There are many simple science activities that can be done right on the kitchen counter. This Valentine’s Day Oil and Water Density Activity is one of them! I love opening the kitchen cupboards and coming up with our next awesome science experiment. Make sure to check out all our Valentine science experiments!
OIL AND WATER DENSITY FOR VALENTINE’S DAY
VALENTINE’S DAY SCIENCE
Turn basic science into a Valentine’s Day science experiment with easy to set up themes. Add in classic Valentine’s colors like red, pink, and purple. Also heart cookie cutters, heart gems, and even little heart containers make this activity extra special.
Our simple Valentines oil and water science activity is lots of fun! We have been exploring a bunch of quick and easy Valentine STEM activities. So far we have tried out Valentine’s Day themed viscosity, baking soda eruptions, water displacement, and bubble science activities.
WHY DOES OIL SIT ON TOP OF WATER?
This Valentine’s oil and water science activity is all about density! If you were to put oil and water into a jar, the two would not mix. See our lava lamp experiment.
The two liquids separate because oil is less dense than water. Density refers to the volume of a substance compared to its mass.
Similarly, when you mix the oil and water in this activity, they don’t mix. You can do this Valentines oil and water activity opposite too. Drop the oil onto the water!
You might recognize this as being similar to an oil spill in the ocean. The oil will sit on top. Try making a science discovery bottle with oil and water. Check out what it looks like here.
CLICK HERE TO GET YOUR FREE PRINTABLE VALENTINE STEM PACK!
VALENTINES OIL AND WATER EXPERIMENT
SUPPLIES:
- Baby Oil (regular cooking oil will work but it won’t be clear)
- Eyedropper Straws (for blowing the water if desired)
- Red Colored Water
- Heart Shape Cookie Cutters
- Plastic heart gems (dollar or craft store)
- Tray or Lid to Storage Bin (for experimenting and mess collection)
VALENTINES DAY OIL AND WATER SET UP
STEP 1. Grab a lid or tray. As you can see, I used a lid from a storage container. Ikea has some simple white plastic trays we also love to use.
STEP 2. Fill a cup with water and add red food coloring. I added at least 15 drops to get it really red! Why not try all the colors.
STEP 2, Squeeze baby oil or pour regular cooking oil onto the tray. I like baby oil simply because it’s clear.
STEP 3. Set out the tray, an eyedropper, and any kind of Valentine’s Day themed items you want to use like cookie cutters or heart-shaped table scatter!
We had fun blowing the water around the tray. He managed to splatter a bit all over. He could also blow the drops of water into each other to make a “mega puddle” as he called it.
Science can be very playful for kids! This Valentines oil and water experiment is a great way to explore science while having fun. There aren’t complicated steps to make kids frustrated. Science at home can be super easy!
Definitely hands-on learning for young kids! Check out how you can fill up the heart-shaped cookie cutters.
MORE FUN VALENTINE’S DAY SCIENCE ACTIVITIES
Dissolving Candy Heart Hydrogen Peroxide & Yeast Valentines Magic Milk Tie Dye Valentine Card Valentine Balloon Experiment Crystal Hearts
Fun Valentines Oil and Water Density Activity for Kids!
Click on the image below or on the link for more easy Valentine science experiments.
Valentine’s Day Floam Slime
[…] Cooking oil is cheap and most likely you have a ton of it on hand. If not I recommend picking some up, Â see our homemade science kit. However, as you can see, cooking oil does have a yellow hue to it. Baby oil is much more expensive, but it’s clear. You can see the difference here. […]