Kids 4-6

Mel Science Classroom STEM Kits

Classroom Balance Buckets

Primary Sorting Classroom Bundle

Transparent Color Cubes

Clixo Rainbow Classroom Pack

Pet Home STEM Challenge

Stacking Mirror Blocks

Magnification Blocks

Gravity Physics Tubes

Specimen Viewers Classroom Set

In fact, if you let a toddler or preschooler explore something on their own, you’ll find they use many of the basics of STEM thinking, which includes:

• Creating a Theory
• Exploration
• Recording Data

Toddlers and preschoolers naturally go through this discovery and learning phase.

With STEM activities for toddlers, the exploration and discovery is all open-ended, giving them the chance to see how things work together without the confines of strict academic learning.

This helps the children develop their creativity and sense of wonder, opening their minds to the excitement and joy of learning.

In fact, the toddler and preschool age group is one of my favorites to do STEM activities with! One of my favorite things is to mix sensory and STEM together like with these St. Patrick’s Day STEM sensory bins .

Learn how to complete the fizzing rainbows baking sods and vinegar science experiment below!

The Baking Soda and Vinegar Reaction Explanation

Bo loves rainbows and she loves hands-on activities. I made my preschool STEM challenge cards with her in mind.

The first card we pulled out said, “make a baking soda and vinegar reaction.”

Toddlers and preschoolers won’t understand the chemistry behind the baking soda and vinegar reaction experiment, but they can understand cause and effect.

Use these toddler STEM challenge cards to take your toddler and preschool STEM activities to the next level!

Talk about how when you pour the vinegar over the drops of food coloring that it will start to bubble and a rainbow will appear.

The colors will mix beautifully and the kids will be delighted!

The baking soda and vinegar chemical reaction explanation

Why does baking soda and vinegar fizz when mixed together?

The answer is a chemical reaction! Toddlers won’t be able to understand that when baking soda (a base) and vinegar (an acid) mix, they create a byproduct of carbon dioxide gas.

The gas escaping causes the fizzing rainbow. and the leftover liquid from the vinegar (now neutralized) is left to complete the colors of the rainbow.

What do I need to make a colorful baking soda and vinegar reaction?

Here is what you need to do this fun fizzing rainbows project!

This post includes affiliate links for your convenience at no cost to you.

• Baking soda
• 1/4 cup measuring cup
• Pipettes (we LOVE these and use them all the time!)
• Food coloring (we used red, green, blue, and purple)

How to Set Up the Fizzing Rainbow Experiment

Before getting started, you’ll need to set up a bit.

First, place a layer of baking soda about 1/4 of an inch thick on your plate.

Make a rainbow with your food coloring by placing dots of color in a rainbow pattern.

Pour 1/4 of a cup of vinegar into the measuring cup.

Now you are ready to do the experiment with toddlers or preschoolers.

More STEM Activities for Toddlers and Preschoolers

Here are some more fun rainbow activities for preschoolers!

• Rainbow Science Lesson Plan Bundle
• Rainbow Sugar Density Lesson Plan
• Rainbow Surface Tension Lesson Plan
• Rainbow Coloring Pages

How to Do the Fizzing Rainbow Experiment

Follow these directions to make your fizzing rainbow experiment!

Give your toddler or preschooler a pipette, the plate, and the vinegar.

Show your toddler how to pick up the vinegar and squeeze it onto the food coloring. A rainbow will form and start to fizz.

Repeat the experiment until all the vinegar is used.

Bo really loved seeing the colors of the baking soda and vinegar reaction rainbow come to life and mix as she did this experiment.

Share this project with a friend!

Simple Rainbow Science Experiment for Kids

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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
• every TKC resource
• video lessons
• a digital games vault
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• additional teacher resources…

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So simple but so amazing. Thank you!

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Rainbow Rain Science Experiment

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Today’s lesson is all about having fun with Earth Science!

The Rainbow Rain experiment is a fun, colorful Earth Science experiment that shows the water cycle and how rain is formed. Many, if not all supplies needed for this experiment can be found at home, making it an easy and fun way to teach your child Earth Science.

The next time you see rain in the forecast, be sure to refer back to this experiment and watch the clouds fill up with water!

How to make the Rainbow Rain experiment

Supplies you will need.

