Thousands of years ago, before people knew about advanced concepts in chemistry, dyes and pigments were extracted from natural materials.
Science teacher David Budnik developed this hands-on kit that lets students extract their own dyes from plants. Students can make red, yellow and brown dyes; use these dyes on fabric samples; then study the results of the dyes both with and without mordants (metal salt solutions used to ensure colorfastness).
Includes materials for nine student groups and instructions.
I used this lab with my microbiology students when we learned about the Gram staining process and microscopy in general. It is a great illustration of what a 'mordant' is and one of the ways it works. It is also a fun activity for biology students when they are studying plants. It ties in a little history and lets the kids do a 'craft', which they love. The consumables are easily replaced, and makes this activity worth the initial purchase price.
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