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in Christmas STEM Activities· Seasonal STEAM· STEM Activities

Laminar Science Experiment: Galaxy Edition

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Combine a love of Christmas and a love of the galaxy in a STEAM exploration of galaxy Christmas ornaments. Kids will love this laminar science experiment!

Combine a love of Christmas and a love of the galaxy in a STEAM exploration of galaxy Christmas ornaments. Kids will love this simple STEM activity!

We watched a video the other day of a color mixing laminar experiment  a few days ago, and I was completely fascinated by the process.

I tried recreating the Christmas STEM experiment at home, but I wasn’t able to and we ran out of corn syrup.

But all the experimentation reminded me of a galaxy, which is how this experiment was born!

The kids loved both the “failed” experiment and the Christmas galaxy ornaments. 

Related: Christmas STEM Activities and Science Projects

Laminar Science

christmas stem challenge cards

This lesson starts with viscosity.

You add in corn syrup dyed different colors into the laminar machine. Then, when the laminar is turned, the colors spread out into solid layers.

The longer the laminar is turned, the more the colors spread and mix.

Then, when you turn the handle the other way, the colors unmix!

It’s a super cool science experiment that has mind-blowing results.

According to Wikipedia, the machine works like this:

In fluid dynamics, laminar flow is characterized by fluid particles following smooth paths in layers, with each layer moving smoothly past the adjacent layers with little or no mixing. At low velocities, the fluid tends to flow without lateral mixing, and adjacent layers slide past one another like playing cards.

Science in a Bottle: Galaxy Christmas Ornaments

Combine a love of Christmas and a love of the galaxy in a STEAM exploration of galaxy Christmas ornaments. Kids will love this simple STEM activity!

Try this experiment to make your own galaxy in a Christmas ornament!

Please note, these ornaments are for play only and are not meant to be hung on the Christmas tree.

What you’ll need to make galaxy Christmas ornaments:

  • Mineral or vegetable oil
  • Oil-based food coloring
  • Pipettes
  • Plastic Christmas ornaments
  • Mason jars

Making Your DIY Galaxy Science Christmas Ornaments

Combine a love of Christmas and a love of the galaxy in a STEAM exploration of galaxy Christmas ornaments. Kids will love this simple STEM activity!

Fill your Christmas ornaments with vegetable or mineral oil. Place the ornament inside a mason jar for support.

Combine a love of Christmas and a love of the galaxy in a STEAM exploration of galaxy Christmas ornaments. Kids will love this simple STEM activity!

Dip the pipette into the color of your choice and place the tip near the bottom of the oil-filled ornament.

Release the color into the oil. The oil will slowly spread out and fall, creating a galaxy-like effect.

Add as many colors as you like.

Combine a love of Christmas and a love of the galaxy in a STEAM exploration of galaxy Christmas ornaments. Kids will love this simple STEM activity!

Eventually, the food coloring will fall to the bottom and mix in with the oil (at least, that’s what ours did).

But it took quite a long time and the girls were able to create a lot of different patterns with their Christmas ornament globes.

Combine a love of Christmas and a love of the galaxy in a STEAM exploration of galaxy Christmas ornaments. Kids will love this simple STEM activity!

We hope to try laminar flow again one day, but the girls thought our substitute was cool enough.

They were fascinated with how slowly the color moved through the oil and how they could make different patterns by adding different amounts of color to the oil.

Combine a love of Christmas and a love of the galaxy in a STEAM exploration of galaxy Christmas ornaments. Kids will love this simple STEM activity!
christmas stem challenge cards

Christmas STEM Activities by Grade

Christmas STEM Activities for Preschool

Christmas STEM Activities for Kindergarten

Christmas STEM Activities for 1st Grade

Christmas STEM Activities for 2nd Grade

Christmas STEM Activities for 3rd Grade

Christmas STEM Activities for 4th Grade

Christmas STEM Activities for 5th Grade

Christmas STEM Activities for Middle School

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Filed Under: Christmas STEM Activities, Seasonal STEAM, STEM Activities Tagged With: christmas

About Brenda Priddy

Brenda grew up thinking she hated science.

But when her 4-year- old daughter was more interested in reading science facts than fairy tales, Brenda realized she had to learn more about science to keep up with her daughter.

Through simple at-home science experiments, Brenda developed a passion for science and now acts as an advocate for STEM education for kids at her website STEAMsational.com.

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What is STEAM?

STEAM activities for kids promote the idea that science, technology, engineering, art, and math can all work together to help kids become critical thinkers, problem solvers, and innovators!

Join us on our journey to discover just how much fun science experiments can be.

What we do… 

STEAMsational offers STEM and science lesson plans and teaching resources to provide a firm STEM foundation for children in the classroom or home.

All you need to do is find your supplies, gather your scientists, and let the innovation unfold.

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