pumpkin lava lamp experiment

16 Amazing Pumpkin Science Experiments: Easy to Set Up and Easy to Perform

• September 1, 2020
• Science Experiments

Today, we are going to combine ‘Science’ and ‘Fall’ together to fascinate kids with a wonderful list of pumpkin science experiments. These experiments also build a bridge between science and art activities that teach a variety of simple and complex scientific concepts to the young scientists in our home or school. For the inquisitive kids of all ages, these easy and cool experiments offer a great time to explore pumpkin science in a fun and exciting way.

Science Experiments with Pumpkins

These super cool pumpkin science experiments let your little kids to think like a little scientist and encourages them to make their own analysis and questions on the science concepts they are working with. Pumpkins represent the symbol of fall fun and kids love to play with them, and that is the reason we have come up with best and fun pumpkin science experiments. I am sure kids will fall in love with the experiments and demand the parents to repeat them again and again. Do you want to learn what those fascinating experiments are!? Then, you have to continue reading our post until end.

1. Pumpkin Volcano Science Experiment

Creating volcanoes is always a fascinating activity to younger children and we erupt volcanoes in so many ways! But today, we are going to create an amazing volcano easily in a different way using pumpkin. Pumpkin adds a colourful and attractive portion to this wonderful science experiment. I believe all the curious kids out there are already ready with a pumpkin to perform this experiment. So, let us dig into the activity without any delay: Click on Pumpkin Volcano Science Experiment

2. Bubble Science Experiment with Pumpkins

Pumpkins are always fun whatever you do with it!! Here is another fun set up of pumpkin science experiment, which is so popular in adding a ton of fun to the kids play. Creating bubbles inside a pumpkin is a kind of kids play and hence referred as ‘bubbly science experiment’ that brings fall, Halloween, and science to one place.

Have a look at the set up and instructions by clicking on Bubble Science Experiment with Pumpkins

  3. Fluffy Slime Pumpkin Science Experiment

Making slime is an excellent way to demonstrate chemistry to the kids!! Kids will love making slime too! And especially when you make homemade slime inside the pumpkin, kids enjoy the activity to the fullest. Chemistry and homemade slime are brought together to make an innovative orange fluffy slime at home!! Kids of all ages can enjoy this activity!

Click here to get the complete details of this interesting experiment: Fluffy Slime Pumpkin Science Experiment

4. Kindergarten Science Experiment with Pumpkin

Most requested and favourite pumpkin activity for kindergarten this fall!! In fact, I have done this experiment on my kindergarten son’s request and it worked out very well. So, I thought to share it with you all as well. I believe your kindergarten kids will enjoy it too!

Let’s get started by following the simple instructions of the experiment: Click Kindergarten Science Experiment with Pumpkin

5. Crystal Pumpkin Borax Science Experiment

Explore this seasonal themed science activity totally in a play mode!! Yes, kids find a lot of interest in growing crystals while learning the science behind borax solution. Easy to set up experiment with simple instructions!! All the age group children will enjoy this cool experiment whereas the older children will easily understands the chemistry behind growing crystals.

If you want to know how to grow crystals: Click on Crystal Pumpkin Borax Science Experiment

6. Magic Pumpkin Science Experiment

Pumpkin is a key component to perform fall and Halloween themed science activities. Here is another such activity that mesmerises your children in a great way. This super cool science activity can be turned into a magic activity!! Kids, get ready with the jaw dropping magic pumpkin!!

Here are the complete description of our awesome magic pumpkin science experiment , just click on it.

7. Dissolving Candy Pumpkins Fun Halloween Science for Kids

An awesome and quick experiment, where kids watch and predict the reaction of different liquids on a candy pumpkin. The experiment takes only two minutes to set up but gives super fun results!! If you are not believing me, then you are most welcome to click on Dissolving Candy Pumpkins Fun Halloween Science for Kids

8. Halloween Ghost Pumpkin Science Eruption

Does your kid love Fall and Halloween!? He/she will definitely love this pumpkin science eruption that perfectly matches the Halloween and fall theme parties and activities. Continue reading to learn how to perform this amazingly simple pumpkin science experiment. Click here for full description: Halloween Ghost Pumpkin Science Eruption

9. Pumpkin Decomposition Fall Science Experiment

Have you ever tried any decomposition activity!? If NO, then pick a pumpkin from your garden and get ready to decompose it using simple instructions from this hands-on science decomposition experiment. Kids will be amazed to perform this experiment again and again! This is otherwise known as smelly experiment!!

