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Borax Crystal Coral Reef Craft for Kids (Easy Ocean STEM Activity) collection of colorful crystal coral pieces created with pipe cleaners and Borax for an easy STEM craft and ocean activity.
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How to Make a Borax Crystal Coral Reef Craft

Watch crystals grow like magic! Follow the printable directions to create sparkling crystal coral and design your own underwater coral reef scene.
Keyword: Craft, Science, Summer

Materials

  • Pipe cleaners
  • Borax powder
  • Warm water
  • Food coloring
  • Glass jars or heat-safe containers
  • Popsicle sticks
  • String or extra pipe cleaner pieces
  • Spoon for stirring

Optional Supplies for Building a Coral Reef

Sand, Small rocks or pebbles, Small ocean animal figures, Cardboard base, Hot glue (adult assistance required) Bowl, tray, or shallow container

Instructions

  • Directions:

    To make crafting easy, print the directions that are available at the end of this post.

    Step 1: Shape the Coral

    Bend pipe cleaners into coral-inspired shapes. Create branching coral, fan coral, or any unique reef design you would find in an underwater reef.

    Step 2: Prepare the Borax Solution

    Measure how much water your jar holds. With adult assistance, fill the jar with very warm water.
    Mix in 3 tablespoons of Borax for every 1 cup of water and stir until the Borax dissolves. Add a few drops of food coloring if desired.

    Step 3: Attach the Coral

    Tie each pipe cleaner coral shape to a popsicle stick using string or a small piece of pipe cleaner.

    Step 4: Seed the Coral

    Dip each pipe cleaner coral into the Borax solution, then remove it and place it on a paper towel to dry completely. This "seeds" the pipe cleaners and helps crystals begin forming more easily.

    Step 5: Grow the Crystals

    Once the seeded coral is dry, place it back into the jar of Borax solution.
    Lay the popsicle stick across the top of the jar so the coral hangs freely without touching the sides or bottom.
    Leave the jar undisturbed overnight or for 12–24 hours while crystals form on the pipe cleaners.

    Step 6: Remove and Dry

    Carefully remove the crystal-covered coral from the jar.
    Detach it from the popsicle stick and place it on paper towels to dry completely.

    Step 7: Build Your Coral Reef

    Once the crystal coral is dry, create an underwater habitat.
    Fill a bowl, tray, or container with sand and gently stick the crystal coral into the sand. Add rocks, shells, and small ocean animal figures to complete your coral reef.
    For a permanent display, adults can hot glue the crystal coral onto a piece of cardboard before adding sand and decorations. Kids can arrange the coral and sea creatures to design their own unique underwater world.