Food for Science Birthday Party

[Jen]

Has anyone ever had a science birthday party for a kid? We're having my daughter's sixth birthday party next week and a scientist is coming from one of those party companies to do experiments. It's in the afternoon (2-4:30), so no lunch, just snacks.

I'm going to make this cake from Family Fun, but I am really stuck for other food ideas. I will do fresh fruit, probably on skewers with a fruit dip. And probably also some finger jello, though I'm not sure what shape. But other than that, I'm just not feeling inspired!

It seems like there should be lots of options but I can't think of any! Anyone out there ever done a party like this and have ideas?

BTW, my kid and most of the attendees are girls, so I'm trying to stay away from the "gross-out" varieties of sciency foods, although there are lots of those!

Thanks in advance for any suggestions.
Jen

[heavy hedonist]

interesting! both the cake and the concept-- thanks for having science + girls. though i wouldn't assume that some gross out stuff isn't cool for girls, too...
some idea is pricking at the back of my mind, but it's not there yet. meanwhile, as a cautionary measure, let me direct you to this link...

http://www.cakewrecks.com

[LaraW]

I have a bit of an idea in the back of my head too... Don't know really how much food you need, besides cake. Our bday parties we have had, I really just do cake and juice, except once I did do pizza b/c the party was over lunchtime.

But. Maybe you could do your finger jello in test tubes? or cut them into test tube shapes? Love the cake, by the way. Maybe you could assign science-y names to the fruit; elements or whatever. Lay them out like a periodic table? Find the Latin names for the different fruit, maybe?

Serve lemonade in beakers? I don't know when your party is, but maybe your party place who is sending the scientist would have some science looking decor, such as graduated cups or if you have access to something like that through your or your husband's work.

[Beth]

I was thinking flask cake, but 2 dimensional -- 3D will be challenging but cute. Love the cotton candy vapor.

Instead of ordinary fruit skewers, what about making each piece separated by a pic -- make little molecules?

Your jello could be suns and stars -- astronomy is science too.
Still thinking about a chemistry idea that would be easy to do.

Have a drink or punch the same color and the "liquid" in your flask cake and use clear plastic glasses that you have decorated to look like beakers -- even a white sticker for labeling their name on it.

Use small trays instead of plates. (Tongs would probably be too hard for 6 year olds to eat with)

I'd go to a bookstore or library and look at some science books for kids. Look at the colorful pictures for inspiration.

Here's a site with a lot of DIY science party ideas -- some have invitation and other ideas you might borrow.

Family Fun has a science party on their site.

Here's another with goodie bag ideas (don't know if you need that)

FINALLY found one with food ideas....

Of course -- jello petri dishes! (some could have little bits of something "growing" in them)

I tried to get my son (who just had chemistry lab this past year) to help -- but the boys are involved in a game. I'll let you know if we come up with anything else later. Have fun.

[Jen]

Thanks for the great suggestions, and sorry for my late reply...I've been so tired the past couple of nights that I've just fallen into bed without computer time!

I love the ideas to do jello in petri dishes or test tubes, but I haven't been able to find any at a reasonable price and I just don't have a ton of time to run around looking. (Today I went to the science centre to check, and it was about $6 just for one dish or tube!). I actually have a science degree myself and work for a pharma/biotech company, but I can't imagine using any of the actual glassware or materials from the labs...even if it's brand new, once it's come into the building, I wouldn't want to serve kids out of it.

I'm thinking more and more that I will go really simple - just do the fruit and jello, and maybe a simple veggie plate as well, and then maybe just some kind of snack mix they could eat with their hands. I also love the idea of making molecules out of the fruit - I might just try that! Although it will probably be lost on a room full of 6-year-olds.

Thanks again for the suggestions!

[Kathy B]

Jen, one other possibility is to let them "create their own concoction".

For example, mini pizzas (let them add their own sauce and toppings to an english muffin before you broil them quickly).

Or fruit parfaits...put out an assortment of fruit, pudding, whipped topping and nuts or sprinkles and let them choose what goes in theirs.

Have three of four pitchers of juice, clear soda (for fizz) or koolaid and let the girls pour varying amounts into their paper cup for their drinks. (Try to choose complimentary flavors, citrus maybe?) Maybe have food coloring available and let them add a couple of drops.

Even the snack mix....set out a bowls of cereal, raisins, marshmallows, teddy grahams, peanuts, M&Ms, etc...with the appropriate size dipper in each dish...and let them each have a small cup or bowl to mix their mix in.

[applecrisp]

Maybe you download some cool pics and use them as placemats, wrap around serving containers.

Since the kids are little, maybe some "science type" coloring pages. too.

Sorry can't think of any food ideas.

Love the cake.

Have fun.

[Anne]

Clear cups for the juice/punch and have a couple different bright colors so they can mix colors and experiment with the flavor? Brightly colored ice cubes that can change the color of the drink as they melt? Sounds like a fun party.

[amyvn]

I love the ideas to do jello in petri dishes or test tubes, but I haven't been able to find any at a reasonable price and I just don't have a ton of time to run around looking. (Today I went to the science centre to check, and it was about $6 just for one dish or tube!). I actually have a science degree myself and work for a pharma/biotech company, but I can't imagine using any of the actual glassware or materials from the labs...even if it's brand new, once it's come into the building, I wouldn't want to serve kids out of it.

If you wanted to do some serving pieces that are "science-y", home brewing stores often have Erlenmeyer flasks and beakers, usually at fairly reasonable prices. If there's one near you it might be worth stopping by.

Edited to add:

Amazon also sells science glassware!
Erlenmeyer flasks


Florence flasks


And beakers


They have plastic petri dishes that they sell by the sleeve as well. They also sell test tubes, but small kids and glass drinking receptacles with no flat bottoms sounds dangerous to me!

Amy

[Beth]

I've been away but was thinking you could find a plastic dish or possibly even a lid (like on the metal spice and rub tins) -- to look like a petri dish. I wouldn't buy the real thing unless it was really inexpensive -- and you'd probably have to buy a ton of them to ever get to that point. If then. Hope you found some fun things.