Oh boy! This simple pumpkin volcano goes way back! I first set up this EASY fall science experiment for my son 10 years ago. To this day, we still love all sorts of erupting chemical reactions. The amazement of foaming pumpkins and a fizzy reaction is the perfect way to grow a kid’s love of science. Here, we make science activities simple. More fun and less frustration!

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Explore Pumpkins and Chemistry

Fall is the perfect time to experiment with pumpkins and apples. They are PERFECT for so many fun ways to explore science with kids.

Our erupting pumpkin volcano below is an awesome example of a chemical reaction. Kids love these amazing experiments just as much as adults!

All you need is some baking soda and vinegar for a classic chemical reaction. You could also try lemon juice and baking soda and compare the results! Check out our lemon volcano too!

We have a whole season of fun pumpkin science experiments for you to try. Repeating experiments in different ways really helps to solidify understanding of the concepts being presented. Holidays and seasons present numerous occasions for you to re-invent some of our favorite science experiments.

What is chemistry?

This pumpkin volcano experiment might look more like play than learning, but it’s so much more!

Let’s keep it basic for our younger or junior scientists! Chemistry is all about how different materials are put together and how they are made up, including atoms and molecules.

It’s also how these materials act under different conditions. Chemistry is often a base for physics, so you should plan to see some overlap!

What might you experiment with within chemistry? Classically, we think of a mad scientist and lots of bubbling beakers, and yes, there are plenty of reactions between bases and acids to enjoy!

Also, chemistry involves states of matter, chemical changes, solutions, mixtures, and the list goes on and on.

Here you will be exploring simple chemistry you can do at home or in the classroom that isn’t too crazy but is still lots of fun for kids! Our experiments are easy to set up and inexpensive for home or classroom use and groups!

>>> Check out more fun chemistry experiments

Can you see the expression on his face below? He’s 14 now and still loves it!

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Helpful Science Resources To Get Your Started

Here are a few resources that will help you introduce science more effectively to your kiddos or students and feel confident yourself when presenting materials. You’ll find helpful free printables throughout.

Get your FREE printable Pumpkin Science Activities!

Grab this free pumpkin science guide and pumpkin STEM challenge cards to plan a complete pumpkin lesson!

Pumpkin Volcano Experiment

TIP: This pumpkin volcano can get a bit messy in a fun way! Make sure to have a surface or area you can easily clean up. You can start by placing your pumpkin in a pie dish or a large mixing bowl to catch the overflow.

Supplies:

  • Small Baking Pumpkin
  • Baking Soda
  • Vinegar
  • Food Coloring
  • Dish Soap
  • Container (to catch the fizz)
  • Knife to carve out the hole (for adults to do!)

CHECK OUT: Pumpkin Slime Made Right in the Pumpkin

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Instructions:

STEP 1. Grab a pumpkin! You can use just about any pumpkin, white or orange. Baking pumpkins are usually a great size, and you can pick them up in your local grocery store. You can use mini pumpkins too.

STEP 2. An adult should use a knife to cut a hole in the top of the pumpkin. Next, you will want to clean out the guts. You can even use them for a pumpkin sensory bag or pumpkin investigation tray!

STEP 3. You can then have the kiddos put about a 1/4 of a cup of baking soda into the pumpkin.

STEP 4. Add a squirt of dish soap if you want a foamier eruption! The chemical eruption will produce frothier bubbles with dish soap added and more overflow!

STEP 5. Add a few drops of food coloring. You can also add food coloring to the vinegar for a deeper color eruption.

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STEP 6. You will want to pour your vinegar into an easy to use container for the kiddos. If you pour straight from a container into the pumpkin, you will produce a more dramatic volcano effect.

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Now get ready to watch the fun as your pumpkin volcano erupts!

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I think you will find a volcano science activity never gets dull… Go ahead and try it again! What happens if you make a Jack O’Lantern face in the pumpkin first. Check out our erupting Jack O’Lantern.

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The Science Behind Pumpkin Volcano

Chemistry is all about states of matter including liquids, solids, and gasses. A chemical reaction occurs between two or more substances that change and form a new substance. In this case a gas called carbon dioxide.

The carbon dioxide escapes the mixture in the form of bubbles. You can even hear them if you listen closely. The bubbles are heavier than air, so the carbon dioxide collects at the surface or overflows the pumpkin because of the small vessel we have given it.

The dish soap is added to collect the gas and form bubbles that give it a more robust pumpkin volcano lave like flow down the side! That equals more fun!

You don’t have to add dish soap but it’s worth a try. Or you can even set up an experiment to see which eruption you like more.

Check out more ways you can make a volcano here.

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More Fun Pumpkin Science Experiments

More Awesome Baking Soda and Vinegar Reactions

You can experiment with several pumpkin shapes to find your perfect volcano vessel or create a more traditional one. Check out some of the ways we have enjoyed this simple chemical reaction.

Printable Pumpkin STEM Pack

Perfect for K-2/3rd Grade and homeschool! Many activities can be modified for preschool and older kiddos as well. 

Pumpkin is a festive and classic theme for fall and this pack is perfect for exploring pumpkins with a non-Halloween theme! Includes science, STEM, engineering, early math, and art projects.

The kids will have a blast trying 100+ pages of “totally doable” projects! Read more here.

21 Comments

  1. Hi there! I found you on Mom’s Library link up. This is way too cool! My kiddo is 7 and will just love this. Never would have thought of it, thank you. Pinned! 🙂

  2. Oh yes! I am sure we will be doing it again. He was eyeing the huge pumpkin outside. Could you imagine what that would do?!

  3. We have a few pumpkins begging to be cut open. This looks like such a fun way to put them to use! Thanks for sharing at Discover & Explore. I’m featuring this post today.

  4. Talk about a great way to kids involved! (especially those that may scrunch their nose at slimy seeds–they won’t be able to turn away from this!) Another great idea from you! Thanks for sharing at Magic Moments Monday.

  5. My name is Lesli Richards and I am the author of The Homegrown Preschooler…I am writing some content for Old Schoolhouse Magazine’s Teacher website, and I’d love permission to use one of your photos (the one of the pumpkins at the top) and link up to your blog. Could you please consider it and email me and let me know? Blessings,
    Lesli Richards

  6. Appreciation to my father who informed me on the topic of
    this blog, this website is truly awesome.

  7. Hello,
    Just wondering why do you add the dish soap?? My mom is a science teacher and I have never seen her add dish soap to her volcanoes for class. Thanks for posting this fun idea. My neice will love it!!

  8. Add it after baking soda and before vinegar. Or you can gently mix it into the vinegar. You don’t need it as the reaction happens with the other two ingredients. The soap makes it really froth!

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