For the Rainbow Rain experiment, you’ll need:

• Wide, clear container (vase, jar, wider mouth cup)
• Foam shaving cream

Before you start

If you’re allowing your child to handle water, it’s best to put a towel under your experiment.

Instructions

Here is how to do the Rainbow Rain experiment:

Step 1: Add water to your larger container

We filled our container about 3/4 of the way full to leave enough space for the shaving cream in the next step.

You’ll want to add enough water that you are able to clearly see as the colors start to fall through the shaving cream and into the water.

Step 2: Add the shaving cream on top of the water in large container

Give your shaving cream a good shake and start adding it on top of the water in your large container.

Try not to create an overly thick layer of shaving cream. The thicker the layer, the longer it will take to see the results (and you may have to end up adding more rainbow water). A good 1-1.5″ thick layer of shaving cream should do the trick.

Since I prefer it to be uniform on top for when we add our colors, I took a spoon and gently evened out the top of the shaving cream with it. You don’t have to do this; it was just my type A personality kicking in!

Step 3: Create your rainbow colors

This part is fun and a good lesson inside a lesson to talk about colors with your child.

Using 7 of these small mason jars, we used a picture of a rainbow to talk through all of the colors of the rainbow. My toddler got to add water to each mason jar and I added the food coloring.

We talked through the colors that came with our food color kit (red, blue, yellow, and green) and how to make the other colors of the rainbow with what we had! We do this sometimes with her MagnaTiles (combining colors), but she’s never seen it in action like this.

Here are the color combinations using a standard box of food colors:

• Red : comes in a food color box
• Orange : 1 red drop + 1 yellow drop
• Yellow : comes in a food color box
• Green : comes in a food color box
• Blue : comes in a food color box
• Indigo : 2 blue drops + 1 red drop
• Violet : 1 blue drop + 1 red drop

Step 4: Add rainbow colors to the shaving cream

For this step, we had one pipette for every color to ensure we did not mix any colors together.

If you do not have pipettes, you can carefully pour the colors onto your shaving cream for the same effect.

My preschooler was able to add the colors to the rainbow with a little bit of assistance from me. She squeezed the bulb while I held the pipette and helped direct the flow.

Step 5: Watch it rain rainbows!

Depending on how thick your shaving cream is and how much rainbow color water you added, you’ll start to see rainbow rain falling in just a few minutes.

If you enjoyed this experiment, check out how to make a cloud in a jar , or even make your own ocean wave !

The science behind the Rainbow Rain experiment

The Rainbow Rain experiment is a great experiment to learn about meteorology and the water cycle!

For the parent

In this experiment, we are essentially creating a version of the water cycle to make rain.

The water in the wide container represents the atmosphere that we live and breathe in. The shaving cream represents a cloud we can see in the sky.

Here’s a good explanation of what is happening from NASA’s Global Precipitation Measurement:

Water molecules are heated by the sun and turn into water vapor that rises into the air through a process called evaporation. Next, the water vapor cools and forms clouds, through condensation. Over time, the clouds become heavy because those cooled water particles have turned into water droplets. When the clouds become extremely heavy with water droplets, the water falls back to earth through precipitation (rain, snow, sleet, hail, etc). The process continues in a cyclical manner. https://gpm.nasa.gov/resources/faq/how-does-water-cycle-work

Using our rainbow water colors, we are skipping ahead in the water cycle to create the water droplets in the cloud prior to precipitation.

Once our shaving cream cloud becomes too saturated with our rainbow water, we start to see rainbow rain!

For the child

The Rainbow Rain experiment is all about seeing how the rain forms inside of clouds .

When the sun heats up the ground and bodies of water, it causes the water to evaporate, or create tiny particles of water that rise into the sky. These tiny particles of water make their way up to where you see clouds.

Once the water travels up to where clouds form, those tiny particles of water condense into the clouds we can see .

As the clouds fill up with more and more tiny particles of water, they become so heavy that the cloud cannot hold the water anymore.

When that happens, it starts to rain!

FAQ about the Rainbow Rain Experiment

How much shaving cream should i add to my container.

One thing to keep in mind when adding the shaving cream to your container is that, the thicker the layer of shaving cream, the longer it will take to see the results.

We added about 1-1.5″ of shaving cream to our container.

How can I get my toddler involved in the Rainbow Rain experiment?

