Do you love painting? Have fun and be creative with your very own homemade watercolour paints. This easy to do recipe includes just 5 ingredients you will probably have at home in the kitchen.

Tips before you begin:

• Don’t forget to ask an adults permission first.
• Make sure you wear some old clothes or use an art smock. These paints shouldn’t stain your clothes but you will want to stay clean.
• If you need help with measuring, ask an adult to help you

What you need:

• 4 tablespoons baking soda (bicarbonate soda)
• 2 tablespoons white vinegar
• 1/2 teaspoon light corn syrup (you can also use glucose syrup)
• 2 tablespoons cornstarch (also known as corn flour)
• Food colouring (icing gels produce the most intense colours)
• Mini Muffin Tin or ice cube tray to store paints
• Spoons or spatulas for stirring
• Mixing bowl
• Toothpicks

How to make it:

1. Combine the baking soda and vinegar together in a mixing bowl. The mixture will fizz, so wait till the fizzing stops.
2. Add corn syrup and cornstarch, and mix until well dissolved.
3. Pour into a mini muffin tin or ice cube tray
4. Your mixture will thicken if you stop stirring so keep it moving as you pour.
5. Add a dab of icing gel or 6 drops of liquid food colour to each compartment of paint. Stir your colour in with a toothpick.

Hint: If you are using liquid food colour, try an extra pinch of cornstarch if needed to soak up the extra liquid.

1. Now the hard part – you have to let your paints dry completely. This could take between 24-48 hours.
2. When your paint has dried, simply swish with a wet paint brush to use.

How to store your paint:

When you have finished painting, simply store the paint uncovered and the paint will dry out, ready for when you want to use again.

Have fun at home with this DIY experiment where water, science and music come together!

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What you need:

• Water
• 6 to 8 identical glasses or jars
• Measuring cups
• Kitchen utensil e.g. wooden or plastic spoon

How to make it:

1. Line up the glasses in a straight line on a solid surface.
2. Leave the first glass empty.
3. In the next glass, measure and fill with 1/4 cup of water.
4. Increase the amount of water in each of the following glasses by 1/4 cup at a time. E.g. In the second glass place 1/2 cup of water, in the third glass place 3/4 cup of water, in the fourth glass place 1 cup of water.
   Tip: Add different coloured food dye or glitter in each glass for a fun rainbow twist!

You now have a water xylophone! Use your kitchen utensil to tap gently on each glass.

Investigate what you hear! Talk about why you think each one sounds different. Can you make a song or play a tune you know?

How does it work?

When your kitchen utensil gently taps on the glass, the water inside vibrates. The amount of water in the glass will change the speed of the vibrations. The more water in the glass, the more it slows down the vibrations creating a lower pitch. If there is no water in the glass, there is nothing in the way of the vibrations, allowing them to move quickly through the air into our ears. This creates the highest sound in the water xylophone.