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Nature of Dye

In this activity, learners create their own dyes and art while exploring how chemicals interact.

DESCRIPTION

"Nature of Dye" allows participants to create their own dyes and art while exploring how chemicals interact, and how these interactions can have real-world applications. Participants predict, observe, and share what they notice as they experiment with the dye. What's your favorite color to mix?

JUMP TO BROWSE RELATED RESOURCES
  • Three learners and a facilitator compare their dye colors to a PH scale
  • A facilitator and a learner measure out natural dye bug fragment
  • Young learner holds and examines a dead cochineal bug before making dye powder
  • Learner crushes a dead beetle used to make natural red dye
  • A group of three learners use a mortar and pestle to grind dead insect that is used to make red dyes
  • Learner using a pH testing strip to measure the acidity/alkalinity of a dye solution
  • Three learners and a facilitator compare their dye colors to a PH scale
  • A facilitator and a learner measure out natural dye bug fragment
  • Young learner holds and examines a dead cochineal bug before making dye powder
  • Learner crushes a dead beetle used to make natural red dye
  • A group of three learners use a mortar and pestle to grind dead insect that is used to make red dyes
  • Learner using a pH testing strip to measure the acidity/alkalinity of a dye solution

DESCRIPTION

"Nature of Dye" allows participants to create their own dyes and art while exploring how chemicals interact, and how these interactions can have real-world applications. Participants predict, observe, and share what they notice as they experiment with the dye. What's your favorite color to mix?

JUMP TO BROWSE RELATED RESOURCES

TRAINING VIDEOS

OBJECTIVES

BIG IDEA

Chemists use tools to discover and make new things.

People shape the development and use of new materials and technologies.

LEARNING GOALS

  • Learners will develop positive attitudes toward learning about chemistry:

    • Learners will increase their feelings of interest in chemistry through hands-on exploration and observations of phenomena.
    • Learners will increase their understanding of the relevance of chemistry by exploring the applications and uses of chemistry and connections to everyday life.
    • Learners will increase their sense of self-efficacy related to chemistry through hands-on interaction with real tools and materials.

Credits

YEAR CREATED
2018
OWNING INSTITUTION

Museum of Science, Boston

FUNDING

Developed for the NISE Network with funding from the National Science Foundation under Grant Number DRL 1612482. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the view of the National Science Foundation. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this product are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Foundation.

PERMISSIONS

Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial Share Alike 3.0 United States (CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 US).
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DEVELOPMENT PROCESS

NISE Network products are developed through an iterative collaborative process that includes scientific review, peer review, and visitor evaluation in accordance with an inclusive audiences approach. Products are designed to be easily edited and adapted for different audiences under a Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial Share Alike license. To learn more, visit our Development Process page.