The write start - Jennifer Hallissy 2010

Invisible Ink
Guidelines for the Activities

LEARNING HOW TO SEND secret messages is one of those activities that has a real wow factor for kids. They feel all stealthy when they deliver a blank page to the only confidante who knows the trick to revealing its hidden words. Kids can extend the fun by stashing a message in an envelope marked “Classified,” “Top Secret,” or “Confidential.” They can also deliver a message in a furtive, cloak-and-dagger fashion to heighten the suspense. Just like real secret agents do. (Only without the “This message will self-destruct in ten seconds” warning. That may be somewhat excessive.)

MATERIALS

∗ water

∗ baking soda

∗ small cup

∗ cotton swabs

∗ paper

∗ paintbrush

∗ purple grape juice (juice from concentrate works best)

∗ white crayon

∗ watercolor paint

HOW-TO

1. Make “ink” by mixing one part water and one part baking soda in a small cup.

2. Dip a cotton swab in the mixture and use it to write a secret message on the paper. Let it dry.

3. When you’re ready for the message to be revealed, “paint” over it with the grape juice.

Variations

For Scribblers: A nice intro-to-invisible-ink activity for pre-writers is referred to as “crayon resist.” Have your little ones scribble all over a piece of white paper with a white crayon. Then they can paint the paper with watercolors and watch their invisible lines appear.

For Spellers: Spellers can stick to writing one or two simple (yet secret) words.

For Storytellers and Scholars: Storytellers and Scholars can write more involved messages.