Check out the complete details of this amazing experiment here: Pumpkin Decomposition Fall Science Experiment

10. Pumpkin Life Cycle Hands-on Learning Experiment

This is an amazing approach for kids to learn about pumpkin life cycle in real life!! Kids love to grow their own pumpkins in an easy way but they just need some time to experience the magical final end result. This activity actually relate the real life to the real world of science with simple instructions.

If you choose to grow your own pumpkins in your backyard, then click here to learn how: Pumpkin Life Cycle Hands-on Learning Experiment

11. Science of Preserving Pumpkins

 Since pumpkin is the staple component for all our science projects, it is important to protect our cute pumpkins carefully!! But how!? Here is an amazing experiment that reveals some tips and science to protect our pumpkins from decomposing!

Know how to keep your pumpkins fresh longer: Click on Science of Preserving Pumpkins

12. Growing Pumpkins in a Pumpkin Science Experiment

It sounds fun and exciting right!? Even I and my two children were excited learning the concept. Out of curiosity, we wanted to try this fun idea of growing pumpkins inside another pumpkin. I would like to share the source where I found this amazing science experiment with you guys as well. To know the results, click on Growing Pumpkins in a Pumpkin Science Experiment

13. Make a Play Dough Light Up Pumpkin Science Experiment

Introduce the concept of electricity to your little scientists with this amazing and cool science experiment!! This activity offers them to think like scientists on how the electricity passes, why pumpkin is glowing with light, etc. Let them come up with their own analysis and questions about electricity and pumpkin.

Want to light up your pumpkin with a simple and cool science experiment: Here we go, Make a Play Dough Light Up Pumpkin Science Experiment

  14. Skittles Pumpkin Science Experiment

A must-try experiment this fall and Halloween!! Explore skittles with this fun and cool skittles pumpkin science experiment which will WOW your whole family. Also, this activity works great as a science fair project for older kids.

Here is the complete description you need to check before you start this amazing experiment: Skittles Pumpkin Science Experiment

  15. Pumpkin Lava Lamp Science Experiment

Lava Lamp Experiment is always a super cool experiment for kids of all ages!! Kids will explore different chemical reactions and density variations between water and oil, now in this experiment a surprising ingredient makes this wonderful science activity even more fun and exciting!!

Know the instructions to create super cool, simple, and fun pumpkin lava lamp experiments: Pumpkin Lava Lamp Science Experiment

16. Rolling Pumpkins Science Activity

It is a great idea and Demonstration for simple physics!! Rolling pumpkins on homemade ramps or artificial made ramps offers a great simple physics experiment for kids of all ages. Especially, toddlers and pre-schoolers enjoy this activity as a fun play whereas the older kids learn the simple physics in an easy and simple way.

Click here to explore simple physical science: Rolling Pumpkins Science Activity

Each and every experiment mentioned here using pumpkins are specially designed to be carried out by children on their own. Also, they are hassle free, easy to set up, and easy to clean up experiments using very simple ingredients and instructions. Though kids are allowed to perform these experiments on their own, parents or guardians or appropriate adults are required to give proper supervision while kids performing these activities.

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Top 13 Pumpkin Science Experiments

Welcome to the world of pumpkin science experiments! In this article, we have compiled a selection of the best pumpkin experiments.

These carefully curated, hands-on experiments are designed to ignite curiosity and inspire a love for scientific exploration.

Whether you’re seeking engaging classroom projects or exciting home-based investigations, our compilation of pumpkin science experiments is sure to deliver an unforgettable learning experience.

1. Fizzing Pumpkin

By combining common household ingredients with a carved pumpkin, you’ll create a mesmerizing display of fizzing foam and colorful eruptions.

2. Exploding Pumpkin

This experiment is not only an exciting display of science in action but also an opportunity to learn about safety precautions and the fascinating principles behind combustion.

Get ready to be amazed and thrilled as you embark on this explosive journey of discovery!

3. Glowing Pumpkins

Prepare for an illuminating adventure with the Glowing Pumpkins science experiment! Students, get ready to unleash your creativity and dive into the enchanting world of bioluminescence.

4. Pumpkin Patch

Get ready to dive into a world of wonder and exploration with the Pumpkin Patch science experiment! Students, get ready to roll up your sleeves and experience the joy of hands-on discovery.

