How to Make Your Own Mad Scientist Party
A mad scientist party theme can be enjoyed by budding young scientists, but it can also work well for teen and adult parties, too. Most of the costumes, decor and props you'll need are simple and inexpensive to make. You'll need careful planning and preparation, as well as time to assemble the things you need, but a little effort will pay off big. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- White card stock
- Colored markers
- Plastic test tubes
- White crayon
- Magnifying glasses
- Microscopes
- Chemistry sets
- Molecule models
- Surgical gloves
- Dry ice
- Plastic tablecloths
- Food coloring
- Word processor
- Computer printer
- Tape
- Canning jars
- Plastic animals
- Gummy worms
- Colored light bulbs
- Chalkboard and chalk, or graph paper
- Pins
- Cardboard
- Lab coat
- White T-shirts
- Plastic glasses
- Bow tie
- Hair gel or wig
- White glue
- Borax
- Baking soda
- Vinegar
- Spaghetti
- Miniature marshmallows
- Colored soda pop
- Glow sticks
- Ice cream
- Candy ice cream toppings
- Celery
- Green jello
Instructions
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Instructions
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Start by making party invitations. Cut test tube shapes out of white card stock, and color them with markers to make them appear half-full of brightly colored liquid. Write out an invite on the back of the cut-out test tube. Alternatively, write an invitation on paper, roll it up and place it in a real plastic test tube. Perhaps try writing an invisible message on white card or paper using white crayon. Guests will need to paint over it with colored water to read the message.
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Assemble the props you will need for the decorations and science activities. Borrow items from friends or search thrift stores for useful laboratory props such as test tubes, magnifying glasses, microscopes, chemistry sets, molecule models and surgical gloves. Buy food coloring in bright colors. Try to find dry ice to use for drinks and experiments.
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Decorate the house or party area to look like a science laboratory. Cover tables with plastic tablecloths. Set out test tubes and jars of colored water to look like experiments. Add lengths of clear plastic hose to run between the jars. Type up lab safety signs; print them out and tape them to the walls. Make specimen jars: fill canning jars with fake eyeballs or other toy body parts or toy frogs, insects or lizards. Gummy worms also work well. Place colored bulbs in the light fittings to add atmosphere. Write "science experiments" on a chalk board or on sheets of graph paper. Pin a toy plastic animal to a piece of cardboard as if prepared for dissection, or set up an "operating table." Blow up surgical gloves like balloons and hang them up.
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Keep costumes simple. A white lab coat worn over a T-shirt and pants is fine. Pick up plain white shirts from thrift stores to use as lab coats. Add an oversized pair of black-framed glasses and a bow tie. Gel your hair to stand on end in as mad a style as possible, or wear a crazy wig. Or, for an alternative costume, have partygoers dress as Frankenstein and call the mad scientist who is hosting the party "Master."
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Prepare simple science experiments as party games and activities. Make slime from white glue and borax and create a volcano using baking soda and vinegar, or use the mixture to launch a film canister into the air. Have an adult dress as a mad scientist to explain each experiment and to ensure that guests are safe. Play a game making molecule models. Divide guests into teams and allow them 10 minutes to construct the tallest model using dried spagetti and miniature marshmallows.
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Serve brightly colored carbonated drinks in clear cups or test tubes. Use glow sticks as stirrers. Have lots of different toppings for ice cream or fillings for sandwiches so the mad scientists can experiment with unusual food combinations. Place celery sticks in colored water and see how they change color as they draw it in. Make eyeball cupcakes and serve green jello as slime. Add a little milk to the mix to make it more gross, and add some gummy worms as it cools. Make a birthday cake in the shape of a magnifying glass or a volcano (add some dry ice in a canister inside to make it look like the volcano is smoking).
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Tips & Warnings
Never touch dry ice. Use only under adult supervision.
Have an adult present to oversee science experiments.
References
- Photo Credit Digital Vision./Photodisc/Getty Images
