How to Grow Your Own Salt Crystals

Learn how to turn simple kitchen ingredients into beautiful, sparkling salt crystals using a bit of science. HowTo: Family Edition: family how-tos that actually help.

1. Dissolve the salt. Ask a grown-up to help you pour 1 cup of hot water into your glass jar. Stir in the salt one spoonful at a time until no more will dissolve and you see a little bit of salt sitting at the bottom of the jar.
2. Prepare your crystal base. If you want, add a drop of food coloring to your water. Tie a piece of string to the middle of your pencil, and tie the other end to a small clean pebble. Rest the pencil across the top of the jar so the pebble hangs into the water without touching the sides or bottom.
3. Wait and watch. Place your jar in a sunny spot where it won't be bumped. Over the next few days, the water will evaporate, leaving the salt behind to build crystals on your string. Check it once a day to see how much it has grown.