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My daughter has been experiencing and loving making our own baking soda and vinegar reaction for years. Sometimes we add food coloring or glitter. Sometimes we create play dough volcanoes to fill with baking soda and vinegar and watch the reaction erupt all down the side of our colorful mountain. There comes a time, though, that we needed to do something different. This time it was time to watch a dancing rice experiment.
Dancing Rice Experiment
This was more interesting and exciting to watch than I expected! And even more importantly, my daughter was obsessed. We actually did this ‘dancing rice experiment’ more than once. It was THAT exciting.
Materials Needed
- White Vinegar
- Baking Soda
- Instant Rice (non-instant rice is too dense for this project)
- Clear Jar
- Water
- Food Coloring (Optional)
How To
- Fill the Clear Jar 3/4 Way Full Of Water. If desired, mix in food coloring.
- Add in 1 TBS of Baking Soda and Stir. Mix completely.
- 1/4 Cup Of Uncooked Rice. Note that instant rice is needed for this project! Non-instant rice is too dense and won’t result in a “dancing” reaction.
- Add in 1-2 TBS of White Vinegar.
The reaction didn’t happen at first, I had to add in a little more vinegar than I had initially expected. When we did, though, it was awesome. The top fizzed slightly but then the rice just started dancing around the jar. It was fantastic.
I am glad we added in food coloring. It made the effect of the dancing rice experiment look even more cool. It almost looked like a black light show or some sort of light show. This experiment truly was fun.
This can be a fantastic example for children to show cause and effect as well as chain reactions. A reaction can occur with just baking soda and vinegar, but when the other ingredients are added a different reaction occurs.
This science experiment would be excellent in a preschool or lower level elementary classroom setting or at home. Children will enjoy the dancing of the rice. Maybe even turn on some music and tell kids to dance like the rice.
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Nice ideas its kids enjoyed the lots
Thanks for this idea
What a fun and simple twist to make the baking soda and vinegar trick fresh and interesting!
love it
Awesome
Such a cool idea
Fantastic science experiment!
what do you mean by instant rice? is that microwave rice that’s cold? as in its cooked? thanks cant wait to do it with my group!! cheers