Need an easy and fun science activity for kids? The Oil and Milk Droplet Experiment is a mesmerizing way to explore how different liquids interact — especially when they don’t mix! Kids will love watching how colorful droplets behave when dropped into oil floating over milk.
It’s the perfect blend of art, science, and sensory play — using only a few common ingredients.
Supplies You’ll Need:
- Whole milk (room temperature works best)
- Clear cup or glass jar
- Cooking oil (vegetable or canola work well)
- Food coloring (assorted colors)
- Small bowls or droppers
- Spoon or stirrer
Prepare Colored Droplets
In small bowls or cups, mix a few drops of food coloring with a tiny bit of water (this helps the food coloring sink through the oil). You can use different colors for extra fun.
Drop the Color!
Using a dropper, spoon, or pipette, gently drop small amounts of the colored water into the oil layer.
🎉 Watch the magic happen: The colored droplets will float in the oil, then suddenly drop through the oil into the milk, creating slow-moving, beautiful bursts of color.
What Kids Learn from This Experiment
- Density: Oil is less dense than milk, so it floats.
- Immiscibility: Oil and water (and milk) don’t mix — that’s why the droplets stay suspended before falling.
- Gravity and movement: When the denser colored droplets overcome resistance, they sink and spread in the milk, creating a fun visual effect!