Learn more: Pumpkin Patch

5. Growing Pumpkin in a Pumpkin

Through careful nurturing and observation, you’ll witness the growth, development, and transformation of the new pumpkin within its cozy, pumpkin home.

This experiment promises an extraordinary hands-on experience that combines biology, botany, and horticulture in a truly captivating way.

Learn more: Growing Pumpkin in a Pumpkin

6. Vomiting Pumpkin

Get ready to concoct a special pumpkin “vomit” mixture that, when poured into a carved pumpkin, will result in a delightfully gross eruption of colorful foam.

7. Salt Crystal Pumpkin

Introducing the Salt Crystal Pumpkin experiment, where art and science intertwine to create stunning crystalline masterpieces.

By coating a pumpkin with a salt solution, students will witness the magical transformation as salt crystals form and grow on its surface.

Learn more: Salt Crystal Pumpkin

8. Floating Pumpkin

Introducing the Floating Pumpkin experiment, where students will unlock the secrets of buoyancy and discover the art of defying sink or float.

9. Exploding Pumpkin Baggie

Get ready to be thrilled as you watch your pumpkin baggie burst into a frenzy of fizzing foam and colorful bursts, creating an unforgettable display of scientific wonder.

Learn more: Exploding Pumpkin

10. Bubble Science Experiment With Pumpkins

This is a perfect, hands-on science experiment for preschool kids to learn about bubbles and how they work.

Learn more: Bubble Science Experiment With Pumpkins

11. Pumpkin Decomposition

Learn about decomposition with the Pumpkin Decomposition science experiment! Students, get ready to witness the circle of life firsthand as you explore the natural process of decay.

Learn more: Pumpkin Decomposition

12. Dissolving Candy Pumpkin

Get ready for a tantalizingly sweet and scientifically intriguing pumpkin experiment! Introducing the Dissolving Candy Pumpkin, where students will discover the fascinating effects of chemistry on their favorite Halloween treats.

Learn more: Dissolving Candy Pumpkin

13. Pumpkin Lava Lamp- Density Experiment

Get ready for a mesmerizing and visually captivating pumpkin science experiment that will leave students in awe! Introducing the Pumpkin Lava Lamp – Density Experiment, where art and science collide in a dazzling display.

Learn more: Pumpkin Lava Lamp

Similar Posts:

• 68 Best Chemistry Experiments: Learn About Chemical Reactions
• Top 50 Fun Food Science Experiments
• Top 100 Fine Motor Skills Activities for Toddlers and Preschoolers

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Friends Art Lab

Halloween Lava Lamp Science Experiment

It razzles, it dazzles, and it’s absolutely magical – this Halloween lava lamp science experiment is a must-try. Your little scientists will beg to do this every year.

Why try this Halloween lava lamp science experiment?

What do kids learn from a halloween lava lamp science experiment, what is the science behind alka seltzer lava lamp, kick the halloween lava lamp science experiment up a notch.

Well, I am so glad that you asked! 😉

• It uses simple supplies
• It’s exciting for kids and adults of all ages
• Kids can help set it up
• Clean-up is easy

We first made Halloween lava lamps with our preschoolers many years ago, and it quickly became an annual Halloween tradition.

Sometimes, we even call it “witch’s brew” for an extra layer of fun and silliness.

Related: A GIANT 10-foot Halloween coloring banner is the best addition to your Halloween fun (and it’s perfect for kids of all ages!)

Friends Art Lab is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Read more about these links in my disclosure policy.

• Alka Seltzer tablets   – I used the generic brand
• Liquid watercolors  or   food coloring
• Vegetable oil 
• Tall clear containers  – Vases and mason jars work great, too

Begin by filling your clear containers with water and adding a splash of color to each.

Next, add the oil (I add a little less than half the water).  Before  adding it, invite your child to  predict  what they think will happen when the oil is added to the container.

• Will the oil and water mix?
• Will one of them float? 
• Will they make any sounds?

Once the oil is added in, the last step is to add in  half of an Alka-Seltzer tablet . Once again,  before  adding it in, invite your child to  predict  what they think will happen.

• Will it explode?
• Will there be any sounds?
• Will it change the water or oil?

Prepare to ooh and aah while you observe the oil and water create a super cool lava lamp effect.

When the water and oil are poured into the same container, they do not combine (which is new to young kids and fascinating).

