Declaring this the AUTUMN OF THE GOOP!! (microwaving soap)
Posted: October 3, 2012 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: activity, microwaving ivory soap, science, toddler 25 CommentsI might as well. I mean, DUDE. Have you SEEN the experiments that we’ve been doing recently?
(And now you all know why I only do toddler crafts. Because my adult crafts turn out EXACTLY the same way as my toddler crafts – but at least here I can blame “learning” and “almost-2” for the mess *evil laugh*)
Today’s science activity is that old workhorse – microwave a bar of Ivory soap on high for 2 minutes. Yes, it has to be Ivory. No, it doesn’t hurt your microwave – although your kitchen does smell fresh and clean for a few hours. (WIN! It’s like when you spray cleaner in the air so guests THINK you cleaned… Wait. You don’t do that? Me neither.)
 Unwrapping the bar of soap oh-SO-carefully. We talked about how it felt (slippery and hard), the box-like shape, the smell… |
 …THE TASTE?!?!?! I swear I didn’t know this was coming. Was trying to snap a pic of the sniffing. THAT’s gonna be a fun diaper. |
 Not so sure we approve of what’s going on in the microwave right now. |
 It really does blow up this big… And a big chunk fell off in the microwave!! FYI – when you open the door, give it 30 seconds or so to cool to the touch. |
 Mom. Do you SEE this? MOMmomMOMmomMOM. |
 Re-enacting how big it got in the microwave. Ok, you caught me: I just want to prove to anyone who reads on a regular basis that I DO PUT CLOTHES ON THE BOY. Really. |
 Little Scientist DON’T… ah, well. Nevermind. |
 *giggle* |
 Now explaining to me JUST HOW BIG the mess is. As if it sprang fully-formed out of my forehead. *facepalm* |
 But at least we’ve got him trained well *grin*. |
As always – the ladies at #ippp are awesome. And haven’t kicked me out yet *grin*. Check ’em out!
nerdmommathfun 
Love the microwaving Ivory soap experiment- we couldn’t get enough of it. And it is VERY messy. You’re lucky you got some sweeping help.
I did wonder afterwards if I shoulda tried to use the soap in some sort of post-experiment cleaning way… NAAAAH 😉
Oh, we love your link-ups! I’ll say it again. He is Too.Cute.For.Words. I wish I would teach my kids stuff. I need to pin your posts and try them. How much fun would that be??
D’awww – thanks!! I do think my husband despairs of ever having a goop/mess/experiment free home… He’s onto my secret, that the toddler is really an excuse 😉
I came home from work one day and my kids told me that when you microwave gummibears they melt into the plate and you end up having to throw out the plate…. how did they know? Well, they did a little experiment while I was at work…. 🙂
Weird – I would have thought they’d blow up like marshmallows! (Hope it wasn’t one of your GOOD plates… *doh*!)
This looks less messy than the last goop experiment and more fun! I saw that on Pinterest … now I’m curious to try. I wonder why it has to be Ivory. Who thought of this idea? I’d never in a million years think to microwave soap!!
RIGHT?!?! And it only works w/ Ivory b/c of the water content… That musta been one heck of a surprise 🙂
Are you serious?!?! Oh these are FANTASTIC- I loved your post last week and this one is even better. My boys will want to move into your house, are you ok with that?? 🙂 I’m socking this trick away for a rainy day. Literally.
HAHAHA! The more the merrier 🙂 Wish I’d thought of something to do with the soap flakes though… Let me know if you come up with something!!
I saw this on Pinterest! So excited to try it- so random and bizarre!
Right? I mean, who figured out it was Ivory soap, and not Dove, or Dial… Not sure I’d wanna see THEIR microwave 🙂
I just love how you do these amazing things with him 🙂 I love getting ideas from you!
*blush* Thanks! So lucky I live in the age of google! I remember mom doing stuff with us – NO idea where she came up with it all!
Yay! It’s The Professor! I look forward to seeing him (pants optional) every week. I’m glad you tried the Ivory experiment. I think it’s neat that it blows up but I’m not a fan of the aftermess.
Aw – thanks 🙂 Glad the dorkiness isn’t TOO overbearing! Didn’t really expect this one to work so well / hold attention as long as it did – but I’ll take it!! (Next time I mop floors AFTER, not before, though…)
I have never heard of such a thing. My 8 yo would freak. I’ll have to save this for a rainy day when they are out of school. That was pretty cool. But a bit scary how big it gets. Were you scared?
Startling, isn’t it!! It did make me wish I’d done a better job of centering the soap in our small microwave 🙂
Neato!!! I wonder if you can use the puffy soap for something after…
It was definitely still sudsy when wet – I’m sure you could!!! Bet it would make good decorative “snow” too…
So cute! I had no idea. Why does it pop up that big? Does it have to do with all the air bubbles in Ivory?
That’s what they say – plus the high water content (microwaves LOVE water)… Other soaps just get harder and “brickier”. Don’t ask how I know that *coughcough*
Okay, I’ve got some Ivory in the house right now! I think I’ll be trying this tomorrow! I love these kinds of experiments – except the clean up, but I find it’s usually worth it. My husband doesn’t feel the same way – haha. Have you tried whipping up some shaving cream & food colouring and letting them paint in the bath or shower? That’s tons of fun too!
(Visiting from #iPPP)
Ooooh – I haven’t tried that one since he was itty bitty; and stupid mom, just dunked his hands in it for him. TRAUMA. I bet he’d LOVE it now with a stick or sponge painter… *saves idea for rainy day* Thanks!!
You even taught him stuff, not me. I was too excited to see if it would work. I was thrilled at how easy it swept up 🙂