Influence - The Power of You

This experiment is one of the coolest things every. It also makes for a good object lesson. WARNING:  it's addicting!

To demonstrate the amount of influence a person has we did this simple experiment. (We'd done it before, during a unit on color theory, but it's been quite a while so the effect still struck awe and this time it had meaning.) 

1. I gave each of my kids a clear pie plate with a quarter to a half inch of milk poured into it. This represents each of their circles of influence. (Do not use skim milk.)

2. They each chose three colors of food coloring:  one represented family, one friends, and one other people they come in contact with. They squeezed a few drops of each color in the milk, 

3.  I gave them each a Q-tip and told them it represented them. They rolled the ends of the swabs in dish soap. The dish soap represents influence, the influence of each individual, whether it be through kindness and service, example, missionary work, etc.

4.  They each put their Q-tips in the milk and then watched the fun.

The interesting thing is that the "influence" continues even after the Q-tip is removed. Colors continue to mix, swirl, roll, and boil seemingly on their own. So, a person's influence continues on and on, even when the person is no longer present.

This makes a great Family Home Evening lesson or morning devotional. To see more about the science of this experiment, go here. For scriptures and more on the spiritual application, go here.