• Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • YouTube

Playdough To Plato

Fun learning activities for kids! Literacy, math, science and more.

  • Home
    • Our Story
    • Giving Back
    • Frequently Asked Questions
    • Contact Us
    • Become an Affiliate
  • Preschool
    • Fine Motor
    • Math
    • Literacy
    • Science
  • Kindergarten
    • Math
    • Reading
    • Science
    • Writing
  • First Grade
    • Math
    • Reading
    • Science
    • Writing
  • Blog
  • Shop
    • Preschool
    • Kindergarten
    • First Grade
    • Second Grade
    • Cart
  • 0 items

Crystal Names

January 9, 2015 by Noirin Lynch Filed Under: Chemistry, First Grade Science, Kids' Science, Kindergarten Science, Most Popular Posts, Plato's Blog, Preschool Science, Winter 85 Comments

Activity for ages 3 and up.

This easy-peasy, low cost science experiment uses borax to grow crystal names. Whether your child is 3 or 103, they’re sure to get excited about seeing their name shimmer and sparkle in the sunlight. Crystal names are one of our favorite kids’ science experiments yet.

P.S. Looking for some easy ways to add super cool, hands-on science to your classroom or home? Hop over and grab our super cool science kit!

Super awesome science for kids! Make crystal names in jar. {Playdough to Plato}

Even though my 5 year old can easily write her name, she never tires of seeing it, especially when it sparkles and glistens.  We decided to use the same technique used to make crystal snowflakes using borax, a common household laundry product, to make crystal names.  The results were gorgeous and soon everyone in the family wanted their names in crystal too.

Uber cool! Make crystal names.

Getting Ready

To prep for this science activity, I gathered a few supplies:

  • Pipe cleaners
  • Fishing line {twine or yarn will work too}
  • Pencils or wooden skewers
  • Scissors
  • Glasses or plastic container {one for each color}
  • A container large enough to hold your name {if doing your name as a single piece written in cursive}
  • Borax
  • Food Coloring {optional, if you want colored letters you can dye the borax solution or use colored pipe cleaners}
  • Liquid measuring cup
  • Tablespoon
  • Heat Safe Mixing Bowl

Shaping the Names

Once I gathered all my supplies I called my daughter, A, over and explained that we were going to make the letters of her name and then grow crystals on them. I had her take white pipe cleaners and use them to form the letters of her name. I showed her the plastic container we were going to use to suspend the pipe cleaner letter in and explained that the letter had to fit in the container without touching any sides.

Super awesome name activity for kids. Make crystal names!!

I wanted A to work on noticing what lines and curves made up each individual letter so I intentionally had her form the letters one by one. Older children could connect a few pipe cleaners to form their name in cursive, making this activity even easier.

Once formed we used fishing line to suspend each letter a few inches from wooden skewers.

Crystal Names

Making the Solution

While A finished making her letters I began heating a large pot of water.  I knew my 5 year old would want to do the measuring and mixing so I made sure the water was as hot as possible to help dissolve the borax quickly, without being hot enough to scald her.  A decided she wanted to make each letter a different color so I set out 5 quart sized plastic containers and had A measure out 3 tablespoons of borax per cup of hot water {we used 9 tablespoons per container}.  DSC_0645

Once all the borax was measured I poured 3 cups of almost boiling water into each of the 5 containers.  A, armed with a long wooden spoon, mixed each container until the borax dissolved.  Next, she added several drops of food coloring to every container and carefully lowered each letter into the color of choice.

DSC_0687

Waiting for the Crystals

Next came the hardest part, waiting!  I put the containers on a shelf and let them sit overnight where they wouldn’t be disturbed by curious hands.  After a couple hours, we saw some changes – mostly crystals forming on the sides of the container and also settling onto the bottom.  It was difficult to see what was happening to the pipe cleaners through the dark food color solution.

Brilliant! Make crystal letters in a jar. Such a fun way to help kids learn their name.

A and her little brother Q couldn’t wait to see how each of their names turned out and spent nearly an hour touching, arranging, and holding their letters up to the windows to see the crystals sparkle.

Once they were finished exploring their glistening letters, I carefully taped each child’s name up in a sunny window so they could be admired in all their sparkling glory.

Super cool science for kids! Make crystal names!!

The Science Behind It

When borax is dissolved in water a suspension is created.  A suspension is a mixture that has solid particles {the borax} that are large enough for sedimentation {settling out}. As the borax begins to settle, it starts to crystalize on all the surfaces it comes in contact with – including the pipe cleaner letters.  As the borax continues to settle out, it builds crystals on top of other borax crystals creating a thick layer.

P.S.

Grab our Super Cool Science Kit including easy prep, kid-pleasing experiments and awesome follow up observation sheets for young scientists.

