Fireworks in a Jar
Fireworks in a Jar
Fireworks in a jar is a great activity
that will help lead to discussions
about:
1.
2.
3.
Density
Mixtures
Historical Events
(Revolutionary War)
This activity has been created to
showcase and explore the concept of
density in a fun and entertaining way.
The student will get to see
“fireworks” take place in a glass jar;
and we didn’t even have to wait until
the fourth of July.
It is important that the students have
been, or will be, introduced to the
concept of density prior to this
activity. Prompt students: “Can
anyone tell me what density is;
describe it to me in your own words.
Which has a higher density, water or
oil? How do you know?
ATTENTION: Due to allergies, make
sure that students do not come into
direct contact with oil or oil products.
If this activity is to be completed in
small groups, make sure to seek
parental consent for students to
handle the needed materials.
PS.2 The student will investigate and understand the nature of
matter. Key concepts include
a) the particle theory of matter;
b) elements, compounds, mixtures, acids, bases, and salts;
c) solids, liquids, and gases;
d) physical properties;
e) chemical properties; and
f) characteristics of types of matter based on physical and
chemical properties
Materials: Vegetable oil, food coloring, pie tin pan, clear glass jar,
plastic fork, water, access to technology (document camera,
screen)
Density: The mass per unit volume of a substance. It is often
times affected by the temperature of the substance.
*Oil is less dense than water.
*Food coloring dissolves in water, but NOT in oil.
*The glass jar should already be filled with warm water prior to starting the activity with students. Be cautious during handling
and warn students that glass is fragile.
Use the document camera to project activity as you model the first few steps. To begin, place tin pie pan on a flat surface.
Pour in a half cup of oil.
Prompt: “Who knows what happens when you add a drop of food coloring to water? Who knows what will happen if I were to
add a drop of food coloring to the oil? Will it react the same way or differently? Tell me why you think that.”
Add food coloring to oil (roughly eight to ten drops of food coloring)
Prompt 2: “Why do you think that the food coloring is not mixing? Why? Will stirring it make a difference? Stir with a fork.
“Did anything change?”
Pour the mixture (oil and food coloring) into a glass jar. Make sure that students pay close attention to the jar. “Watch very
closely, and see what happens next.” Fireworks!! The oil causes the food coloring to disperse at a slower rate; it looks like a
sudden burst. And because oil is less dense than water and oil floats, the fireworks happen near the top and middle of the jar of
water.