There are lots of ways! Here are a few that we did:

Let your toddler add the water and mix the colors for each rainbow color

Little ones LOVE pouring into containers!

I used a small containerthat had a spout on it that she could hold with one hand and let her pour into each small mason jar.

Let your toddler use a pipette to add the rainbow colors to the cloud

Pipettes are optional, but almost essential if you want your little one to get involved with adding the colors to your cloud.

I let her squeeze the bulb and gather the colored water into the pipette. Once she was ready to add the color to the cloud, I gently guided the pipette as she squeezed the water out.

To see the experiment from start to finish, check out our video for the Rainbow Rain experiment:

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• May 31, 2020

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Purposeful play, rainbow rain science experiment, steam for kids.

The Rainbow Rain Science Experiment is a variation of the popular  Rain Cloud Science Experiment and is a simple and colorful way for kids to explore weather concepts!

Has your child ever asked you to explain how or why rain falls from the sky?

Well, this is the perfect hands-on way to teach your child all about how clouds create rain!

This rainbow color weather experiment illustrates how rain falls from clouds once the rain inside the cloud becomes too heavy and falls to the ground due to gravity.

Continue reading for the step by step directions, to shop this project and to get more fun and simple ways to explore Science with your child at home!

Food Coloring

Shaving Cream (Foam not Gel)

Explore weather concepts

Experiment with cause and effect

Introduce new vocabulary words

Hands-on learning experience

Learn about the water cycle

Explore clouds and rain

Experiment with color mixing

Shop this project!

Rainbow Rain Cloud Science Experiment for Kids

Step 1: add water, fill a vase or mason jar 3/4 full of water, step 2: create cloud, add shaving cream on top of the water to create a “fluffy cloud”, let the shaving cream settle for a couple of minutes before you begin, the thicker the layer of shaving cream-the longer the experiment will take, step 3: mix food coloring, in small bowls, mix food coloring and water-one for each color of the rainbow, if you can-use a different pipette for each color to avoid the colors from mixing and getting muddied, step 4: begin, using pipettes or droppers, invite your child to add the colored water to the shaving cream “cloud”, after a couple of minutes you will see the “rain” coming out of the cloud into the water , ask your child what they see, verbalize what you see, explain to your child the science behind the experiment (explanation below), step 5: continue, invite your child to continue adding colored water to the “cloud”, continue to observe and talk about you see, what is the science behind the rainbow rain experiment, how the shaving cream rain cloud experiment works.

A cloud is formed when rain droplets combine together

When the cloud gets too heavy and full- the rain droplets fall out of the cloud due to gravity.

In the Rainbow Rain Experiment, the colored water acts as the rain.

The shaving cream acts as the cloud.

The clean water in the vase is the air.

When the colored water “rain” gets too heavy it falls out of the shaving cream “cloud” and into the water “air”.

How does rain fall from the sky?

Water is everywhere on Earth

Water Evaporates into the Atmosphere in the form of Water Vapor

Water vapor rises and then cools causing Condensation 

Condensation is tiny water droplets

The tiny water droplets gather together and form clouds

Once the cloud is full of tiny water droplets and becomes too full or heavy- they fall out of the cloud and onto the earth (due to gravity)

After the precipitation falls to the earth the whole water cycle begins again

Rain Cloud experiment vocabulary words

Introduce these vocabulary words to your child while you’re conducting the experiment! 

Even if your child is young and won’t necessarily retain the new words-exposing even young children to advanced vocabulary will have a powerful effect on their literacy base as they get older. 

For older children, introduce the words, write the words down for them so they can see the spelling, and encourage your child to use the new words while you discuss the science experiment! 

Precipitation (release of water from the sky in the form of Rain, Sleet, Hail or Snow)

Atmosphere (thin layer of gases surrounding our planet)

Evaporation (when liquid changes to gas or vapor)

Water Vapor (water in the form of transparent vapor)

Condensation (when water vapor cools and turns into liquid form of water)

Water Cycle (the process of water moving around from air to land)

More Rainbow Activities!

10 Spring Books for Kids

Rainbow Cupcake Science Experiment

Rainbow Lava Lamp Science Experiment

Rainbow Jello Science Experiment

Rainbow Rice Sensory Bin

Building Shapes Task Cards

Kool-Aid Playdough

Erupting Rainbow Volcano

Hello there! I'm Sarah Britton and I am so excited you stopped by! Join me as we explore simple yet effective ways to create purposeful play opportunities for your child.

