Somewhere over the rainbow, skies are blue and the dreams you dare to dream really do come true.
Science doesn’t have to be awkward or messy. Science with kids can be quite magical and memorable. The trick is exploring the world through their eyes and remembering what you thought was amazing as a child. What could be more magical to a kid than making a rainbow?
The day we made our rainbow we were playing outside with a water hose on a sunny day. I had the kids turn their backs to the sun and spray a mist into the sunlight. Simple. Magical.
You can also make a rainbow indoors. Here we placed a mirror in a glass of water at a slight angle and put it in a sunny spot. Then we changed the angle of the mirror to project the rainbow on a white wall.
While making rainbows let your kids take the lead in discussing the science of a rainbow. Inject a few facts by letting them know that sunlight is white light made of a combination of colors. When sunlight hits a water droplet the light changes direction and separates into all of its different colors. Ask them what other items make rainbows. Their answers may include prisms, glass, or CDs!
The important thing is fostering their curiosity, letting them explore, and having you be part of their fun!
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