Tot Explorations: Kitchen Science and the Magic Mud

I have a knack for diving into messy projects. From the “snow car box” to Play-Doh experiences… Although a part of me cringes, I want my kids to explore sensory activities.

Yesterday, we spent a happy hour making Magic Mud with a Kitchen Science kit sent to us for review.

The Magic Mud experiment is one any child who can read could do independently. Even my toddler fared well with me reading the directions and assisting in opening packages.

It’s super simple really. Cornstarch + water + food coloring = a mysteriously “hard” mud that slips and drips through your fingers when you try to pick it up!

My son had a blast trying to pick it up and watching it drip blue gooeyness back into the pan! It does make a mess depending on how exuberant your child is, however, cornstarch wipes up like a breeze!

FACT: My science teacher husband later informed me that because cornstarch molecules are large and branched, when pressure is applied, they interlock and stiffen. But when pressure is released, the molecules gradually untangle, causing them to fall through your fingers. Fascinating!

We used the goggles provided in the kit for safety, test tubes for measuring, and an eyedropper to add water to our mud. Then we added utensils for more mixing and mashing fun!

The Kitchen Science kit included all these materials. We just had to add the pans and trays and water.

Also in the Kitchen Science kit are three more experiments of a slightly more complex nature that we’ll do when we have a bit more time:

• Bouncy Ball
• Oozing Volcano
• Lava Lamp

Each activity has pictured and written directions, as well as guiding questions for parents to lead children towards inquiry-based understanding of science concepts. So you don’t have to be a teacher or expert on the topic to enjoy the activities.

I especially appreciate that we now have a reusable science kit ready to do more experiments in the future. That’s a huge added value to me.

What kitchen science projects have you tried with your kids?