How to Decorate Cups for a Science Party

Clean beakers are an option for serving drinks at a science party.

The science party theme puts an entertaining twist on nearly any science topic for a hands-on birthday experience. Themed decorations help create the science lab feeling at the party. Decorating plain cups gives you a customized way to serve the beverages at the science party. Another drink container option is to use new beakers that are personalized for each guest with decorations. Handle the cup decoration yourself before the party, or let the guests decorate their own drinking cups as a party activity.

Things You'll Need

• Beakers
• Paper cups
• Acrylic paint
• Permanent markers
• Science stickers
• Letter stickers

Instructions

1. Wash the number of beakers necessary so that all guests have one. Always use new beakers, which should still be washed to remove any dust before drinking from them. If you're using paper cups, purchase them in the colors that match the rest of the science party decorations.

2. Paint decorations on the outside of the beakers. Paint each guest's name on a beaker so the kids are able to tell them apart. Paint additional decorations related to the specific science theme or activities. For example, if you're shooting off a model rocket at the party, paint a rocket on the side of the beakers.

3. Attach stickers to the paper cups to make them science-themed. Arrange the stickers as desired. Use the letter stickers to put each child's name on her cup.

4. Draw additional scientific images or write information with permanent markers. For example, write the abbreviations for different elements on the cups.

Tips & Warnings

• Leave at least 1/2 inch at the top of the cups so the guests can drink out of the cups or beakers easily.

• Letting the kids paint the containers at the party results in wet containers when the kids try to drink from them. Handle the decorations ahead of time when using paint. When using stickers on glass beakers, spread decoupage glue or white glue thinned down with water to help them stick. Paint under and over the stickers with the glue to hold them down.

References

• Birthday in a Box: Science Party Ideas