Magic Milk Science Experiment for Kids with Video

The Magic Milk Science Experiment is a fun and simple experiment for children of all ages. It’s an excellent Science idea for preschoolers and Kindergarten as an introduction to learning about chemical reactions and colors. This color-changing milk experiment is guaranteed to become one of your favorite kitchen chemistry experiments, and you can change up the colors for seasons and holidays.

Milk Science Experiment

Magic Milk Science Experiment for Kids

Not only is this Magic Milk Experiment easy and fun for kids, but it’s also a great way to teach them about the science of milk! All you need is some milk, food coloring, and dish soap – and you’re ready to amaze your little ones with this cool chemistry trick.

Magic Milk Experiment Explained

Magic milk is a popular science experiment that involves using everyday ingredients to create a dramatic color-changing reaction when food coloring is added. By adding whole milk and dish soap to a shallow bowl and then carefully dripping in drops of lemon juice, vinegar, or diluted baking soda, fascinating reactions occur as the magic milk starts to move and change colors.

This experiment allows kids to explore everyday substances found around the house – grocery store lemon juice, dish soap, and milk! – while learning about the science behind chemistry, surface tension, and chemical reactions.

Science Activities for Kids

Materials needed for the Magic Milk Experiment

Gather all the essential materials for your experiment:

What you will need to make your Magic Milk Experiment is in the picture below. However, I have it displayed in list form towards the bottom of the page. Have Fun!

Science Project Ideas

If you are looking to make this a Montessori Science activity place these materials out on a tray for your children to enjoy for the day. If you want to do this activity together in a classroom or at home, this is all you need to make this a fun, hands-on science experiment.

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Color Changing Milk Experiment

For this experiment, you only need a gentle drop or two of liquid dish detergent directly in between color droplets.

Begin by pouring some milk into a pie pan or shallow container.

Add several drops of different colored food coloring scattered over the surface of the milk.

The reason behind the milk change is the molecules of fats and proteins in the milk are being broken down by the soap. Then the soap chases the fat molecules, trying to join with them.

You can use cotton swabs to break apart colored molecules and watch how each reacts to the addition of soap. Now that you are prepped with supplies, you are ready to take part in an exciting experiment!

Magic Milk Science Activities for Kids

Montessori Science Activities

This is an easy and super fun science experiment that uses common kitchen materials, so you probably don’t even need to go to the store. It only takes a couple of minutes to prepare on a tray, and children as young as 3 can do this science experiment independently.

Magic Milk Science Experiment Lesson Plan

Not Only Science…

Encouraging your child to make art with everyday materials is a great way to fuel creativity. Allowing them to explore the process of pouring milk into a bowl and adding drops of food coloring can be an exciting activity for young minds.

Food coloring is non-toxic, and it’s a fun and easy way for your child to learn about how liquids can blend and blend to create unique color combinations. This activity not only promotes creativity but can also help develop hand-eye coordination and fine motor skills as well.

When the milk stops moving and the reaction is finished, you can repeat the steps as many times as your children like. You can also change up the colors depending on holidays and themes too.

The swirls and bubbling of the milk colors kept going and going after the reaction. It was so cool to watch; the kids loved it!

Magic Milk Experiment

Have you ever wondered what happens when you mix milk, food coloring, and dish soap? With this magic milk science experiment, watch as the colors swirl around in a mesmerizing fashion. Each of the ingredients has its own properties that come into play during this experiment.

The lipid molecules in the milk are attracted to the dish soap, causing them to break apart. This creates a reaction that disperses all of the colors throughout, ultimately mixing them in a super cool way.

Try out this magic milk science experiment for yourself and feel like a scientist!

Preschool Science Experiments

Magic Milk Experiment

Materials:

● Milk
● Pie pan or another shallow container
● Food coloring – We used Red and Blue
● Cotton balls or Qtips
● Blue colored dish soap

Instructions:

1. Begin by pouring some milk into a pie pan or other shallow container.
2. Add several drops of food coloring scattered over the surface of the milk.
3. Pour in some drops of red food coloring on the surface of the milk. For the best results, try not to mix the drops of food coloring together yet.
4. Dip a cotton ball into blue colored dish soap.
5. Place the soap covered cotton ball or Qtip into the center of the milk.
6. Watch as the colors magically swirl and twirl through the milk in the container.
7. You can dip additional cotton balls or Qtips into the dish soap and place them throughout the container into the milk to see the colors swirl in different directions.

**We used Blue and Red the first time because we enjoyed this Science Experiment over the summer (4th of July), then we did it again with a variety of colors. You can make this fun and add as many colors as you’d like. Think rainbow, or do other colors for different holidays.   

Pin This Magic Milk Science Activity to Save for Later

Engage your students and children by sparking their curiosity with the magic milk science experiment lesson plan!

This engaging activity gives them an opportunity to bring out their creative side, as it encourages them to explore the science behind making all sorts of magic colors. Whether they choose to examine the effects of changes in temperature or compare different brands of food coloring for the most vibrant results, each student will be delighted when it’s time to enjoy their colorful creation. As a bonus, you may also find that this experiment fosters a newfound appreciation for science among your students!

If you are interested in a more in-depth explanation, head over to Steve Spangler Science for a full explanation.

So there you have it – a simple but very magical activity that your child is sure to enjoy! If you’re looking for more preschool science experiments, be sure to check out some of our favorites below.

From exploring colors changing with Jelly Beans to creating homemade slime, there’s something for everyone.

Kids Activities

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