Bubbling Cloud Dough Science

Preschool Science Sensory Play and Learning

Easy bubbling cloud dough homemade science sensory play! However, as Liam gets older, we are doing more and more science-oriented activities. Our favorites are still the ones that include a bit of sensory play as well. Lately, we have been focusing on easy homemade slimes! We always enjoy a good fizzing and bubbling baking soda activity. Today we are using a new favorite sensory play material to test our chemical reaction, cloud dough!

Why Preschool Science?

Preschoolers are curious creatures. Science experiments, even very simple experiments fuel their curiosity for the world. Learning how to observe, how to talk about what they see and how to predict what might happen are amazing tools for the future! Experiments increase practical life and fine motor skills not to mention math and literacy skills.

Homemade Cloud Dough Sensory Play

Cloud dough is so easy to make and one of our 12 Favorite Sensory Play Recipes! We have two ways, original and taste safe! My favorite is the original but if you have a young child prone to trying things, you might want to try the taste safe recipe! My son can play with this for quite a long time! Recently, we made a batch of taste safe pumpkin cloud dough made with real pumpkin (click here) and that is the base for our bubbling cloud dough science exploration activity! I love to reuse whatever I can!

Bubbling Cloud Dough Science Set Up

This is very simple and quick to set up! You probably have everything you need in your kitchen cabinet to get started right now. Entertain and educate the kids all morning with our playful chemical reaction sensory play! Have you ever just explored baking soda and vinegar? Check out a simple experiment here.

Supplies Needed:

cloud dough
baking soda
vinegar
food coloring (optional)
eyedropper
containers for vinegar and cloud dough mixture

How To Make: So I simply took my already made cloud dough and added in a few cups of baking soda. It was a little dry so I added some more oil so that it could still be molded into balls and mini castles. I sort of eyeballed it all but if you want an exact recipe, check out Powerful Mothering. Ours was already orange from the pumpkin but Powerful Mothering can show you how to color it! I like to provide colored vinegar for making beautiful colors.

Bubbling Cloud Dough Science Sensory Play

Set out your cloud dough, vinegar, and an eyedropper. Invite your child to experiment and explore. If he has never played with cloud dough before, show him how it can be molded into a little castle with a cup! When he is satisfied with sensory play, hand him the eye dropper! Eye droppers are a great science tool! They are also one of my favorite tools for fine motor play. Provide a magnifying glass for close up observation as well. Check out what happens when the vinegar hits the baking soda cloud dough mixture. Talk about when two things meet, they can make a reaction. This reaction produces carbon dioxide which makes the bubbling, fizzing cloud dough come to life! Touch the bubbles, listen to the fizzing! This is awesome hands-on science sensory play for the senses!