MOON SAND AND MOON ROCKS

MOON SAND

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What you will need:

• Measuring cup

• Large mixing bowl

• Small mixing bowl

• Mixing spoon

• All-purpose flour

• Baby oil or vegetable oil

• Food coloring (optional)

 

Making the Moon Sand:

1. Measure and pour 2 cups of flour into the large bowl

2. Measure and pour ¼ cup of baby oil or vegetable oil into the small bowl (baby oil makes the mixture smell nice but any cooking oil will work)

3. Mix a few dops of food coloring (black if you want gray sand) into the oil

4. Add the oil to the flour and mix well. You can use the spoon, but the sand will mix better if you use your hands. It may take several minutes to mix thoroughly. You’ll know it’s ready when it holds it shape when you squeeze it but still crumbles like damp sand.

*If the texture does not seem quite right, you can add a little extra oil (if too dry) or flour

(if too damp). Make sure to only add a little at a time and mix well.

**Moon Sand will last anywhere between 2 weeks and a month. You can have it last

longer if you store it in an airtight container or plastic bag.

 

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MOON ROCKS

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What you will need:

• Measuring cup

• Measuring spoon

• Large mixing bowl

• Small mixing bowl

• Mixing spoon

• Baking Soda

• Glitter (optional but makes for a bit more sparkle)

• Water Black, blue and purple food coloring (at CCM we only used black but feel free to make moon rocks whatever color you want )

• White vinegar (for the exciting experiment part!)

 

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Making the Moon Rocks

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1. Measure and pour 2 cups of Baking Soda into the large bowl.

2. Add some glitter and mix with your hands or you can use a spoon. (at CCM we used silver and gold glitter, but you can be creative with whatever color you like)

3. Measure 2 Tablespoons of water and pour into the small bowl. Add a few drops of food coloring to the water and mix well. (liquid food coloring works better than gel)

4. Slowly add the water and food coloring mixture to the Baking Soda and glitter mixture. Mix as you pour. Sometimes, if you use only the black food coloring, it could turn your mixture green. If this happens you can add blue and it will become grayer. Experiment with colors of your choice.

5. Mix well. The mixture will combine best if you use your hands. You may need to add more water until the mixture holds together when you squeeze it in your hand. Create rock shapes. Let dry overnight before trying the experiment part.

 

The Experiment Part

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Place one of the dried Moon Rocks in a bowl. Drop a small amount of the vinegar on your Moon Rock and watch what happens!

When you mix baking soda and vinegar, something really exciting happens—it fizzes, bubbles, and sometimes even overflows!

That’s because you’re creating a chemical reaction. Baking soda is a base, and vinegar is an acid. When they mix, they react and make a gas called carbon dioxide, the same gas that makes soda fizzy!

 

The bubbles you see are that gas trying to escape. As it rushes out, it creates all the foam and fizz. It’s kind of like a mini volcano!

Make some of your own “moon joy!”

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Learn more about astronauts and the moon on our blog.