Grow crystal eggs or at least grow crystal eggshells for a neat Easter chemistry project this spring. Growing these pretty crystals is easier than you might think. Plus it’s a great way to talk about supersaturated solutions, molecules, and more! Make sure to check out our whole Easter science collection for young kids.

Grow Crystals For Easter Science

These fun crystal eggs below are super easy to do and look cool too! Make sure to see our Crystal Rainbow. It’s another fun way to grow crystals using pipe cleaners. A favorite for summer is our crystal seashells. They look like little geodes!

We have also been testing out growing salt crystals. I am working on an Easter themed one now, so please check back! We are also looking forward to experimenting with Alum powder as well as sugar for growing crystals. Guess what rock candy is made of? Sugar crystals! Now that sounds like yummy science.

How To Make Crystal Eggs

Supplies:

  • Borax (found with laundry detergent)
  • Water
  • Jars or vases
  • Eggshells (cleaned with warm water)
  • Food coloring

Instructions:

STEP 1. To get started on your crystal eggs, prepare the egg shells!

I made eggs for breakfast and rinsed out the egg shells with hot water. I tried to carefully remove the top portion of the egg-shell with an egg and then made a bigger opening with a couple more. Up to you!

STEP 2. Choose a glass container that will allow you to get the egg shell in and out easily. You can choose different colors or do them all the same color in one large jar.

STEP 3. Make your own crystal growing solution.

The ratio of borax powder to water is 1 approximately 1 tablespoon to 3 cups of very hot/boiling water. While your water is boiling, measure out the correct amount of borax powder. Measure your boiling water into the container. Add the borax powder and stir. Add a good amount of food coloring.

SAFETY TIP: Since you are dealing with both very hot water and a chemical substance, my son watched the process while I measured and stirred the solution. An older child might be able to help a little more! Make sure to wash hands after touching the crystals or mixing the solution.

You will need around one of each of these servings for the 3 jars below. Also, this depends on the object you are going to use and whether it will be suspended from the top or not.

STEP 4. Add an eggshell to each jar and leave overnight.

Let your crystal eggs work their magic for 24-48 hours. We were all impressed with the crystal eggs shells we saw in the morning! Plus they were also dyed pretty pastel Easter colors. This crystal egg science experiment is excellent for Easter or anytime you want!

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The Science of Growing Crystals

Crystal growing is a neat chemistry project that is a quick set up involving liquids, solids, and soluble solutions.

You are making a saturated solution with more powder than the liquid can hold. The hotter the liquid, the more saturated the solution can become. This is because the molecules in the water move farther apart allowing more of the powder to be dissolved.

As the solution cools down there is all of a sudden going to be more particles in the water as the molecules move back together. Some of these particles will start to fall out of the suspended state they were once in.

The particles will start to settle on the eggshells and form crystals. This is called recrystallization. Once a tiny seed crystal is started, more of the falling material bonds with it to form bigger crystals.

Crystals are solid with flat sides and symmetrical shape and will always be that way (unless impurities get in the way). They are made up of molecules and have a perfectly arranged and repeating pattern. Some might be bigger or smaller though.

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Get your free printable Easter STEM cards!

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Printable Easter Project Pack

  • 20+ Easter science activities and STEM projects kids that are easy to set up and fit into the time you have available even if it’s limited!
  • Printable Easter theme STEM activities that are simple but engaging for home or classroom. Perfect for K-2 and beyond but easily adaptable to many skill levels.
  • Dive into simple background science explanations to share with kids while they explore hands-on and playful experiments, projects, and activities such as Easter oobleck, erupting eggs, regrowing lettuce, and more!
  • Engaging Easter STEM activities pack with theme activities, journal pages, and design process steps! Learn about the design process and think like an engineer while you design and build a better Easter basket and more!
  • Easy to gather supplies makes these STEM activities ideal when you have limited resources available. Specialty activities include a catapult and balloon rocket challenge pack with log sheets!
  • Additional STEM activities: Include the great Easter egg tower, spaghetti, marshmallow challenge Easter theme, brick building ideas, puzzles, and screen-free coding activities.

INCLUDES: 

  • Easter STEM Pack
  • PEEPS Theme STEM Pack
  • Easter Slime Science Pack

11 Comments

  1. Thank you for the idea;) http://kreatywnymaks.blogspot.com/2015/02/krystalizacja-jajka-i-nie-tylko-crystal.html

  2. this is absolutely wonderful! My 5 yr old is all over science these days! This is a perrrfect project for us! Thank you

  3. This post has been featured here > http://sweetmeetsbakeshop.com/2016/03/19/sponged-nail-polish-31-other-diy-dye-free-easter-eggs/
    Happy Easter and keep on crafting!

  4. Thank you for the fantastic idea! My grandkids will love this! Would this work on plastic eggs? I’m not sure how “gently” our 2 year old and 4 year old will handle these.

  5. You may have some crystals form around the edges. You could also make egg shapes out of pipe cleaners and dangle them into the solution like we have done for other holidays!

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