Toy expert talks combining fun with science in the kitchen

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- The kitchen is for more than cooking up family dishes, as it can also be a great starting point to have fun while learning about science.

To demonstrate how, Marianne Szymanski of Toy Tips joined us on Monday, Feb. 12 with demonstrations of some fun experiments that will excite both kids and kids at heart.

She discussed several options, including the following recipes for kitchen fun:

The tried-and-true Baking Soda and Vinegar and Homemade Dough Volcano: Learn about chemistry when you mix 2 common baking ingredients while creating your own volcanic experience.

Homemade Dough Recipe:
1 cup flour
1 cup water
1/2 cup salt
1 tsp l (vegetable, canola, olive or avocado) oil. It is suggested not to use peanut oil because of possible allergies.
2 tsp cream of tartar
Food Coloring

Put in a saucepan and cook over low heat. Mix well until you get the consistency you want. You can adjust the flour or water as needed.

Edible Alternatives:
Cinnamon Dough and Peanut Butter Dough

Mix: 1/2 cup Cinnamon and 1/2 cup applesauce
Miix: 1/4 cup peanut butter, 1/2 cup non-fat dry milk with 1/2 Tbsp honey

Once you prepare your dough and mold into a volcano shape, place a few pinches of Baking Soda in the bottom and pour Vinegar inside and watch the volcano “erupt”. Depending on the size of your volcano, this is a perfect lesson to discuss chemistry and experiment with the amounts of each. For more fun, you can add food dye to the vinegar and introduce color play.

Dancing Popcorn: Popcorn kernels pop into a treat. But can they dance is a liquid solution? You just need a mason jar, a handful of raw popcorn kernels, vinegar and water to learn what can happen when mixed. Pour 1 cup of water into the Mason Jar, add 1 TBSP Baking Soda and add a handful of raw popcorn kernels. Then add 1/2 cup vinegar until the kernels begin to “dance” in the jar.

Cotton Candy: Experiments with candy can lead to discussions about how sugar can transform. Cotton candy is mostly air and surprisingly that big puff we love to eat does not have as much sugar that one may think. A large soda may have more sugar. Cotton Candy is made by spinning sugar into fine threads that dissolves quickly if put in water. The is a great experiment to show how solid can dissolve and also how one solid form can transform to another form. Put a puff in water or juice and allow children to try on their own.

Pudding Finger Paint: For toddlers, drawing on a highchair tray creates a medium for messy fun. Use store bought pudding cups or make your own and use this edible “paint” as a creative task to keep busy. For preschoolers you can thin the “pudding paint” out and use a paper towel roll to make round shaped “stamps”.

Learn more about Toy Tips by clicking here.