Salt Crystal Sun-catcher

What do I need?

1 cup hot water
1 cup Epsom salt
Large plastic lid
Empty jar
Bowl or glass
Measuring cup
Fork
Tray
String
Microwave (optional)

What do I do?

Pour hot water into a glass jar or bowl (microwave or hot from the tap)
Add 1 cup of Epsom salt and stir together until the salt dissolves
Place plastic lids on a tray in a sunny location where they can remain undisturbed
Pour some of the mixture into the lid without overfilling
Leave in the sun and wait a few hours for them to crystalize!
Grab an adult to help carefully poke a hole towards the edge of the lid and thread a piece of string through for a beautiful hanging art!

What's going on?

When the Epsom salt is mixed in the hot water, it doesn’t just disappear. It’s still there, it just dissolves into the water. As the sun heats the liquid mixture, the water evaporates, leaving the salt crystals behind in the plastic lid. The forming of crystals is called crystallization. Some forms of salt are obtained through this very same process. Sea salt is often produced in dry climates such as the Mediterranean.

Ages

Grade 1

Grade 2

Grade 3

Grade 4

Grade 5

Type

Activities

Projects & Builds

Subject

Science

Art