Make your own magic potion with this Halloween Potions Science Activity. Kids of all ages will have so much fun watching as their own potions create bubbles and fog using some simple science.
This cool science experiment uses dry ice. Please remember to never touch dry ice with your bare skin as it will cause injuries. Always follow safety advice when handling dry ice.
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More Halloween STEM Activities for Kids
You really can’t go wrong with fun Halloween science experiments. Here are some more STEM activities with a Halloween twist that are perfect to do with your kids this October.
- Halloween Roll and Graph
- Halloween I Spy
- Halloween Potions Math Game
- Dissolving Halloween Candy Experiments
- Skeleton Bridge – Halloween STEM Challenges
For more ideas, check out these 30 Halloween STEM Activities for Kids.
Materials Needed
- Mason Jars – 1 for each color
- Food coloring
- Water
- Dry Ice
- Small cups or bowls
- Tongs
How to Make a Halloween Potions Science Activity
1. Fill up the mason jar with water.
Only fill the jars about a third to half way full of water. Don’t fill them with all the water to the top. If you fill the jars up too much, then the water will splatter all over your counter and make a mess.
2. Add a few drops of food coloring to each jar and mix.
You only need a little bit of food colouring for this fun experiment. I liked using Halloween colors, like orange, green and purple. However, use whatever you like, your kids will enjoy being able to choose what color their witches potions will be.
3. Place some dry ice in a separate cup.
Use tongs or really thick gloves when transferring a chunk of dry ice. It is very important that you don’t touch it with your bare fingers as it will cause injuries. If you are doing this spooky science experiment with younger children, then an adult will need to do this step for them.
4. Pour the dry ice into the mason jar.
5. Enjoy watching.
Different Experiments to Try
Teach your class about the scientific method with three variations on this halloween experiment. This is a great STEM project for older children, because you can use it to actually create and experiment and follow the scientific method. However, it’s also a great activity for younger kids too, who aren’t ready for that next step and just want to have fun with a bubbling cauldron.
1. Temperature
Play around with different temperatures and see what happens. You can fill three different jars with cold, warm and hot water. The dry ice will sublimate at a different rate depending on the temperature of the water.
2. Amount of Ice
Will more ice make more fog? Do an experiment and see? Fill each mason jar with the same amount of water. Then to each jar add 1,2 or 3 scoops of dry ice, then estimate how much fog the different amounts of ice makes.
3. Amount of water
Will the amount of water in the jar affect the amount of fog the ice makes? Fill three jars up with different amounts of water, one 1/4 full, one 1/2 full and one 3/4 full. Then add the same amount of dry ice into each jar and record your results.
Are you going to try this Halloween Potions Science Activity with your kids?
Don’t forget to pin the idea for later.
86 Pages of Halloween themed play based learning activities. Perfect for preschool and kindergarteners.
