As a homeschooling mom I am always looking for fun, easy science experiments for kids that make kids go WOW! These colorful crystals are such a fun crystal science fair projects for at home or school. I will show you step-by-step how to grow crystals with your preschool, pre-k, kindergarten, first grade, 2nd grade, 3rd grade, 4th grade, 5th grade, and 6th grade students.
How to grow crystals
This crystal science experiment is super easy and FUN for kids of all ages to try. Let me show you how to make salt crystals with just a few simple materials and only 20 minutes to set-up. Over the next 1-2 weeks your crystals will grow and your preschoolers, kindergartners, grade 1, grade 2, grade 3, grade 4, grade 5, and grade 6 students will be amazed! Ready to try this science project with how to grow crystals at home.
Crystal experiments
For this crystal growing science project all you need are a few simple materials:
- Coal (like you use on a bbq grill (I’ve heard cut up sponges will work too)
- Water in a squirt bottle
- 3 tablespoons uniodized salt
- 3 tablespoons ammonia (smells really strong so please use in a well ventilated area with the help of an adult)
- 6 tablespoons bluing
- morton salt (regular table salt)
- liquid food coloring (simple stuff you find in the cake aisle is what we used)
- glass pie pan to hold your crystals
Crystal science project
Day 1 – Put coal (or cut up sponges) on a pie plate. Spray the coal until it is moist, but there is not any extra water on the bottom.
Crystal growing science fair project
Mix together: 3 tablespoons uniodized salt, 3 tablespoons ammonia (smells really strong!), and 6 tablespoons bluing. Stir until the salt is dissolved.
Growing crystals science project
Pour the mixture evenly over the coal. Add a little water, stir, and pour the remaining mixture onto the coals. {You can see 2 year old Tinker Bell was fascinated with what was going on too!}
Grow crystals at home
Put drops of food coloring over the coals. {Areas without food coloring will be white.} Sprinkle with 2 TAB more of salt.
How to make crystals
Put your crystal garden somewhere where it will not be disturbed.
How to grow crystals at home
Day 2 – There are already some small white crystals growing.
Grow your own crystals
Day 3 – You have some very pretty and delicate crystals forming. You can be done at this point if you are satisfied or you can crank it u a notch and watch the crystals start to grow like CRAZY! Pour an additional mixture of 2 Tablespoons ammonia, 2 Tablespoons water, and 2 Tablespoons bluing in the bottom of the pan, careful not to disturb the delicate crystals. This will get pulled up through the coal as a food source.
How to grow crystals with salt
By day 12 our coal had all but dissapeared into large growths of crystal. We should have added more food coloring the 2nd time to get more colored formations. Instead the colored crystals started to get burried by large white, cauliflower looking crystals.
Have your children use a magnifying glass to observe the crystal up close. Pull off a piece and analyze what it feels like. Is it still delicate?
Now make sure to wash your hands with soap and water, throw out your project, and wash the pan and surface carefully.
Ready for your next fun science project? Check out these fun ideas below!
Fun Science Experiments
- 30 Simple Machines for Kids Experiments
- Launch this experiment and record your findings with this Coke and mentos experiment worksheet
- Lots of FUN Solar System Project Ideas for kids
- Printable Solar System Worksheets (free) or planet worksheets for kindergarten
- Grab these free printable solar system coloring pages
- Life-size Human Body Project with free printable body parts
- Colorful Capillary action science experiment (also known as walking water)
- 100 Amazing Food science experiments – arranged by type of science
- Free Printable Human Body for Kids Playdough Mats
- Leak proof bag fun science experiments
- Older students can dive deeper with these free skeletal system worksheet pages
- Amazing Why do leaves change color experiment
- Learn about seasons with this cool free 4 seasons printables
- Animals and their Babies matching puzzles
- Take a closer look at animals with this free printable animal report for for kids
Science Exeriments for Kids
Looking for lots more fun, science experiments for kids? You’ve GOT to try some of these outrageously fun science experiments for kids! We have so many fun, creative and easy science experiments for elementary age children:
- How to Make a Lava Lamp – super easy and SO cool!
- Weather Unit for prek-3rd graders filled with experiments, activities and weather worksheets
- Make it rain and write your observations in these cloud in a jar experiment worksheet
- Learn about our moon with these activities and moon worksheets for 1st grade
- Free Water Cycle Worksheets for kids
- Discover a world of geology with these rock worksheets for kids
- Free printable states of matter activity with clip cards
- Discover what lies below the surface with these free Layers of Earth Worksheets
- Make playdough earth layers with this super cool geology experiment for kids
- LOTS of year-round Science Experiments for Kids
- Kids will love this outrageously fun pipe clean constellations activity
- This look inside a volcano experiment for kids takes learning to a whole new level
- Chromatography Butterflies project for kids
- Learn about the kingdom Animalia with over 20 Zoo Scavenger Hunt free printables
- Harness the power of fruit with this simple Lemon Clock for kids
- Easy Bernoulli’s principle experiment at home
- Amaze kids with this simple burning candle experiment with free worksheets
Easy Science Experiments
- Gross and so cool Digestive System Project for kids of all ages
- Amazing Rainbow in a Jar Experiment for Kids
- Epic Baking Soda and Vinegar Rocket Experiment
- Cool Milk and Vinegar Expeirment making plastic!
- Learn about your amazing brain with this activity and brain worksheets
- How do hands work project for kids
- Super cool and easy-to-make, working lego balloon car
- Plants for kids lesson
- Explore magnets with these EPIC magnet experiments for kids
- Popsicle Stick Catapult for kids – simple STEM project
- Simple light bulb experiment (it actually lights up!)
- Easy-to-make balloon hoovercraft
- Bouncy Eggs and eggs in vinegar experiment worksheet
- Learn about density for kids with these simple balloon solid, liquid, gas hands-on activities
- Create your own super simple bot
- Beautiful, color changing capillary action experiment with flowers
- WOW your kids with how to make a Newton’s cradle project
- Heat-sensitive, Color Changing Slime is SO COOL!
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