In doing this experiment, kids are:

• Making predictions
• Observing oil and water not mixing
• Learning the differences in density (oil is  less dense , so it floats on water)
• Practicing fine motor skills
• Watching the reaction between the liquids
• Realizing that the colors don’t mix with the oil

Looking for more science experiments to try? We love these:

• Halloween Frozen Hands Science Experiment
• Oobleck Color Factory
• Dancing Apple Seeds Science Experiment
• Oil and Water Experiment for Kids

The Alka Seltzer tablets create little bubbles of carbon dioxide gas. The bubbles carry the water to the top, at which point they pop, and the water sinks back down.

Check out this post  to learn more about the incredible science behind this experiment.

I have often shared that I am forever a “more is more” person – ESPECIALLY when it comes to fun experiments with kids.

After experimenting with only using half of an Alka Seltzer tablet at a time, experiment by adding a whole tablet.

Or maybe even two.

OR MAYBE EVEN THREE.

Have fun, friends!

Any that can safely use the materials. If doing this with young kids, consider using plastic containers instead of glass.

For longer than you might think! Breaking up the tablets into smaller pieces allows for the project to go on for longer periods of time, too.

Absolutely! You can use any size jar you want.

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Purposeful play, jack o'lantern lava lamps, science experiment for kids.

These Jack O’Lantern Lava Lamps are a fun way to explore science this Halloween with your kids!  This simple pumpkin themed science experiment is a hands-on way to teach multiple science concepts. 

Plus, when you’re finished you have some DIY mason jar Jack O’Lanterns that you can use for decoration around Halloween time!

Keep reading for the full instructions, to shop this project and to download the free Jack O’Lantern Faces Printable.

• Baby Oil (or vegetable oil)
• Orange Food Coloring
• Alka Seltzer Tablets
• Glue or Adhesive Dots
• Googly Eyes (optional)
• Jack O’Lantern Faces Printable

Builds new brain connections

Experiments with cause and effect, explores chemical reactions in a safe, colorful way, strengthens science concepts, screen-free learning, shop this project.

How to Make Jack O'Lantern Lava Lamps

Step 1: faces.

Download, print and cut out the Jack O’Lantern Faces Printable

Glue faces onto the mason jars

Step 2: baby oil

Fill jars 3/4 full with baby oil

You can also use vegetable oil

Step 3: water

Top each jar with water

Step 4: Add food coloring

Add orange food coloring to each jar

Step 5: Alka seltzer Tablets

Break Alka Seltzer tablets into fourths

This part should be done by an adult

Step 6: drop Tablets in jars

Drop the tablets into each jar

Watch the bubbly reaction!

Step 7:Continue

Continue adding tablets as long as your child is interested!

This experiment will continue to create a reaction as long as you keep adding alka seltzer tablets

The Science behind the Lava Lamp Science experiment

After the water and oil are added to the jar, the oil floats above the water because it is lighter than water (it has a lower density)., the water and oil do not ever mix because of polarity. water is polar and oil is non-polar., when the food coloring is added-it shoots through the oil and goes straight to the bottom because it is heavier than oil., when the tablet is added and dissolves-a gas is created (carbon dioxide)., carbon dioxide is lighter than water so it floats up to the surface bringing a little of the colored water with it as it does., once the gas bubble reaches the surface it breaks and the colored water floats back to the bottom of the jar, new vocabulary words to introduce, chemical reaction, carbon dioxide, more pumpkin activities.

Jack O’Lantern Lava Lamp

Pumpkin Orange Playdough Recipe

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Easy Pumpkin Lava Lamps to Love

September 3, 2023

These easy pumpkin lava lamps are the perfect DIY Halloween Craft. They are so easy to make, and they look so cute! They are simple enough for a little fall craft for the kiddos, and they are a great addition to your fall decor too. Make them this season and enjoy seeing these little pumpkins all fall. This post is all about easy pumpkin lava lamps.

Do you love an easy craft idea that is super cute? Then, this quick craft is perfect for you. The kids will love to do this simple fall craft too. It is easy to do, and they will love when the Alka-Seltzer tablet hits the mix and begins to bubble and fizz.

If you already have a lot of pumpkins for the fall, you can decorate the container with Halloween stickers too. Either way, you won’t want to miss out on doing this fun craft this year.

This post is all about easy pumpkin lava lamps.

Table of Contents

Easy Pumpkin Lava Lamps

Step 1: add the oil.

