Glow in the Dark Ice Paint: Kids' Science and Art

It's glow in the dark ice painting! Break out the black light and tonic water! No, I’m not talking about having a 70s theme disco and drinks party (but if you’ve got the velvet Elvis to put up, why not?). What I am talking about is a science and art exploration for your child.

I’ve been kind of obsessed with icy art lately. Not only can your child make colorful cubes, but she can also create her own glowing paint. I’ve done DIY glow paints before, but adding a frozen edge makes this activity even more fun for the kids.  Discover the wonder of tonic water and its glowing properties. Add on a liquid to solid to liquid transformation and you can compound the science learning for your child.

 

Here’s What You’ll Need:

·        An ice cube tray

·        Tonic water

·        Glitter

·        Dark paper

·        A black light

Here’s What to Do:

1.     Fill up an ice cube tray with tonic water. Add some glitter to a few cubes for added sparkle.

 

2.     Put the tray into the freezer.

3.     Pop the cubes out of the tray when they are frozen. In the regular light they look just like run of the mill ice cubes.

4.     Turn off the lights and turn on the black light. Like magic, the cubes begin to glow! Before your child ‘paints’ with the cubes she can stack them, turn them around and investigate the glowing ice.

 

5.     Paint with the cubes. Have your child run the cubes over dark paper, leaving behind a trail of glowing, glittering water.

 

 

Even though you won’t have much other than a wet sheet of paper left behind to show for the activity, you can keep it going by snapping a few pics during the process and then talking about them later. You can also repeat the activity with regular water to make a comparison (the regular water won’t glow). Ask your child why she thins one glows and the other doesn’t (hint: it’s the quinine in the tonic). You can also talk to her about states of matter and ask her to tell you what happened as she warmed the solid ice by painting with it.

 

Are you looking for more art and science explorations? Follow my Pinterest board for ideas!

Follow Mini Monets and Mommies's board Preschool Art and Science Activities on Pinterest.