Science Experiment with Kids: Naked Eggs

Since I started staying home with my girls I've been trying to make sure to keep my oldest daughter engaged in learning activities. It's not always easy because I'm not a teacher and I can't think of creative ways to learn. It's just not my strong suit. Thank goodness for Pinterest! You can find a ton of great ideas on there to do with your children. I happened to stumble upon NAKED EGGS! 

This was a huge hit for so many reasons...first, the name is funny to a four year old. Second, she was able to do 95% of the experiment herself. At this age most science experiments are just "hey, watch what Mommy does." So here is how it went: 

You will need:

• 4 cups of vinegar
• 2 eggs
• 2 clear glasses
• 1 cup water
• 1 cup clear corn syrup

Fig. 1

1) Get two clear glasses out so that your child can see through at all times. Fill them both with vinegar and let your child put the two raw eggs carefully into each cup of vinegar. Have your child take note of all the little air bubbles attached to the egg, that is the science at work "eating away" at the eggs. (fig. 1)

Fig. 2

2) After about 12 hours their shells will start to dissolve. Carefully pour the eggs out onto your little ones hands. Make sure they understand to handle them gently. They can gently rub off any dissolving part of the shell. I got out another raw egg just to remind her of the difference and have her explain what is different about the two eggs (color, texture, smell). You may need to use another 2 cups of vinegar and let them sit another 12 hours to dissolve the remainder of the shell. (fig. 2)

Fig. 3

3) Take the eggs again by letting them drop into your childs hands and give them a rinse in cool water to remove the rest of the shell. (fig. 3) Again, I took out a new egg and have her compare (because by this point the naked eggs are slightly bigger than a raw egg. This is because the membrance of the egg allows water to pass through very slowly and it draws the water in the vinegar through, expanding the egg. (This is called osmosis.) See below.

She was quite disappointed however that her naked egg did not have a naked butt like hers. Yes, that is exactly what she said.

Fig. 5

4) The next step is to fill one glass with water and one with corn syrup.  Let your child place the eggs back into the glasses. After another day or so come back to see what happened to the eggs. One egg will be huge compared to the regular egg and one will have all the water sucked right out of it (fig. 5) and be sure to show your child all the water mixed in with the corn syrup in the cup. Deepening on their age they may not understand why this happens but they will think it is neat anyway.

Fig. 6

5) She was happy her naked egg actually started to look like a butt when it got wrinkly. She was just as excited to get to take them outside to smash when we were done with them.