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How to Make a Rainbow Experiment for Kids

If you are as infatuated with rainbows as we are right now, you will love this super simple science discovery for kids. Now, you and your kids can make a rainbow with items you most likely have in your kitchen drunk drawer. How cool is that?

* This post may contain affiliate links for your convenience. Click here for my full disclosure.

We are full of rainbow love lately. From our simple flip a rainbow experiment to our rainbow parfaits, we pretty much have been taken over by rainbows in our house.

How to Make a Rainbow | Simple Science Experiment

CD Flashlight Black or white paper

Optional: Dish Water

How to Make a Rainbow with Kids

There are a few ways you can make rainbows with kids and the discovery of what items work best is half the fun. We have tried a few methods here.

Making Rainbows with a CD and White Paper

With just a flashlight, white paper and a cd you can make a rainbow but it can be challenging. We found we needed the lights turned down but that makes it a little harder to take the pictures needed to show you this cool discovery activity.

Experiment with various methods of getting the light to reflect from the CD onto the paper. Do you see it? There is a small rainbow appearing.

Let’s try it with black paper, now….

Making a Rainbow with a CD and Black Paper

The process for this one is pretty much the exact same as before, however this time you are reflecting onto black paper to see if you can make a brighter rainbow! Looks brighter to me.

Now, can we make a REAL Rainbow… You know the kind you see after rain? For that, I asked my children what we needed and they decided to add water to the discovery to see if they could make an even brighter and bigger rainbow.

Making a Rainbow with Water and a CD

Starting with a shallow dish, add a CD to the dish at a slant (we used silly putty to get ours to sit still). You can experiment with mirrors, metal, and CDs to see which ones create the best rainbows.

Use water to fill the dish with water until the CD is covered at least half way. Again, this is something you can mess with to see if it makes a difference in the intensity of the rainbow you create.

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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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AWESOME Rainbow Experiments With Kids

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Making rainbows with kids is SO much fun!  I want to show you some awesome rainbow experiments you can do with kids. Rainbow science is amazing and kids love it.

This post is part of the Weekly Virtual Book Club for Kids. This week’s book is  A Rainbow of My Own by Don Freeman. It is a darling book about a little boy trying to find a rainbow outside and the imaginary adventures he has with the rainbow!  My kids and I loved this book! These rainbow experiments that we did go perfectly with the book. ( See also my Rainbow Science With Absorption post!)

The first rainbow experiment is SO easy and can be done with just an old CD.  I am sure you have some of those lying around… On a sunny day get the sun to reflect right onto the CD and it will reflect a rainbow onto your wall or wherever you shine it. You could hold it and let your kids draw the rainbow too! (If you are patient…)

The next one is another super simple experiment with rainbows. It’s similar to the CD, but with a glass of water. The sun shines through the water and casts a rainbow below the glass. You can also do this with prisms. We love ours!

The next two require some supplies you likely do not have on hand, but they are fun enough to look into if you are wanting something new and different.

Remember those rainbow flare glasses that you had as a kid?  We got some of the special plastic they use and made our own. It is called Diffraction Grating (double axis) . You can find it on science supply websites or on Amazon. It’s not the most cost efficient, but you can find the little glasses in bulk for quite cheap.  The picture below is the full sheet.

I made a pair of glasses with it for my kids, though. It could also be really cool in a homemade kaleidoscope.

This last one uses polarizing film sheets. This stuff is SO cool. I have another project I will be doing with it soon, too!

To do this last rainbow experiment you will need Polarizing film sheets , clear shiny tape, and a sheet protector (glossy, not matte).  Tape several pieces of tape onto the sheet protector, overlapping several times. Attach one piece of polarizing sheet over the tape. Hold it up to the window and place the second polarizing sheet on the opposite side of the sheet protector. Turn it and watch the rainbow of colors change. It’s quite amazing!

See it in action!  Isn’t it amazing?!

How Does Rainbow Polarized Light Experiment Work?

Light waves move app and down and side to side. The polarized film sheets only let light through that is moving in one direction, so when you turn it you see different colors and waves of light shining through.

