By Crystal McGinnis, General Manager – Dig It

Back-to-school season is here, and at Dig It – Torrance, that means more than sharpening pencils and picking out backpacks. It’s the perfect time to spark curiosity, fuel creativity, and give kids the confidence to explore the world around them through hands-on discovery. Our mission is simple: to create an engaging space where ALL children are empowered to explore and build the community around them through play.

As someone who grew up loving mud days in the backyard and extreme tent building with my brother, I’ve seen firsthand how unstructured, playful exploration inspires problem-solving and a love for learning. With over 20 years of experience creating programs for kids across Los Angeles—including my own Crystal Camp mobile school—I know the magic that happens when you combine play with purpose. And that’s exactly what our latest back-to-school STEM project is all about.

For family-friendly events and things to do with kids in the South Bay, sign up for our newsletter and get it all delivered straight to your inbox.

This Month’s STEM Project: Make Your Own Lava Lamp

This hands-on experiment uses simple household items to help kids explore core science concepts like density, chemical reactions, and cause and effect. With water, oil, food coloring, and an Alka Seltzer tablet, kids create a bubbling “lava lamp” that brings science to life before their eyes.

By observing how oil and water separate, how food coloring interacts with each layer, and how bubbles form and move when the chemical reaction is activated, kids experience scientific principles in action. Best of all, the project is endlessly repeatable, encouraging kids to test, question, and explore what’s happening each time.

Why It Matters

Projects like this give kids a safe place to take risks, make mistakes, and try again. They learn that “failure” is simply part of the process, and that curiosity and persistence can lead to amazing breakthroughs. It’s about more than completing a project—it’s about sparking a mindset that will serve them for a lifetime.

Whether your child is a budding scientist, a creative builder, or simply loves to tinker, our back-to-school STEM project is the perfect way to kick off the year with confidence and curiosity. We can’t wait to see what they create!