Looking for a not-too-spooky Halloween science experiment? Try this super fun fizzing ghost science activity that will have kids captivated by the fizz, bubbles, and eruptions! It’s a classic baking soda and vinegar experiment with a Halloween twist, perfect for hands-on learning.
Halloween Science Experiment
Countdown with 31 not-too-spooky Halloween Science and STEM Activities perfect for preschool to middle school.
Supplies:
- Baking soda
- Water
- Vinegar
- Googly eyes
- Ice cube tray (or mold)
- Bowl and spoon (for mixing)
- Eye dropper or baster
How to Create Fizzing Ghosts:
- Mix Your Dough: Combine 2 parts baking soda with 1 part water to create a firm, packable dough. The mixture should be slightly crumbly but moldable.
- Shape Your Ghosts: Pack the mixture into an ice cube tray or mold, pressing firmly. Add googly eyes to each section to give your ghosts a spooky look.
- Freeze (Optional): Freeze your ghost molds for a couple of hours to make them last longer during fizzing.
- Set Up for Fizzing: Remove your ghosts from the tray and place them in a shallow dish once frozen or ready. Set out a bowl of vinegar and give the kids an eyedropper or baster to start the fizzing fun!
Fizzing Science
When vinegar (an acid) touches the baking soda (a base), a chemical reaction occurs, producing carbon dioxide gas, this is what causes all the fizzing and bubbling! Kids can see the gas being released and hear the fizzing sound. It’s a fantastic sensory experience that demonstrates basic chemistry concepts.
💡 Bubbling Brew: For another colorful and exciting reaction, make a bubbling witch’s brew using baking soda, vinegar, and food coloring!
How can I make this Halloween experiment more educational? Encourage kids to make predictions before adding the vinegar. Ask them to observe what happens, why the reaction occurs, and how different amounts of vinegar affect the fizzing. You can also have them record their observations on a printable worksheet (download available below).
What age group is this fizzy ghost experiment suitable for? This experiment is ideal for kids in early elementary school, roughly ages 4 to 8. However, older children can also enjoy and learn from the activity by focusing on the science behind the reaction.
How long does the activity take to set up? The setup takes about 10 minutes, plus freezing time if you freeze your ghosts. The fizzing action lasts several minutes, making it a quick yet engaging activity.
More Ghost Activities
Ghost-Themed Homemade Floam: Whip up homemade floam with our easy recipe and give it a ghostly theme for science and sensory play.
Blowing Up Ghostly Balloons: Watch as baking soda and vinegar create enough gas to inflate a balloon and give it a spooky, ghostly shape! This fun activity adds an extra visual element to the classic reaction.
Ghostly Bubbles: Blow bubbles to simulate spooky ghost bubbles and experiment with surface tension and air!
Flying Ghost Tea Bag: Turn a tea bag into a flying ghost with a simple heat and air trick. Kids will be in awe as the bag rises into the air like a ghost.
Printable Halloween STEM Activities Pack
150+ Pages of Halloween-themed materials! This Halloween project pack is suitable for home, school, and group use for kids in kindergarten through elementary school, but it is scaleable for many ages and abilities.
It’ very funny!!!! I’ am a teacher of primari School! Thank you, Sarah