10 Halloween Science Experiments to Try at Home with Children

Educational and Fun Activities


Written by Alexandra Stone

15 July 2024

? 5 min

Halloween is a fantastic time to blend fun with learning through exciting science experiments. Engaging in hands-on activities not only enhances children’s understanding of scientific concepts but also provides an opportunity for quality family time. Here are ten Halloween-themed science experiments that are perfect for children and can be done at home!

1. Witch’s Brew: Bubbling Cauldron Experiment


What You Need:

  • Baking soda
  • Vinegar
  • Food colouring (green or orange)
  • A large bowl

Instructions:

  1. Add a few tablespoons of baking soda to the bowl.
  2. Mix in some food colouring.
  3. Pour vinegar over the baking soda and watch it bubble over like a cauldron!

Science Concept: This experiment demonstrates a chemical reaction between baking soda (a base) and vinegar (an acid), producing carbon dioxide gas.

2. Ghostly Bouncing Eggs


What You Need:

  • Raw eggs
  • Vinegar
  • A jar or glass

Instructions:

  1. Place the raw eggs in the jar and cover them with vinegar.
  2. Let them sit for 24-48 hours until the shells dissolve and the eggs become bouncy!

Science Concept: This experiment showcases an acid-base reaction, where the acetic acid in vinegar reacts with the calcium carbonate in the eggshell.

3. Mummy’s Wrap: Static Electricity Experiment


What You Need:

  • A balloon
  • A small piece of tissue paper or light fabric

Instructions:

  1. Inflate the balloon and rub it on your hair or a woolly sweater to create static electricity.
  2. Hold the balloon close to the tissue paper and watch it “stick” to the balloon as if it were being wrapped by a mummy!

Science Concept: This activity demonstrates static electricity and the attraction between opposite charges.

4. Spooky Slime


What You Need:

  • White school glue
  • Baking soda
  • Contact lens solution
  • Food colouring (optional)

Instructions:

  1. Mix 1 cup of glue with 1 tablespoon of baking soda in a bowl.
  2. Add food colouring if desired.
  3. Slowly mix in contact lens solution until the slime forms.

Science Concept: This experiment illustrates the concept of polymers and how they can change states from liquid to solid.

5. Eyeball Float: Density Experiment


What You Need:

  • Clear glass
  • Water
  • Cooking oil
  • A grape or a bouncy ball

Instructions:

  1. Fill the glass halfway with water.
  2. Slowly pour cooking oil on top of the water.
  3. Drop the grape or bouncy ball into the glass and observe what happens!

Science Concept: This experiment demonstrates the principles of density, showing how different substances can float or sink based on their densities.

6. Invisible Ink: Spooky Messages


What You Need:

  • Lemon juice
  • Cotton swab or paintbrush
  • White paper
  • A light bulb or iron

Instructions:

  1. Dip the cotton swab in lemon juice and write a message on the paper.
  2. Allow it to dry completely.
  3. Hold the paper near a light bulb or iron to reveal the hidden message.

Science Concept: This activity introduces the concept of oxidation and how heat causes the lemon juice to change colour.

7. Volcanic Eruption with Pumpkins


What You Need:

  • A small pumpkin
  • Baking soda
  • Vinegar
  • Food colouring

Instructions:

  1. Hollow out the pumpkin and place it on a tray.
  2. Fill the pumpkin with baking soda.
  3. Add food colouring and pour vinegar into the pumpkin to create a volcanic eruption!

Science Concept: This experiment illustrates chemical reactions, similar to the bubbling cauldron activity.

8. Creepy Crawly Ants: Candy Displacement Experiment


What You Need:

  • Candy corn or gummy worms
  • A clear container
  • Water

Instructions:

  1. Fill the container with water.
  2. Drop the candy into the water and observe how it displaces the water, creating “creepy crawly” effects.

Science Concept: This activity demonstrates the principles of buoyancy and displacement.

9. Candy Corn Density Tower


What You Need:

  • Candy corn
  • Different liquids (water, corn syrup, oil)

Instructions:

  1. Pour each liquid into a tall glass in this order: water, corn syrup, and oil.
  2. Slowly add candy corn on top and observe how they settle at different levels.

Science Concept: This experiment demonstrates density differences between liquids, showing how denser liquids can support lighter objects.

10. The Science of Sound: Spooky Sounds


What You Need:

  • Various household items (pots, pans, jars)
  • A spoon or stick for striking

Instructions:

  1. Experiment with different items to create spooky sounds by striking or shaking them.
  2. Discuss how sound is produced and how different materials affect the sound’s pitch and volume.

Science Concept: This activity teaches about sound waves and how they are produced by vibrations.

Final Thoughts


Engaging in these Halloween-themed science experiments can turn this spooky holiday into a fun and educational experience for children. Each activity not only highlights fascinating scientific concepts but also encourages creativity and exploration.

At Science of Sound (SOS), we celebrate the wonders of science through engaging activities and workshops. If you’re interested in enhancing your child’s educational experience this Halloween, consider joining our Science of Sound holiday camps. Let’s make this Halloween a time of discovery, creativity, and fun for your children!

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