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Rachael Jackson

Experiments w a Message

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Introduction
Experiments with a Message is a 15-part curriculum designed for the Preschool
classroom. The curriculum was created by Rachael Jackson (HUC-JIR Rabbinical
student, ordination 2015), a former chemist-turned rabbinical student, with guidance from
Rabbi Shena Jaffee at the Mayerson JCC Early Childhood School. The curriculum can
be a helpful tool to introduce science into the early childhood classroom while
simultaneously finding an intersection between scientific concepts and Jewish values.
Each page of the packet contains one science experiment activity. The activity
instructions include a suggested introductory exercise (reading a book, hearing a song,
etc.), supply list, step-by-step instructions for conducting the scientific experiment, and a
one-sentence explanation of the scientific concept being explored and the corresponding
Jewish value. The supplies needed are simple and accessible supplies found in your
pantry or grocery store.
Each activity should take about 20-30 minutes to complete. Most of the activities can be
modified to use with older children in the Elementary School classroom.

Rachael Jackson

Experiments w a Message

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Alphabetical by Experiment

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Bridges
Buoyancy
Celery/Daisy Tinting
Cleaning Pennies
Density Drawings
Density Layers
Density Tests
Elephant Toothpaste
Lemon Juice Bubbles [alternative to elephant toothpaste]
Grape Juice Colors
Invisible Ink Drawings
Magnetism
Milk Art
Salt and Sound
Self-inflatable Balloon
Straw-hoop Plane

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**SAFETY**
PLEASE NOTE: This is science! Even though we use everyday ingredients and in other cases
we might be able to eat them, when we are doing experiments, we do not put anything in our
mouths.
Jewish Value

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[ Kehilah] Community
[ Ahavat Yisrael] Love of Israel
[ Shomrei Adamah] Caretakers of the Earth
[ Tzedakah] Charity
[ Baal taschit] Not being careless or wasteful
[ Al shlosha devarim] On three things
[ Ometz Lev] Bravery
[ Yachad] Togetherness
[alternative to ]
[ Shabbat] Sabbath
[ Hishtommemut] Wonderment
[ Nes katan] Small miracle
[ Omanut] Art
[ Shomrei haguf] Caring for our bodies
[ Hidush] Innovation
[ Lo alecha hamlecha ligmor] Dont complete the work

Rachael Jackson

Experiments w a Message

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Title: Cleaning Pennies

Sample Picture:
Scientific topic: Acid as a cleaner of pennies
Jewish Value: [ Tzedakah] Charity. What concepts of can this experiment
demonstrate: When giving or donating items (toys, clothes, etc.), is it preferable to give a
dirty, used- up thing we no longer want or rather to give a clean, shiny and beautiful item wed
like to use ourselves?
In past experiments, each child chose to give 3 or more of their pennies to .

Introductory activity: Read: Bennys Pennies by Pat Brisson. Ask what will they do with
their pennies now that they are cleaned?

Materials:
1)
2)
3)
4)
5)

5 moderately dirty pennies

Table salt
Vinegar
Dixie cup
Tzedakah box

Directions:
1)
2)
3)
4)
5)
6)
7)

Have a small cup, pre-measured vinegar (2T), and pre-measured salt ( t).
Add the salt to the cup
Add the vinegar to the cup
Add the penny to the cup
Stir; see what happens
Add 4 additional pennies one at a time
Each child will then have 5 clean pennies

Science Explanation: Vinegar is an acid, and the acid in the vinegar reacts with the salt to
remove what chemists call copper oxide which was making your pennies dull.
Expansion idea: Try other acids (ketchup, cola, lemons, etc.) and see how well they work to
varying degrees too.

Rachael Jackson

Experiments w a Message

Page 4 of 7

Title: Density Drawings

Sample Picture:
Scientific topic: Density: how oil floats on water
Jewish Value: [ Baal taschit] Not being careless or wasteful. We must not be
careless or wasteful in how we use oil. Oil is hard to remove from all mediums, especially water.
It is our job to treat the earth well.

Introductory activity: Read: Roscoe and the Pelican Rescue by Lynn Rowe Reed.
Demonstrate how difficult it is to just pick up oil.

Materials:
1)
2)
3)
4)
5)
6)
7)

Shallow Pan (like a brownie pan)

Water
Food Coloring
Cooking Oil
White Paper
Fork
Cups

Directions:
1)
2)
3)
4)
5)
6)
7)

Put tablespoon of cooking oil in each cup

Add separate food coloring to each cup. Stir to mix (best with a fork)
Fill shallow pan halfway with water
Pour a little of the colored oil into the water (it should float)
Swirl the colors as desired (fork works here too)
Lay a clean/white sheet of paper on top of the pan for about 15sec
Carefully lift off paper, trying to remove excess oil; allow to dry (best if dried on
newspaper)

Science Explanation: Water is denser than oil which means the oil floats and therefore
contacts the paper. However, since water and oil do not mix, the oil sticks to paper without
changing design.

Rachael Jackson

Experiments w a Message

Page 5 of 7

Title: Invisible Ink Drawings

Sample Picture:
Scientific topic: Oxidation; lemon juice (or citrus) turns brown when exposed to heat
Jewish Value: [ Hishtommemut] Wonderment. We may not see everything on the
surface. Be ready to be amazed by life.

Introductory activity: Talk about what amazes each of us. Younger children might be more
open to awe; older children can use the reminder/renewed amazement (especially in
supplementary school).

Materials:
1)
2)
3)
4)

Lemon Juice
Q-tips
Paper
Hair dryer

Directions:
1)
2)
3)
4)

Pour some lemon juice into small cup

Use q-tips to draw picture on paper
Use hair dryer to heat up lemon juice
Watch lemon juice turn brown and have picture show up

Science Explanation:
Lemon juice is an organic substance, meaning it contains carbon compounds. These compounds
are pretty much colorless at room temperature. But heat can break down these compounds,
releasing the carbon. If the carbon comes in contact with the air, a process called oxidation
occurs, and the substance turns light or dark brown. (Other substances that work in a similar way
include: orange juice, honey, milk, onion juice, vinegar and wine.)

Rachael Jackson

Experiments w a Message

Page 6 of 7

Title: Milk Art

Sample Picture:
Scientific topic: Fat and protein break-down. Milk has both fat and proteins which can be
broken down by dish soap.

Jewish Value: [ Omanut] Art. Art can be created from a variety of forms. Whats
beautiful is in the eye of the beholder.

Introductory activity: Read: Vincents Colors by Vincent van Gogh

Materials:
1)
2)
3)
4)
5)

Milk (2% and whole milk work best; half/half does not work great)
Food coloring
Dish soap
Q-tips
Shallow dish

Directions:
1)
2)
3)
4)
5)

Add milk to dish

Add a few drops of color wherever is desired
Put dish soap on end of q-tip
Dip q-tip in milk
Watch the food coloring scatter
Optional: Take picture of plate and send to parents or put on wall in classroom.

Science Explanation:
Milk contains protein and tiny amounts of fat in it. Both fat and proteins are very sensitive to
chemical changes. The chemicals in the dish soap weaken the chemical bonds that hold the
protein together in the milk. The food coloring allows us to visibly see the changes in the protein
molecules. Also, the soap molecules cause the fat in the milk to mix and swirl until the fat has
been distributed across the entire amount of milk.

Rachael Jackson

Experiments w a Message

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