Rainbow Cubes

Materials:

• Ice-cube trays
• food coloring
• plastic container

Nothing brightens up a cabin-bound day like a rainbow. If none are handy, your child can make one in the comfort of your kitchen.

Fill an ice-cube tray partway with water (you don't want the water overflowing the individual compartments). Then, have your children add food coloring to the water; a drop per cube is plenty. Encourage your child to be adventurous and mix and blend the colors. (Remember that concentrated food coloring can stain furniture, so work on newspapers and break out the painting smocks.)

Place the tray back in the freezer and allow the water to freeze. Remove the frozen cubes and place them in a plastic bowl or dish for observation (not for use in drinks); as the cubes melt, the colors will stream and swirl, adding to the fun.

For a fancier frozen rainbow, your child can layer colored ice in a plastic container. Color about half an inch of water in the container at a time, allowing it to freeze before adding the next layer.

Whatever colors your child chooses, the rainbows are certain to brighten up the day.

More on: Activities for Children Ages 6-10

Excerpted from:

© 2005 by Steve and Ruth Bennett. Excerpted from 365 Unplugged Family Fun Activities with permission of its publisher, Perseus Books Group, Inc. All rights reserved.

To order this book visit perseusbooksgroup.com.