Bubbling Pumpkin - The Best Halloween Experiment for Kids

The Bubbling Pumpkin is a simple experiment for kids that's sure to be a hit at any Halloween party. It surprises and delights not only the youngest. It only requires a few ingredients, so you can easily whip it up at the last minute.

Also try other creative Halloween projects like the spooky tray - sensory play with pasta .

Contents

• Step 1 - Prepare the carved pumpkin
• Step 2 - Prepare the Spooky Potion
• Step 3 - Bubbling Pumpkin - Time to explode!

• Baking soda
• Dye
• Liquid soap
• Vinegar or citric acid
• A carved pumpkin or disposable cups

Step 1 - Prepare the carved pumpkin

This is the most time-consuming part of preparing a Halloween experiment , so it's best to prepare the pumpkin that will serve as the vessel for our children's experiment in advance. A really small pumpkin will do, but large enough to fit a few holes in the side. Trace the planned shapes on the pumpkin, cut off the lid, hollow it out, and finally cut out the holes. Our cauldron for a spooky experiment for children is ready!

If you don't have the time or resources to make a real pumpkin, you can always use disposable cups. Ideally, the cups should be a solid color. Everyone draws a spooky face on their cup, then cuts out a few holes from which colorful foam will flow. This is a good solution, for example, for a party with a larger group of slightly older children who can handle designing and carving on their own.

Step 2 - Prepare the Spooky Potion

The pumpkin experiment also requires preparing our spooky mixture. First, combine all the dry ingredients: baking soda and any powdered food coloring. You'll need at least half a sachet of baking soda per explosion. Then, add a few pumps of soap, which will increase the foaming effect of our spectacular explosion.

This is one of those experiments where it's difficult to pinpoint precise proportions. It's best to do everything by eye and observe how the scale and intensity of the explosion changes. It's definitely worth having a few sachets of baking soda and at least one bottle of vinegar on hand, because we guarantee it's hard to stop having so much fun.

Bubbling Pumpkin - Ingredients

Baking soda

Dye

Vinegar

Step 3 - Bubbling Pumpkin - Time to explode!

It's time for the climax of this spooky Halloween experiment : a giant explosion of colorful foam. Simply add a little vinegar to the dry ingredients and soap mixture. Of course, you can also replace the vinegar with citric acid or an effervescent tablet dissolved in water.

Almost all children know that baking soda + vinegar = explosion. Why does this happen? When we mix the two substances, a violent reaction occurs, producing, among other things, carbon dioxide , hence our rising, bubbling foam. There's nothing left to do but get creative with the proportions and experiment freely with this spooky concoction.