Red, White, And Blue Salt Jars

Materials:

Empty baby food jars with lids, 9 cups rock salt, Red and blue food coloring, (PI) cup rubbing alcohol

Directions:

AN ADULT MUST DO THIS PART

1. To make the colored rock salt: Measure 3 cups of rock salt to be blue, 3 cups to be white, and 3 cups to be red, and place each in three separate bowls.

2. Combine (pi) cup of rubbing alcohol with (PI) a bottle or more of red food coloring (you want the colors to be bright). Do the same for the blue food coloring.

3. Mix the red alcohol mixture into one of the bowls of rock salt. Mix well and let sit for about 1 minute. Drain the excess alcohol mixture off of the rock salt. (WARNING: This will smell pretty yucky!) Spread the colored rock salt on cookie sheets and set outside in the sun to dry (this will take only an hour or so). Repeat the same procedure for the blue food coloring.

4. Do nothing with the remaining rock salt because you want it to stay white.

ACTIVITY FOR THE CHILDREN

1. Once the different colors of salt are dry, place them on a table with spoons and baby food jars.

2. Guide the children to spoon the colored rock salt into their jars.

3. Seal the children's creation with the lid.

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