Nothing beats the fascination of children when they experience something cool. Science experiments often get children curious and excited. This next activity is all about dissolving. To get started find some pantry items that will dissolve in water. For example, a sugar cube, salt, Smarties, cake sprinkles, or cocoa powder. Put an item in each compartment of an ice cube tray or paint palette. You will also need a cup with water.  The purpose is to drop water on the different food items and see what will dissolve and what will not. Older children? Ask them to predict what will happen to the item, “Do you think that the salt crystals will fully dissolve with a drop of water? How many drops will it take to dissolve this much salt?”

Note: Smarties work well for this because the colour coating will dissolve easily when water is added and the water will take on the colour of the Smartie coating.  

What You Will Need:
- Items that dissolve (sugar cube, salt, cake sprinkles, Smarties)
- Ice cube tray or paint palette
- Pipette (or turkey baster or medicine dispensing syringe or a teaspoon)
- Water

Engaging Your Child:
Through this experience your child will be able to inquire, investigate, and problem solve. Start off by asking what will happen when water is added to the Smartie or the sprinkle?  Using a pipette, and demonstrate to your child how to get water from the cup and drop it onto the item. Encourage your child to practice and add drops of water to the other items. During this process as the items begin changing, provide language about what’s happening, “You added water to this and now the colour is coming off the Smartie. The water turned red” or “The salt that was here is now gone. It dissolved into the water. How cool!”