• Find a clean, flat surface to work on. Cover the area with some newspaper or a towel to catch any spills.

Pour the Milk:

• Pour enough milk into the shallow dish or plate to cover the bottom. Aim for about 1/4 inch deep.

Add Food Coloring:

• Add one drop of each color of food coloring to different spots on the surface of the milk. Try to space out the colors so they don't touch each other.

Dip the Cotton Swab in Dish Soap:

• Dip one end of the cotton swab into the dish soap. You don't need a lot; just enough to cover the tip.

Create the Rainbow Effect:

• Gently touch the soapy cotton swab to the center of one of the food coloring spots in the milk. Watch as the colors swirl and spread out, creating a rainbow effect. You can experiment by touching different spots or dragging the cotton swab through the milk to create patterns.

Observe and Discuss:

• Observe how the colors move and mix. Discuss the science behind it—dish soap breaks down the fat in the milk, causing the food coloring to move and create beautiful patterns.

Cleanup:

• Once you've finished experimenting, carefully pour the milk down the drain and clean your dish. Wipe down the surface with a damp cloth.