Rainbows are everywhere at the moment, so when we were invited to review the Rainbow Science Kit from John Adams, I thought it would be a lovely activity for the kids to try.
Rainbow Science is a science kit aimed at kids over 8, which helps you do 5 rainbow-themed experiments:
- Blow a cascading rainbow of bubbles
- Paint augmented reality rainbows in the air
- Create a magical unicorn hologram
- Make a colourful amulet
- Create a bright walking water rainbow flower
Although it does come with most of the equipment you need, you also need to provide washing up liquid, sugar and water, so make sure you have enough before you start. I would also recommend having some extra food colouring in, as we went through it quite quickly as they all wanted to make rainbow bubbles.
The set also requires the use of an Android or IOS smartphone app for two of the experiments.
Rainbow Bubbles
Our first experiment was making rainbow bubbles, which clipping some material over the bubble maker, some washing up liquid and food colouring.
My biggest tip with this experiment is to wear an old top as you will get food colouring on you at some point. I would also advise you do it outside as the solution will drip.
You will need a substantial amount of food colouring on the cloth to make the bubbles change colour.
Colourful Amulet
The amulet helps you learn about density but using different amounts of sugar with the same amount of water and food colouring to make a colourful liquid.
The kids loved mixing the liquids to make sure the sugar was all dissolved and adding the different colours.
Sadly the kids were a bit too excited by adding the colours to the amulet and didn’t do it as gently as is required so all the colours mixed together instead of forming a rainbow.
Walking Water Rainbow Flower
All colours originate from what are called the three primary colours; red, blue, and yellow. These colours are unique because they cannot be mixed or formed by any other combination of colours. This experiment shows how mixing primary colours together you get secondary colours of green, orange and purple,
It works by having different colour food colouring, or plain water in each petal and using felt wicks to absorb the coloured water.
Because we had used so much food colouring in the bubble mix, we didn’t quite get the result we hoped for but it was fun trying.
The next two experiments require the use of the app.
Augmented Reality
Your smartphone screen displays an image of whatever your camera is pointing at. In 2D mode, when the camera recognises the wand sticker design, it sends a signal to the app to draw the digital image on the screen.
When the app recognises the blue diamond sticker, it is programmed to behave differently from when it recognises the green one.
The app only works with the wand up close and not in bright light. In 3D mode it made the stars on the stickers look like glittering constellations.
Hologram Viewer
First you need to build the viewer unit, which is fairly straightforward.
Place your smartphone, screen side down into the clear lid of the Hologram Stage, making sure the large image on your screen will be towards the front of the Stage. Shut the lid and view your hologram. You can choose unicorns, parrots or butterflies.
For best results, view in a darkened room with your phone screen on maximum brightness and disable both the screensaver mode and the auto rotate screen functions.
When the brighter parts of the phone screen’s image screen hit the Hologram Viewer Sheet, they are reflected out towards the watcher, but the darker (background) parts of the phone’s image do not get reflected and the watcher can see the sticker through the Hologram Viewer Sheet.
If I am honest, we were a little disappointed with the set as it didn’t deliver on its promises and with an RRP of £24.99, it is on the pricey side. The kids favourite activity was making the rainbow bubbles, which could easily be done at home with an old flannel and a plastic bottle.
This looks like great fun and something any child would love to get involved in and learn through play and the messier the better x
This looks good, especially the rainbow bubbles. But like you mention, but pricey for what it is and can make them yourself a lot cheaper
It’s a shame it was a little disappointing, but I’m glad they had fun trying 🙂
I’d like to find something similar (and slightly cheaper) to do with my youngest.
This sounds like such a fun kit for kids to learn more about science and have fun! It is amazing the things you can create using science.
This kit looks good but like you say over priced for what it is and it looks a little messy with the colours for my liking. Bit of a shame as we have had some great John Adams sets over the years and bought for gifts
This is amazing, and something thats good any time, however even more so at the moment as it can help there education, and keep them busy at this time, great review and post.
That’s a shame that you were a little disappointed in it. I think it needs to be a bit easier to use so that kids can get the most from it x
Shame it was a little disappointing but at least you still gave it a shot and had some fun 🙂 I would have also done stuff like this as a kid!
Ha, I love it!!! This looks like really good fun for the kids. I am certain mine would enjoy this as much as yours did. I love the colours!
Science kits are not only fun but so educational as well. I have not seen the Rainbow Science Kit from John Adams yet but I am sure this is something my kids would love to do.
This sounds fun for some outdoor, messy play. It does sound expensive for what in includes though.
So sorry to hear you were a bit disappointed but I agree, it does seem a bit on the pricey side for what it is. It does look like something my niece would love though!
Is it bad that at 31 year old, I really want to own this?