Year 4 Week 4 Visual Art Activity

Parents just a quick message to let you know that this activity will require parental supervision.  Also please only use the resources that you may already have at home.

Learning Intention: For students to have an understanding that, lemon is an acidic substance that oxidizes and turns brown when heated.

Success criteria: When students are able to read the secret message left behind by the oxidation of the acidic lemon juice and have some understanding as to why this process happens.

We are learning and playing with simple kitchen science experiments.  Why kitchen sciences? because everything you need is already in your kitchen cupboards.  There are so many cool experiments to do at home with everyday household items.  This experiment is sure to develop a love for not only being creative in art, but also learning through science.  Have lots of fun kids and please remember to film, share and upload your work via email and/or google docs.

How to make Invisible Ink Using Lemon Juice

Ingredients

You only need a few simple ingredients to create invisible Ink

  • Lemon or Lemon juice
  • Sunlight or Heat Source
  • Paper
  • Paintbrush or Stick

How to Make Invisible Ink

1.Squeeze lemons to obtain their juice or obtain bottled lemon juice.

2.Use the juice as ink by applying it to a stick or paintbrush and writing on paper.

3.Allow the paper to dry.

4.When you are ready to read your invisible message hold the paper up to sunlight, a light bulb (recommended), or another heat source.

5.The heat will cause the writing to darken to a pale brown, so your message can now be read.

6.Another way to read the message is to put salt on the drying ink. After a minute, wipe the salt off and color over the paper with a wax crayon to reveal the message.

What’s happening?

Lemon juice is an organic substance that oxidizes and turns brown when heated.  Diluting lemon juice in water makes it very hard to notice when you apply it to paper, no one will be aware of its presence until it is heated and the secret message is revealed.  Other substances which work the same way include orange juice, honey, milk , onion juice, vinegar and wine.  Invisible ink can also be made using chemical reactions or by viewing certain liquids under ultra violet (UV) light.

Click the link below to view this awesome video on how to create your very own secret code using invisible Ink Lemon Juice!

http://www.viewpure.com/TGi34lm05ow?start=0&end=0

Contact Details:

Teresa Velardi (Art Teacher)

tvelardi@stgeorgepreca.catholic.edu.au