See my other rainbow posts:

• Rainbow Science  Absorption
• Jumbo Rainbow Collage 
• Rainbow Woven Lanterns
• Q-Tip Rainbow Painting
• Rainbow Weaving
• Rainbow Stained Glass Window
• Roll a Rainbow- Math Game
• Rainbow Icosahedron Balls

Want even more rainbow ideas? See what the other Virtual Book Club hosts have shared:

• Rainbow Alphabet Activity – Growing Book by Book
• Rainbow Name Craft for Kids – Toddler Approved
• 5 Math Games using Painted Rainbow Counters – The Educators’ Spin On It
• How to make rainbow spaghetti – Sensory play for kids -Messy Little Monster
• Find the Unicorn Rainbow Sensory Bin – Inspiration Laboratories
• Taste Safe Rainbow Sensory Play – Adventures and Play
• Preschool Color Activities – Roll and Cover Rainbow
• Construction Paper Rainbow Craft – The Moments at Home
• Mixing Colors to Make a Rainbow – Mama Smiles
• CVC Word Family Rainbow Puzzles – Sea of Knowledge
• Rainbow Words – Rainy Day Mum
• Rainbow Preschool Music Craft & Song – Preschool Powol Packets
• Rainbow Fine Motor Activity – Clare’s Little Tots
• Visual Motor Letter Rainbow – The OT Toolbox

Former school teacher turned homeschool mom of 4 kids. Loves creating awesome hands-on creative learning ideas to make learning engaging and memorable for all kids!

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Rainbow Experiment Ideas Sure to Engage Your Preschoolers

Shared by Mary Catherine Leave a comment

Choose a fun and engaging rainbow experiment to try with your kids this spring. The only tough decision is determining which rainbow science activity to try first.

Hands-on science is the name of the game in preschool and kindergarten. Young children love exploring their world with all of their senses, and this definitely helps them to learn as they do.

Related: Spring Activities for Preschoolers

Table of Contents

Set Up a Rainbow Experiment This Spring

Below you’ll find a variety of rainbow science experiments and activities for young children.

I think these ideas would be perfect for a preschool rainbow theme , teaching children about colors, or just as fun additions to your science lesson plans.

You’ll notice I mentioned both rainbow science experiments AND rainbow science activities. You may wonder if those terms are interchangeable, but I didn’t use them as such.

When it comes to science experiments, children are walked through the scientific process. This means talking about the materials and the experiment ahead of time. It also means engaging the children in their thoughts about what will happen during the experiment and encouraging the kids to come up with their own hypotheses about what will happen.

In terms of science activities, these are fun ways to explore early science concepts with the children. You will note, though, that many simple science activities can be translated to true science experiments. It just takes a little bit of extra planning and questioning!

Related: St. Patrick’s Day Activities for Preschoolers

Scented Rainbow Science

I have to tell you, the kids and I have done this scented rainbow science experiment so many times. There’s a possibility I could set this whole thing up in my sleep, I think.

You can adjust this rainbow experiment to suit your own purposes, of course. Consider using ice cube trays with special shapes, or focus in on just one or two colors instead. But definitely be sure to include the scent aspect to this idea, as it really grabs the kids’ attention.

Rainbow Glitter Jars

These rainbow glitter jars turn out beautifully each and every time (at least, they have for us).

The jars can be a simple activity that you make ahead of time for the kids. Or you can include the children and turn it into a rainbow experiment by determining how much of each ingredient to use to make the glitter fall slowly.

See them in action here:

Rainbow Discovery Bottle

This rainbow bottle from Preschool Inspirations are another take on a colorful sensory jar. What I love about it is that the colors don’t all run together.

Because it takes a little bit of finagling, you will likely want to make this rainbow bottle ahead of time. This way, you can decide the exact steps to include the children in.

Homemade Spectroscope

Make a homemade spectroscope like Buggy and Buddy did, using just a few basic materials. This is definitely something you’ll have to do for the kids ahead of time, but it shouldn’t take too long to make.

Once the spectroscope is made, take the kids outside and help them learn how to use it to see rainbows.

Rainbow Density Jar

You’ll need quite a few ingredients for this density jar rainbow experiment from Playdough to Plato. But, trust me, it’ll be worth it.

This is a great science activity to use when teaching children about the concept of density. Yes, preschoolers and other young children can definitely learn about scientific concepts like this. Even if they don’t completely grasp it at first, they will have a blast learning along the way.

