Mad Science Camp: July 4th!

Let me put together a July 4th post with science ideas.  First, here is an article and lesson about fireworks; this is definitely School, not camp.  Here is a whole page of chemistry articles, labs, etc—all School.  FYI, Underwater Fireworks sounds great, but was a bust when my AP Chem class tried it.  The lab was costly and underwhelming.  Alia-Seltzer Fireworks look promising.  Exploding paint?  Might be messy.  Elephant’s Toothpaste makes a good demo.  This version uses concentrated hydrogen peroxide—available at a beauty supply store.  I taught Chem for many years and am comfortable using 30% hydrogen peroxide.  You may want to do Kid Friendly Elephant’s Toothpaste with 3% hydrogen peroxide from the grocery store.  Just squirt red and blue tempera down the sides of the bottle to make it patriotic.  You could  make Red, White, and Blue baking soda and vinegar reactions.  Tint clear soda red and blue and make Mentos and Coke Geysers.  Even when kids have done a reaction, they seem to like a variation on a theme.  Make a red white and blue CD Spinner.  Okay, one last idea: the Patriotic Colors Kit.  Here are detailed lab instructions.  Make Colorful Lather Prints like these Patriotic Fireworks.  Go for it!