There's something utterly mesmerising about watching coloured blobs rise and fall through oil - and this experiment delivers that wow factor every single time. Your little ones will explore what happens when coloured water and oil meet a surprise ingredient, creating their very own erupting lava lamp at home. It's quick to set up, simple to run, and guaranteed to have everyone gathered around the jar in wide-eyed wonder.

You will need:

• Water
• Vegetable oil
• Alka-Seltzer tablets
• STOCKMAR Aquarelle Watercolours

Step 1: Mix STOCKMAR Aquarelle Watercolours to create your desired colour in paint pots.

Step 2: Fill clear jars with ⅓ coloured water and ⅔ oil.

Step 3: Break the Alka-Seltzer tablets into pieces, drop them into the jar — and watch the eruption begin.

These experiments are so much more than a fun afternoon activity - they're quietly doing some serious work.

• The Lava Lamp, explores concepts like density, buoyancy, and chemical reactions in a completely hands-on way.
• Oobleck introduces the fascinating world of non-Newtonian fluids - materials that don't behave the way we'd expect - which is the kind of mind-expanding discovery that stays with little ones long after the mess is cleaned up.
• Add colour mixing into both activities and you've woven in colour theory and creative expression alongside the science.

This is what STEM through play looks like - joyful, open-ended, and full of genuine discovery.

Ready to explore more STEM fun? Discover our thoughtfully curated STEM Through Play collection - filled with beautiful resources to nurture curious, creative thinkers at every stage.