Dying eggs is one of my favorite family Easter traditions. The vibrant colors, fighting to use my favorite color first, eating of lots of hard boiled eggs, it all brings back happy memories of my childhood!
Of course my kids love my favorite family tradition too. I went simple with store bought dye packages this year, but did you know there is STEAM happening and ways to learn while dying Easter eggs?
Materials:
- Hard boiled eggs (see my Spinning Eggs post for recipe)
- Easter egg dying kit
PROCEDURE:
- Following the steps on your kit, place color tabs in separate small cups
- Add vinegar to the first line (about 1/3 cup). Watch the color tabs fizz.
- Draw pictures or write names on the eggs with a white crayon
4. After the color tabs have fully dissolved in the vinegar, add water to fill cups about 2/3 full
5. Drop eggs in cups. We initially left them for 5 minutes for vibrant color
6. Mix colors as desired to make colorful eggs! Create two-tone color by holding the egg half way into the color using the egg holder that comes in the kit (or hands as my kids chose to do)
7. Peel, eat, enjoy!
STEAM CONCEPTS LEARNED:
- Science: Did you know the vinegar plays an important role in the egg coloring? The acidic vinegar breaks down the calcium carbonate shell, creating more surface area for the dye to attach to. Pitsco Education has a great article with more information on this in their blog post.
You can also discuss the lifecycle or chickens with your kids to explain where eggs come from. Maybe they can hypothesize which came first: the chicken or the egg. 😉 - Art: There are many color learning opportunities while dying eggs. You can use primary colors then dip in a second primary color to create a secondary color. Ask you child to identify the colors used, and see if they can create more colors.
Now you finally have a use for the white crayon in your box that never gets used. You can draw a picture or write a message that may seem invisible on the white egg, but the wax crayon doesn’t absorb the color, so after dying the eggs your secret message will be revealed! - Math: Count the color tabs and ask how many cups you need (one per tab), count the eggs as you color them, set timers for dying the eggs.
So now you know this isn’t just a fun seasonal activity, your kids are learning too! Have you dyed eggs yet with your kids? Do you use kits or home made dyes?
If you enjoyed this post, check out my other Easter Egg themed posts:
Spinning Eggs – is it hard boiled or raw?
4 Ways to do Home Learning with Plastic Easter Eggs
Easter Egg Catapult