Super Cool Science Kit - 2000

Related Posts

  • Fizzy Scented Bath Bombs for MomFizzy Scented Bath Bombs for Mom
  • Rainbow JarRainbow Jar
  • 20 Kids’ Science Experiments You Can Do At Home20 Kids’ Science Experiments You Can Do At Home
  • Magic BalloonsMagic Balloons
  • Walking on EggsWalking on Eggs
  • Exploding Pop RocketsExploding Pop Rockets
  • Magic Fizzing Popsicle PaintMagic Fizzing Popsicle Paint
  • Mitten Name SortMitten Name Sort
  • About
  • Latest Posts
Noirin Lynch

Noirin Lynch

Noirin is a former preschool teacher turned stay at home mom who loves finding fresh, fun ways to help kids learn. Her family enjoys spending time in their tiny urban farm with their chickens, bunnies, and rows and rows of crops. For some fabulous science inspiration, check out Noirin's Dancing Frankenworms and Fizzy Scented Bath Bombs.
Noirin Lynch

Latest posts by Noirin Lynch (see all)

  • Hot Ice Science Experiment - December 12, 2017
  • Growing a Crystal Tree - December 2, 2017
  • Flying Tea Bag Ghosts - September 10, 2017

About Noirin Lynch

Noirin is a former preschool teacher turned stay at home mom who loves finding fresh, fun ways to help kids learn. Her family enjoys spending time in their tiny urban farm with their chickens, bunnies, and rows and rows of crops. For some fabulous science inspiration, check out Noirin's Dancing Frankenworms and Fizzy Scented Bath Bombs.

Comments

  1. Mary says:
    September 15, 2018 at 4:12 pm

    I’d like to do this in my classroom–how many letters could work in one container of borax/water? I’d like to do many at once instead of one container per letter. Ideas?

    Reply
    • Ashley says:
      September 17, 2018 at 7:39 pm

      Hi Mary,
      It will really depend on the size of your jar. You don’t want the letters to clump together – as that’s how the crystals will form. I would experiment with the jars you plan to use, but I’d probably say no more than 2-3 letters at a time.
      Warmly,
      Ashley // Happiness Ambassador

      Reply
  2. Amy says:
    September 16, 2018 at 10:55 pm

    Do you have to use only white pipe cleaners?

    Reply
    • Ashley says:
      September 17, 2018 at 7:42 pm

      Hi Amy,
      No, you don’t have to use only white pipe cleaners. The white just makes the crystals stand out a little more. A colored pipe cleaner might just now look as “clean” in the final product. Other than that, any pipe cleaners will do!
      Warmly,
      Ashley // Happiness Ambassador

      Reply
  3. Anna says:
    September 25, 2018 at 8:14 am

    Definitely going to try this with my after school group! Do you need to use glass containers specifically, or will any clear container work (plastic, acrylic, etc.)

    Reply
    • Ashley says:
      September 25, 2018 at 2:16 pm

      Hi Anna,
      So glad you’re going to try it! You can use glass or plastic containers. We’ve just found the glass to be a little more sturdy, but either would work!
      Hope your kids absolutely love it!
      Warmly,
      Ashley // Happiness Ambassador

      Reply
  4. Joelle says:
    October 17, 2018 at 2:21 am

    Hi, what could I use in the UK instead of borax please?

    Reply
    • Ashley says:
      October 18, 2018 at 2:46 pm

      Hi Joelle,
      I’m so sorry, but I don’t know of a substitute that would give you the same results.
      Noirin, who actually wrote this post, might have some ideas, but I don’t have substitute. So sorry about that.
      If you find one, we’d love to hear about it!
      Warmly,
      Ashley // Happiness Ambassador

      Reply
  5. Theresa says:
    December 12, 2018 at 7:27 am

    About how long did you have to wait in order to remove the crystal letters. I’m wanting to do this for a parent/teacher connection night that we are doing that is STEM-inspired, but need a timeframe to tell parents to wait…or to know if it’s even a possibility to do in the timeframe we have!

    Reply
    • Ashley says:
      December 12, 2018 at 6:52 pm

      Hi Theresa,
      Thanks for reaching out!
      You need to leave the crystal letters overnight or longer. You’ll start to see some changes after a few hours, but probably not enough to do in a parent-teacher connection night. You could build the names and send them home in the solution to sit overnight if you think that would work. Hope you have a lovely STEM-inspired connection night!
      Warmly,
      Ashley // Happiness Ambassador

      Reply
« Older Comments

Trackbacks

  1. The Best 4th Grade Science Experiments – Eduois.com says:
    October 23, 2018 at 2:05 pm

    […] Learn More: Playdough to Plato  […]

    Reply
  2. 5 Activities to Engage Your Students on National STEM Day | Waterford Institute says:
    November 2, 2018 at 11:43 am

    […] Crystal Names– In this activity, children turn their names into crystals with the help of some household items. Children get to creatively form their names with pipe cleaners and also learn about suspension and sedimentation in a water solution. […]

    Reply
  3. modewelt Einfache und coole Wissenschaftsexperimente für Kinder - modewelt says:
    November 3, 2018 at 6:19 am

    […] wird auch verwendet, um Schneeflocken zu machen, also ist dies ein großartiges Winterprojekt. via playtoughtoplato […]

    Reply
  4. 15 DIY Crafts Ideas For Kids | Easy DIY Crafts - Creative DIYs says:
    February 8, 2019 at 11:55 pm

    […] Tutorial: playdoughtoplato […]

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter
Click here to subscribe

My Latest Videos

Best Sellers

Find More

Privacy Policy

© 2019 · Playdough to Plato