This raining rainbow cloud in a jar not only makes it rain, but it makes a hurricane! A simple STEM project for little ones (and older kids love it too!)
Science experiments for kids can be super complicated. Just the other day, we did a full-blown energy efficiency experiment with control groups, recording, measuring, variations, and the whole nine yards. That was really cool, but, we don’t always have time for such complicated and involved science lessons and STEM activities.
Little kids, too, love discovering science and experimenting but they’re not ready for complicated projects.
If you’ve ever had a kid ask you how rain works, you can show them easily with this simple science lesson! It’s the perfect addition to your spring STEM activities!
The raining rainbow cloud in a jar (our version was a hurricane!), shows kids how clouds hold on to moisture until it gets too heavy, then, it releases it all in a big gush of rain! This experiment fits in perfectly with our other St. Patrick’s Day STEM activities.
This activity is one of our favorite technology activities for kids!
Easy Science for Kids: Raining Rainbow Cloud in a Jar
How To Make Rainbow In A Jar
Find out how to make your own cloud in a jar below:
DON’T MISS: THE COMPLETE LIST OF ST. PATRICK’S DAY STEM ACTIVITIES!
This project is appropriate for toddlers and preschoolers (as long as they don’t try to eat the shaving cream).
What you’ll need for your raining rainbow cloud in a jar:
Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links at no cost to you for your convenience.
- Shaving cream
- Mason jar
- Food coloring in as many rainbow colors as you can find (we found red, yellow, green, blue, and purple)
- Water
Fill your jar mostly full of water. Fill the top of the jar with shaving cream. Don’t make the shaving cream layer too thick if you have impatient kids or they will get bored before the liquid travels all the way through the shaving cream.
Drop the food coloring on the surface of the cloud in a rainbow pattern. We wanted to see if we could actually get the clouds to rain a rainbow shape, but that didn’t quite work out.
But we were left with some pretty, swirly colors!
Keep adding colors a bit at a time until your whole jar is a hurricane of swirling color.
Watch our cloud in a jar in action!
More Weather Activities for Kids
Weather Unit Study
With the rainbow density jar, learn about the density of various liquids in a fun, colorful way! Science experiments for kids have never been so happy! Kids will love mixing the colors, adding layers to their density jar, and watching to see which layers fall to the bottom, and which rise to the top. Drop in coins and other objects of varying weights and see where they stick among the layers to make this a STEM activity. It’s the perfect activity to try as part of St. Patrick’s Day STEM activities!
This fun rainbow density jar is a quick way to explain the concept of density to kids. Kids will love making and observing the liquids in the rainbow density jar.
Rainbow Density Jar Science Experiment
Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links at no cost to you for your convenience.
What you’ll need for the rainbow density jar:
- Water
- Food coloring (red, orange, yellow, green, blue, purple)
- 7 small containers
- Measuring cup (we like stainless steel cups)
Pour about 1/3 of a cup of each liquid into six small bowls.
Add color to each of your materials. Make the shaving cream red, the water orange, the soap yellow, the maple syrup green, the corn syrup blue, and the honey purple.
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Add the liquids to the jar in reverse order (purple, blue, green, yellow, orange, red).
Wait about an hour to allow the colors to settle.
Place your jar in a sunny location to see all the layers.
Let your kids observe what happened to the liquids. Why are they not mixing with one another? Honey is the densest liquid, while shaving cream is the least dense. Let the kids try to figure out why the shaving cream is so much less dense than the honey.
The Science Behind the Rainbow Density Jar
This science experiment is a quick and easy demonstration of density. Density is how much mass is contained in a volume of measurement (D=M/V). Density is the measurement of how closely molecules are packed together in a given material (in this case, liquids). If the mass of a liquid increases but the volume is the same (as is the case with this experiment), the density increases. Honey has molecules that are the closest together, while shaving cream is the least dense material.
Try adding various objects from around the house to see which are more or less dense than the liquids in your jar.
More Fun Rainbow Science Experiments
Yes, it is time for another collaboration with my friend Carly Toffle – a fabulous and fun BAKER! This time, we get together to create a super cute Rainbow Cookie Gift Jar DIY. We love DIY Gift Box ideas. This Gift Jar idea is inspired by Kawaii and the Shopkins Kooky character. Soooo cute and simple, but utterly adorable. Don’t you think? Before you do **anything** You must check out this super duper EASY method for removing stick labels from a glass jar!!! Natural, genius and easy!
I think these gift jars would make a GREAT PTA fundraising idea – either at the Christmas or Summer fairs. They also make an adorable gift to a friend! Here we have more gift ideas kids can make and sell…
Rainbow Cookie Jar – Materials:
- an empty jar – a large one is better!
- coloured paper
- white paper and pens
- ribbon and card for gift tag
- scissors
- PVA glue or decoupage glue
Rainbow Cookie Jar – How To:
Now check out the lovely Carly’s Rainbow Cookie Recipe and video:
You can get a written version of Carly’s cookie recipe here too!
For the Rainbow Cookies you will need:
- 115g/4oz/½ cup unsalted butter
- 85g/3oz/½ cup caster sugar
- 90g/3oz/? cup soft brown sugar
- 1 large free-range egg
- 250g/8?oz/2¼ cups plain flour
- ¾ tsp. bicarbonate of soda
- 1 tsp. vanilla extract (e.g. US/ UK)
- 1 cup white chocolate
- Wilton Candy Colour Green/Pink/Purple/Black (e.g. US/ UK)
- Wilton Candy Colour Yellow/Orange/Red/Blue (e.g. US/ UK)
- White Candy melts (e.g. US/ UK)
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Don’t they look fabulous? Such a fun DIY and recipe idea to give to friends. Yummy!
Don’t forget to subscribe to both Red Ted Art and Carly Toffle on YouTube – it is completely free!!! And we have regular makes and bakes to keep you busy all year round!
Check out both our DIY Gift Box Ideas and Gift Ideas for Kids to make for more inspiration: