Spooky Science

Halloween is the perfect time to get kids involved in hands-on science! With themes of magic potions, mad scientists, ghosts, and pumpkins, there are limitless way to incorporate science experiments into your Halloween celebrations. Here are three of my favorite experiments to get kids excited about science during the spooky season.

Elephant Toothpaste

Some people will refer to this experiment as the “barfing pumpkin” as the reaction can certainly make it look like the pumpkin indulged in too much Halloween candy. However, I like to re-frame it as the pumpkin is brushing his teeth with “elephant toothpaste” to prevent all that sugar from the Halloween candy from damaging his teeth. This experiment is quick and easy to do.

Materials:

• A carved out pumpkin
• 1 cup 12% hydrogen peroxide. Also known as 40-volume peroxide. This is available at beauty stores, but make sure to the get the “clear” kind, not the cream.
• 1 packet of rapid rise yeast extract.
• 2 tsp of dish soap.
• 2 TBSP warm water.
• Food coloring – optional.

Instructions:

1. Mix the packet of yeast extract with 2 TBSP of warm water. Set aside.
2. Add 2 tsp of dish soap (and food coloring if using) to 1 cup of 12% hydrogen peroxide in a shallow bowl that will fit inside your pumpkin.
3. Pour the yeast-water mixture to the bowl of hydrogen peroxide-soap and quickly place the pumpkin over the bowl.

I like to do it as a demonstration during the fall festivals at schools or libraries but I have recipes for students to do this themselves on a smaller scale so it can be a hands-on, interactive activity.

Magic Potions

There are so many kinds of magic potions that you can stir up during Halloween but I feel like the easiest is simply mixing baking soda, vinegar, and food coloring together and watching the bubbling brew fizz and foam.

Materials:

• 2 tsp of baking soda
• 2 TBSP (30 mL) of vinegar
• Food coloring
• A small bowl, silicone cupcake liner, plastic cup, or mini cauldron or mini pumpkin

Instructions:

1. Place 2 tsp of baking soda into your small bowl.
2. Add food coloring, if using, to your vinegar.
3. Pour your vinegar into the bowl.

Disappearing Ghosts

This is a favorite for my students as they truly can’t believe the ghosts disappear before their eyes.

Materials:

• 100% acetone. Available at beauty supply stores (nail polish remover).
• Styrofoam cup
• Marker
• Shallow dish or bowl

Instructions:

1. Turn the Styrofoam cup upside down so it is open on the bottom. Draw a ghost on the cup.
2. Fill a shallow bowl with about acetone so it is approximately 1-inch deep.
3. Slowly push the Styrofoam cup into the acetone and watch your ghost dissolve and disappear.