A Fourth of July Experiment
We often take time on the July 4th holiday to pray for our country and its leaders. This year, we invite you to deepen this tradition and add some scientific inquiry to your reflection by making your own fireworks – no matches needed.
“Fireworks in a Jar” is a great symbol for our nation’s founding, and when it works, it’s also really cool to look at. You can find the full instructions here. All you need is a jar (or large cup) of warm water, cooking oil, food coloring, and a fork.
As you prep your materials, talk about the reason for this holiday – the Declaration of Independence. Many of us can quote this part by heart: “We hold these Truths to be self-evident, that all Men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness.” There are lots of big words, and even bigger ideas, in there! Ask some open-ended questions, like:
What does it mean to have rights “endowed by our Creator”?
How about the three rights that are spelled out – what do they really mean?
What do you do to USE these rights?
What can you do to make sure OTHERS can use these rights?
If YOU were in charge, what other “inalienable” rights would you want people to have? (credit to Sunday School Center for this great question!)
Say a prayer of thanks for the rights we have and the things our nation is doing right to safeguard them. For the ways in which we are falling short, pray for guidance.
Then continue with your experiment! In a bowl or second cup, pour about four tablespoons of the oil, then drop in a few drops each of your favorite food coloring colors. Mix the oil and food coloring with a fork, then pour it over the warm water. As the food coloring moves from the oil to the water, it will “explode” in beautiful bursts of color...or maybe it won’t.
In science, as in the founding of a new nation, we don’t always get things right the first time. We are always learning and growing and correcting our mistakes. You might need to adjust the size of your water jar, or the number of food coloring drops, or the speed of your pour. Learn from your failed experiments, and then celebrate your successful ones!
If you succeed in creating fireworks in a jar, please share pictures or video with us on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram – we’d love to celebrate along with you. Happy Fourth!
