Looking for some April Fools? See if you're tricked easily with these fun activities!
As we approach the first of April, we're getting into the spirit of April Fools Day. Check out these activities and see if you can be tricked by these (scientific) illusions!
🌈 Rainbow Catching
Let's make some rainbows of our own and see if we can catch them! There are a few ways to make your own rainbows:
1. On a sunny day, use a glass of water or a mirror to catch the sun, angling the water or mirror it to project it onto a wall
2. Outside, when the sun is low in the late afternoon, you can spray water from a spray bottle or misty garden hose and create rainbows
3. Fill up a glass of water and cut a thin rectangle out of white paper. Stick the paper onto the glass and shine a focus-beam flashlight so that the light shines through the glass, through the paper rectangle, and onto a wall. You should see a small rainbow that you can make, even in the dark!
Can you figure out other ways to catch your own rainbows?
For more on the science behind rainbows, check out this video from PBS.
🥣 Solid or Liquid?
In a bowl, mix at a ratio of 2 parts cornstarch to 1 part water (preferably with fun food coloring!) to make a physical illusion for kids to play with. This mixture is a Newtonian fluid that is sometimes known as "oobleck" from the Dr. Suess children's book Bartholomew and the Oobleck.
Poke, hit, sink, and play with it. What do you think: is it solid or liquid?
For more on the science behind oobleck, check out this video from Crash Course Kids.
🥛 Magical Milk
Pour some milk on a plate and use food coloring to create small pools of different colors around the milk. Now, get ready for the magic! Dip your finger in a little bit of dish soap and then poke the center of the plate and watch as the colors... oh, we don't want to spoil it for you - go try it and find out what happens!
Can you create magic with a single poke?
For more on the science behind it, check out this video from Sick Science!
Hopefully you and your kids find a sense of wonder with these (scientific) illusions and have a fun April Fools Day!
For more fun, say hello on instagram @playfollies!