Glow in the Dark Flower(Ages 9-16)
With Halloween around the corner and the days turning shorter and darker, my kids have been obsessed with all things glow-in-the-dark. With their newfound interest, we decided to try out this DIY glowing project. All you need is a flower and a few household objects. What else can you make glow?
Want to explore more glow-in-the-dark awesomeness without the hassle of gathering materials? Discover the science of glowing slime with Chalkboard & Glow Slime from the KiwiCo Store!
Glow in the Dark Jello(Ages 9-16)
Did you know that with only a couple of small tweaks, you can turn ordinary Jell-O, into a ghoulish, glow in the dark treat? Read on to check out this simple, but awesome trick, and learn a bit about the science behind fluorescence in the process!
How to Make Glow in the Dark Jello
Glow in the Dark Bouncy Balls(Ages 5-16)
My kids love anything colorful and messy, so I'm always on the lookout for gooey projects! We've explored slime before, so I knew we also had to check out these glow-in-the-dark bouncy balls. My kids were thrilled to find out we could make our own and bounce them in the dark! Borax (sodium tetraborate) is a naturally-occurring mineral salt commonly used as a laundry booster or cleaner. As with any other cleaning product, it should be kept away from children not under direct supervision of an adult. Do not allow children to ingest Borax. If consumed, contact a poison control center immediately.
Want to learn more about chemistry without the hassle of gathering materials? Explore the science of thermochromism with Color Changing Slime from the KiwiCo Store!
Pac-Man Inspired Glowing Ghost(Ages 5-16)
My kids recently discovered Pac-Man at a pizza parlour, and were fascinated by the retro video game. The pixelated ghosts glowing on the black screen gave me the idea to use electroluminescent (EL) wire to make light-up ghosts of our own! EL wire can be used to create bright outlines that will stand out in the dark. You can make your own glowing ghosts, and customize them however you like!
Make Glowing Bouncy Eggs (Ages 5-12)
Soak an egg in vinegar and highlighter ink to dissolve the shell and make a glowing, bouncy egg. A spooky science experiment kids can do at home.
Want more egg science? Eggsperiments uses the scientific method to explore chemistry, physics, and biology with eggs, including how to make an egg bounce.
5 Glow-in-the-Dark Halloween Projects for Kids Ages 9 to 12
Glowing projects are a natural fit for Halloween night, and each of these comes with real light science. Black lights give off ultraviolet light, which our eyes can’t see. Fluorescent materials like highlighter ink and tonic water absorb that UV light and give it back as visible light, which is the glow you see. These five projects for ages 9 to 12 use that idea to light up flowers, gelatin, bouncy balls, and eggs. The ghosts add a second kind of glow: electroluminescent wire, which lights up when a small electric current runs through it.