This raining rainbow cloud in a jar not only makes it rain, but it makes a hurricane! A simple STEM project for little ones (and older kids love it too!)
Science experiments for kids can be super complicated. Just the other day, we did a full-blown energy efficiency experiment with control groups, recording, measuring, variations, and the whole nine yards. That was really cool, but, we don’t always have time for such complicated and involved science lessons and STEM activities.
I remember doing this rainbow salt jar project when I was young– one of my favorites. I loved the process of making it, the way the colors looked next to each other, how the layers undulated in the jar. I remember begging my mother to let me do this more. She claimed that it used too much salt – way too expensive. Given that the salt I bought my children was $0.50 a canister and could make. There are many ways to make calm down jars but we think we might have perfected how to make them both smooth and timed just perfectly. How to Make Rainbow Calm Down Jars. Materials you need for Rainbow Calm Down Jars. Recycled Jar ( I love VOSS plastic jars) Glitter Glue; Extra Glitter (for extra shine) Warm Water; Making Rainbow Calm Down Jars.
Little kids, too, love discovering science and experimenting but they’re not ready for complicated projects.
How To Make A Rainbow In A Jar Science Project
If you’ve ever had a kid ask you how rain works, you can show them easily with this simple science lesson! It’s the perfect addition to your spring STEM activities!
The raining rainbow cloud in a jar (our version was a hurricane!), shows kids how clouds hold on to moisture until it gets too heavy, then, it releases it all in a big gush of rain! This experiment fits in perfectly with our other St. Patrick’s Day STEM activities.
This activity is one of our favorite technology activities for kids!
Easy Science for Kids: Raining Rainbow Cloud in a Jar
Find out how to make your own cloud in a jar below:
DON’T MISS: THE COMPLETE LIST OF ST. PATRICK’S DAY STEM ACTIVITIES!
This project is appropriate for toddlers and preschoolers (as long as they don’t try to eat the shaving cream).
What you’ll need for your raining rainbow cloud in a jar:
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- Shaving cream
- Mason jar
- Food coloring in as many rainbow colors as you can find (we found red, yellow, green, blue, and purple)
- Water
Fill your jar mostly full of water. Fill the top of the jar with shaving cream. Don’t make the shaving cream layer too thick if you have impatient kids or they will get bored before the liquid travels all the way through the shaving cream.
Drop the food coloring on the surface of the cloud in a rainbow pattern. We wanted to see if we could actually get the clouds to rain a rainbow shape, but that didn’t quite work out.
But we were left with some pretty, swirly colors!
Keep adding colors a bit at a time until your whole jar is a hurricane of swirling color.
Watch our cloud in a jar in action!
More Weather Activities for Kids
Weather Unit Study
This rainbow cake in a jar looks really pretty and makes a great gift. It’s a perfect solution when you need a few small gifts since the recipe will make about four small rainbow cakes (depending on the size of the mason jars and the cake mix used). Once you have completed the rainbow cake you can print the custom labels to personalize the gift and add a more professional touch.
There are two different methods to make a rainbow cake in a mason jar. The first method is to pour the cake batter into the mason jar, layer by layer, and then bake the batter in the mason jar. The layers tend to mix and it often creates a messy finish. The advantage is that you don’t waste any cake batter and you will probably get around 3 to 4 rainbow cake mason jars.
Another method is to bake the colored cakes and then cut out circles the size of the mason jar. You then spread white frosting on each circle and carefully insert each layer into the mason jar, layer by layer, until they are all inside the jar. The disadvantage is that you will waste some cake and will probably only get around 2 to 3 rainbow cake mason jars but you can make cake pops with the leftovers. You can also just insert the leftovers into a jar and I’m sure that there will be many volunteers to eat the cake even if it doesn’t look perfect!
This method creates a perfect finish and makes your gift look spectacular!
Ingredients:
- 1 Box white cake mix and any other ingredients required according to the instructions on the box
- Ready-made / home-made white frosting
- Gel food colors (red, orange, yellow, green, blue and purple)
- Wide mouth mason jars
- Wet wipes or paper towels (to wipe the jar down if necessary)
- Disposable spoons
- White ribbons
- Rainbow sprinkles
Method:
- Wash and dry the mason jars.
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit or 180 degrees Celsius.
- Make the white cake batter according to the directions on the box.
- Divide the batter into six portions (you can make more or less colors if you prefer).
- Add a different food color to each portion. Since food color is often very concentrated add a few drops and mix and then only add more if necessary. It is easy to add more but problematic if you add too much.
To bake the rainbow cake in the Mason jar:
- If you are going to bake the rainbow cakes in the mason jars then spoon about a quarter of the red batter into the first jar. Then add the orange batter, then the yellow, then the green, then the blue and then the purple.
- If the batter drips on the jar then wipe it clean before moving on to the next layer.
- Repeat these steps until you have finished all of the batter.
- Fill the bottom of a glass baking dish with about a half inch of water. This will prevent the cake from browning. Carefully place the mason jars in the baking dish.
- Bake for about half an hour or a little longer if necessary (until a toothpick comes out clean). It is important that the cake is ready yet not browned as it won’t look as good.
To bake the rainbow cake before inserting in the mason jar:
- Pour each portion of batter into a small baking dish.
- Bake until a toothpick comes out clean (go according to the cake instructions but check it early since you are only baking part of the cake box and it should be ready sooner).
- Allow to cool.
- Cut out circles the size of the mason jar’s opening. If you do not have a round cookie cutter then use the jar to cut the cake into circles. You can also use a glass cup if you have one the same size.
- Spread each circle with white frosting and then gently insert into the mason jar. Start with the red cake, then add the orange cake, then the yellow, then the green, then the blue and then the purple.
For both methods continue from here:
- Add frosting.
- Decorate with colored sprinkles.
- Connect a spoon to each mason jar and tie with a ribbon or string.
- Make a heart shaped chalkboard custom label and adhere with paper glue (unless you print on sticker paper)