When my daughter was 4 ½ her greatly anticipated Christmas gift was a pair of plastic safety goggles and a Mind Blowing Science kit. Fast-forward a year and a half and a few dozen Steve Spangler episodes on youtube and she’s pretty confident that any opportunity is a good one to test the laws of science.
Why limit yourself to a beaker and a test tube when you can use an empty bathtub at a friend’s house and a full bottle of shampoo? All in the name of science! So it was fitting that we celebrated her 6th birthday with a day full of messes and opportunities to blow her mind.
The science experiments really took center stage at this party so I kept the decorations fairly simple with flowers in Erlenmeyer flasks,
a banner celebrating the element of Caroline,
and a few sweet treats to fit the theme.
The birthday cake held a surprise molecular core made of sixlets that spilled out as we cut the pieces and I used gumballs and straws to create the molecule cake toppers. Be sure to come back tomorrow to find out how to make this cake!
Conducting experiments with 12 kindergartners required some organization and willing grandparent volunteers.
We led 2 group experiments and then divided the kids into 3 science teams with 4 mini scientists per team.
Over the course of the party the science teams rotated through 8 stations where they were able to make swirling milk reactions and explore the color spectrum.
They grew jelly marbles, uncovering a hidden message through the mystery of light refraction.
And held dry ice bubbles in their hands!
They constructed gumdrop molecules, studied rocks and minerals, and played with the laws of magnetism.
The scientists came back together as a group to play with a little instant snow and to watch the mentos geyser grand finale.
We captured a video of the geyser on our phone and weeks later it still makes me smile to hear the delighted screams of the girls as the coke bottle erupted.
We truly had the sweetest group of little scientists who were full of interest and enthusiasm for each of the stations and witnessing their excitement throughout the afternoon made it one of the most satisfying parties to throw. Each mini professor left with a t-shirt lab coat, safety glasses, a Science for Kids book, a petri dish containing a science experiment to-go, and a personalized field notes notebook as well as a few sweet treats.
My daughter is lucky to have a super cool scientist for an aunt who happens to be a bona-fide molecular biologist, proving in our family that in science, girls really do, do it better!
Thanks so much for joining me today At the Picket Fence and be sure to come back tomorrow to find out how to make the Surprise Molecular Cake!
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Here are more of Julie’s amazing party contributions:
Paint Themed Party
Pioneer Party
Harvest Party
Julie, this is the best birthday party for a little girl I have ever seen! You carried out the theme and color perfectly! That cake is amazing!!!!
Happy birthday little scientist Caroline! I’m sure you will never forget this very cool birthday party. Reach for your dreams… YOU GO GIRL!!!
What a cool party, I would have loved that as a kid! I love all the decor, activities, and food for the party. That’s great that your daughter loves science so much! I’m an engineer and always loved science and math as a kid. 🙂
What a fantastic party this was! And you came up with so many creative and fun ideas – love how happy your daughter looks in these pictures! Obviously this will be a birthday celebration she will remember for a long time!
This is so cool! Would love to do this for my grandson. Can’t wait to see how you made the cake!
Awesome party! It looks like she had so much fun! I like this theme for kids!
Thanks for letting me relive this awesome birthday party! It truly was spectacular!!! Grandma to Caroline. Lucy
OMG I absolutely LOVE this party theme and all that you have created! I went to a Science and Math based HS and have always loved Science, AND am really passionate about getting more kids, esp girls, excited about Science, so this really hits home with me. What a fabulous idea!
Jennifer @ Decorated Chaos
I SERIOUSLY, STUNK at science in school but maybe it’s because it wasn’t as PRETTY and Fun as this!! Julie, this is so CUTE and So fun, it makes me want to go and get my Science on! I love that it is a Unique Party and has a theme where learning can be involved and Kids wouldn’t even know it. Great Job and thanks so much for sharing it with us.
What a unique party! I know the children loved it. I am adding these experiments to our summer fun list.
Speechless.
Seriously.
Tell Julie I am her devoted fan.
🙂 me
What a super cool theme. Looks like an amazing party.
That party is SO adorable!! Not being a science gal myself – this is mind-blowingly COOL!!!! Love, LOVE it!!!! So many favorite elements, I can’t choose just one!! Thank you for sharing such a fun party idea!!
This party is just adorable, what an awesome idea! The kids look like they had a blast :-)What could be more fun that testing out all these things. I think you are onto a winner with this party theme!
wow- I want to go to that party!-
how wonderfully creative and unique! They must have had a blast-
So nice to see girls interested in science!
Julie, That is seriously the CUTEST party EVER! You outdid yourself! I love every detail. Thanks for sharing 🙂 xo
Using this as my graduation party idea! Thanks 🙂
everything was lovely I soo aspire to do event planning, décor, and awesome cakes. I just recently got out of the hospital so I haven’t been able to do much lately my son’s 8th birthday party is coming up and I am looking for ideas he is a iron man fanatic..
Hi Julie: What a beautiful party, I just cry across your site and I’m in love with all the beautiful details. I’m wondering how you made the “Proton Pops”? Very clever & unique. Thank you
Hello: I love every single detail of your daughter’s science Bday party. I’m wondering if you can share how you made the “Proton Pops”
Thank you so much 🙂
Love these cute & creative ideas. Can you share how you made the Proton Pops? Thanks 🙂
My daughter and I LOVE this party idea for her upcoming birthday. Do you have any information on the actual experiments? Also…recipes for the Proton Pops and Purple Flourite Pops? Thank you very much…such a wonderfully creative party idea!!
Where can you see the experiments? What I click on the pictures I just get the picture.
Thanks
how did you make your proton pops? They are adorable!!!
Do you have a recipe or a tutorial on your proton pops?
Do you have any printables to share?? I would love to use this for my soon to be 6 year olds party. We have only found boy stuff and she loved this entire page.
I wondered how you made the molecules for the top of the amazing cake? Gumballs and straws, did you drill into them or glue them? Trying to think of what to do for my daughter’s requested science party! Fabulous party ideas, it looks amazing. Kim
Hi Kim,
I used hot glue to create the gumball/straw molecules. It literally took seconds and held together beautifully.
You’ll have such a blast with a science party….I think I might have had more fun than the kids 🙂