Experiment: Throw some raisins in a beverage and watch them twirl and dance (and maybe even do the grapevine)!

Benefits:

-Fun way to learn about density

Materials:

1. Raisins (macaroni or uncooked popcorn works as well)

2. Tall, clear jar

3. Chilled, colorless carbonated beverage, such as club soda, 7-Up, Sprite, etc.

Instructions:

1. Pour the carbonated beverage into the clear jar. To avoid spills, measure it out first and then let your child pour into the glass jar. To encourage spills, hand your child a 2 liter bottle and tickle her.

2.Add the raisins to the jar.

3. Watch as the raisins sink and rise to the surface again and again. Shhh…you can almost hear them saying “WEEEE!” and “AHHHH!" 

Why are the raisins dancing? Because they’re happy! Actually, it’s because the raisins are more dense–or heavier–than the carbonated beverage so they immediately sink. The carbonated gas, or carbon dioxide, is less dense. It forms bubbles at the bottom of the jar and they carry the raisins back up to the top. When the bubbles reach the surface they *POP* and the raisins sink back down. The gas released from the bubbles causes the raisins to spin and twirl like tiny, wrinkled ballerinas.

Make a game of it! You and your child drop a raisin into the jar at the same time and see whose comes up first! Make it really interesting and wager some blueberries or jelly beans on it.