The most exciting moments in any science class often come during hands-on experiments. Whether it’s building a volcano or dissecting something unusual, these activities keep everyone engaged—even those who think science isn’t their favorite subject.
If you enjoy doing simple chemistry projects at home with kids or just for fun, growing your own crystals is a rewarding and accessible activity. It’s inexpensive, visually striking, and a great way to introduce basic principles of solution chemistry and crystal formation.
Making crystal stars uses borax to grow sparkling crystals on a shaped armature. By twisting pipe cleaners into a star or other shapes, then suspending them in a saturated borax solution, you’ll create beautiful crystalline decorations suitable for ornaments, classroom displays, or gifts.
The experiment is surprisingly easy and requires only a few household supplies. Follow the step-by-step instructions below for clear, reliable results.
Materials
- Pipe cleaners (white or colored)
- Popsicle sticks or skewers
- Borax powder
- Very hot water
- Clear glass jars large enough to hold your shape
Instructions
Step 1: Shape the pipe cleaners. Twist two pipe cleaners together to form a small, compact ball for the center. Attach a third pipe cleaner so that part of it forms a spoke or arm and the other half remains straight for attaching to the support. You can fashion a star, snowflake, or other simple shape—just make sure it fits inside your jar without touching the sides or bottom.
Step 2: Prepare the borax solution. In a glass jar, add about 1/2 cup of borax. Pour very hot water over the borax slowly and stir until most of the borax dissolves. The goal is a saturated (or near-saturated) solution; if the water is hot enough you can dissolve a lot of borax. Use caution with the hot water to avoid burns.
Step 3: Suspend the pipe cleaner shape. Attach the straight end of the pipe cleaner to a popsicle stick or skewer so you can suspend the shape in the jar. Lower the pipe cleaner gently into the jar, making sure it hangs freely and does not touch the bottom or sides. The popsicle stick will rest across the rim of the jar to hold the shape in place.
Step 4: Let crystals form. Place the jar somewhere undisturbed and leave it overnight. As the solution cools and the borax begins to come out of solution, crystals will form on any surface they contact—especially the pipe cleaner texture. Over several hours a noticeable coating of crystals will develop.
When borax dissolves in hot water, it creates a concentrated solution. As the solution cools, the dissolved borax molecules gather and begin to form solid structures. The pipe cleaner provides a template where these crystals can nucleate and grow, building layer upon layer until you see a thick, sparkly coating.
Step 5: Remove and finish. The next day carefully lift the popsicle stick and pipe cleaner out of the jar. Gently pat the new crystals dry with a paper towel and trim any excess pipe cleaner if needed. Your crystal star is ready to display. Experiment with different pipe cleaner colors to get colorful crystal finishes—purple, yellow, green, and white all work well.
How to clean the jars – When you are finished, remove leftover borax by rinsing the jars with very hot or boiling water. If residue remains, add a mixture of boiling water and lemon juice or vinegar to help dissolve and lift the deposits, then rinse thoroughly and dry. Dispose of rinse water responsibly according to local guidelines.