Fun Elementary Science Project for Fourth of July

What is Density?

Before doing this fun science project with your students, discuss the concept of density with them by explaining that density can enhance or encumber the buoyancy of a liquid or object. For example, oil rise to the surface of water because oil is less dense that water. Discuss with students how this can effect our environment in positive and negative ways, then complete the experiment below.

Fourth of July Science Project

To complete this fun science project, make sure that students understand the concept of density, then gather together the materials listed and complete this fun fourth of July science project.

1. You will need a clear glass bottle, preferably a 24-32 oz. one, a measuring cup, blue and red food coloring, 1 cup clear corn syrup, 1 cup vegetable oil, 1/2 cup water, and 1/2 cup of bleach.
2. Mix the red food coloring with the corn syrup and pour the mixture into the bottle.
3. Pour the oil into the bottle and observe whether or not these two liquids mix. Discuss why or why not they do or do not mix.
4. Mix the blue food coloring with the water and pour this mixture into the bottle. Does this mix with the other liquids? Why or why not? Where does the water go and why does it go there?
5. There should be three layers of different colored liquids in the bottle now. Discuss this event with your students.
6. Now, pour the bleach into the bottle and observe what happens to the blue water. Discuss with your students why this may happen and why the other liquids did not change.

This experiment can be done with different colors, but the red and blue with the clear colored liquid works well as a fourth of July science project. This fun science project can be a lesson in density as well as a lesson in what happens to the water parts of our environment when different chemicals and objects are added to clean or already polluted parts of our environment.