Rainbow Paper

This paper rainbow experiment from Science Kiddo is one that’s on my list to try. I’ve done it years and years ago, but really need to try it with the kids again soon.

I’d definitely suggest that you try this one out ahead of time to perfect your “technique”. That way, once the kids are ready, you can model the activity and help walk them through what to do.

Walking Water Rainbow Experiment

Coffee Cups and Crayons shares how to set up the classic walking water science experiment. This is a perfect one to use when introducing the kids to the steps of the scientific method.

Consider arranging the whole setup in a circle or a half-circle if you want to invoke a rainbow. Encourage the children to draw their observations as the experiment progresses. I’m sure you will hear many an “Oooooh!” and “Ahhhhh!” from the kids.

Rainbow Ice Experiment

This melting rainbow ice experiment from Powerful Mothering looks gorgeous! The colors, and the question of “Can you melt the ice?” will surely draw the kids in and keep them engaged the entire time.

Depending on the weather, you might even try this one outside. This way, the kids can also experiment with melting the ice in direct sunlight and in the shade.

How to Flip a Rainbow

This is probably the easiest rainbow experiment of the whole bunch! Lemon Lime Adventures shows us how to teach light refraction in a super fun (and super easy) way.

Once the kids understand how to do this activity, you could even consider adding it to the science center for independent exploration.

Rainbow Slime

This colorful slime from The Best Ideas for Kids is definitely worth making when you’re teaching the kids about rainbows!

Of course, I wouldn’t suggest it for younger children who are still putting things in their mouths. But for older kids who can follow basic safety instructions, it will definitely be a fun science activity about rainbows.

Crystal Rainbow Experiment

FSPDT walks you through the process of making crystal rainbows with the kids. I’ve made basic crystal snowflakes with the preschoolers before, and the kids seriously loved everything about it.

I can only imagine that adding the rainbow aspect to it would be even more fun for the children.

How to Make a Rainbow

Science Sparks explains a couple of different ways the kids can make rainbows . I can see trying these ideas both inside the classroom and outside on the playground.

The children will be so excited to run home and tell their families about making rainbows at school.

Skittles Rainbow Science

Break out the candy for this rainbow experiment from Fantastic Fun and Learning. This is a great candy science activity to try with the kids during the spring or right after Halloween (when oodles of candy is on-hand). You can also try this with candy hearts if it’s near Valentine’s Day.

The great thing about this rainbow science is how you can really engage ALL of the kids’ senses during the entire activity.

Color Changing Flowers

This classic science activity from Laughing Kids Learn must be included in a list of rainbow experiments, of course! Teach the children about plants and absorption by creating a rainbow of colorful flowers.

Of course, you can also adjust the experiment to focus in on just one or two colors if you’d rather. But I think a rainbow makes it even more fun for the kids (or maybe just for me).

Rainbow Ice Tower Excavation

Challenge the kids to excavate the rainbow items from ice with this activity from Fun at Home with Kids.

I love how this rainbow experiment is super simple to set up, and it gives the kids many chances to explore the scientific method with common items.

Now that I’ve tossed out so many ideas, which rainbow experiment will you try first with your preschoolers?

Related: “I See a Rainbow” Preschool Color Activity

Preschool Science Materials

These rainbow science experiments are perfect for the spring. But don’t wait until then to get your classroom interested in science. To amp up your students’ excitement, keep your classroom stocked with some great science materials.

Check out this list and decide which items will work well in your classroom (I may get commissions for purchases made through links in this post):

• Science magnet kit
• Magnifying glass set
• Kid-friendly tongs
• Jumbo eye droppers
• Sensory tubes
• Safety goggles
• Science mix and measure set
• Sensory bottles
• Sensory bins
• Butterfly net set

The children are going to absolutely love learning about these science tools. And I know they’ll love getting to use them even more!

Preschool Rainbow Lesson Plans

Make life a little easier for yourself with done-for-you teaching resources from Preschool Teacher 101 . You’ll find preschool lesson plans , math and STEM activities , and literacy resources all ready to go for you. Be sure to check out our membership options for even more bang for your buck.

Pop over and read more about our rainbow lesson plans for preschoolers . It’s a week’s worth of rainbow activities already planned for you, with printable lesson plans, book suggestions, center ideas, and related printables.

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