First, add vegetable or canola oil to a container. You will want to fill it with three quarters oil so that you can top it off with water.

I used these containers from Amazon. They are plastic, which is ideal if kids will be completing this craft.

Step 2: Add the Water

Then, fill the rest of the container with water.

Step 3: Add the Food Coloring

Next, add two drops of red and two drops of yellow food coloring to the container.

Step 4: The Alka-Seltzer

Then, once you have everything in the container, add one Alka-Seltzer tablet. I used these Up & Up tablets from Target, that are half the price.

Step 5: Shake It Up, Decorate, & Enjoy

Now you can put the lid on it, shake it up, and decorate your container.

You can decorate the container with a Sharpie Marker. You could also put Halloween stickers on the container too.

Material List

• Vegetable or Canola Oil
• 8oz or larger plastic container with lid
• Alka-Seltzer Tablets
• Food Coloring
• Sharpie Marker

Cutest Little Pumpkins

Now that you have your pumpkin lava lamps, put them on display.

For more holiday posts, check out this page.

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31 Spooky Halloween STEM Activities

Countdown to Halloween with 31 Days of Halloween STEM projects for the month of October! Or if you really love Halloween, why not get a jump on our Halloween STEM challenges and start early? Halloween is the perfect holiday for all sorts of themed science experiments

31 Days Of Halloween STEM Activities

Check out the links below to learn how to set up your Halloween STEM activities. Try one or all. Go in any order!

Halloween Bone Bridge Challenge

Build a bridge out of only bones (aka cotton swabs) that is a minimum of one foot long and sits at least one inch off the ground or table. Sounds too easy? Or does it!

Halloween Slime

Learn about chemistry with our Halloween slime recipes. Our collection has everything you need for making the BEST Halloween slime including fluffy slime, zombie slime, bat slime, erupting potions slime, pumpkin guts slime, and even taste-safe Halloween peeps slime. The possibilities are endless once we show you how to master slime making!

Rotting Pumpkin Jack Experiment

Carve a pumpkin and let it rot. Investigate what happens and explore decomposition for creepy Biology!

Dissolving Candy Corn Experiment

Iconic Halloween candy mixed with simple STEM activities for a cool Halloween STEM challenge you can set up quickly.

Build Ghostly Stryofoam Structures

A Halloween twist on a classic STEM building activity. Challenge your kids to build the tallest ghost with this styrofoam ball project.  We simply grabbed materials to use from the dollar store.

Growing Crystal Pumpkins

Make your own crystal pumpkins with a fun twist on a classic borax crystal experiment.

Ghost Pumpkin Eruptions

This Halloween science experiment is going to get a bit messy, but it’s super cool! An erupting Jack O’Lantern is a must try at least once!

Halloween Density Experiment

Explore the density of liquids with an easy to set up spooky Halloween liquid density experiment with items around the house.

Halloween LEGO Building Ideas

Build with LEGO and make some cool Halloween LEGO decorations like this spooky LEGO ghost .

Halloween LEGO Challenge Cards

Add these free Halloween LEGO challenge cards or task cards to your bin of bricks! Celebrate spooky fun with building LEGO!

New! Download this free 31 Days of Halloween calendar 👇. Save it to your computer and then click the links to learn more about each activity. Print a copy and hang it up as a reminder all month long.

Spider Halloween Oobleck

Spidery oobleck is cool science to explore and has only 2 basic kitchen ingredients with our easy recipe.

Bubbling Brew Experiment

Mix up your own bubbling brew in a cauldron fit for any little wizard or witch this Halloween season. Simple household ingredient create a cool Halloween theme chemical reaction that is just as much fun to play with as it is to learn from!

Vampire Blood Slime {taste safe}

Make slime taste safe and completely borax free! We tried something a little different with this Metamucil Halloween slime recipe.

Set Up Specimen Bottles

I am sure you have seen these grow animals before, try turning them into creepy animal specimen bottles? Kids love this simple science activity and get a huge kick out of the results. These might just be inexpensive novelty items, but there is a bit of science too!

Vampire Heart Experiment

Gelatin isn’t just for dessert! It’s for Halloween science too with a creepy gelatin heart experiment that will have your kids squealing with grossness and delight.

Frozen Frankenstein Brains

Ice melting science is a real treat any time of the year, and it’s very easy to apply fun themes like this Frankenstein’s frozen brain !

Build an Edible Haunted House

This super easy to build haunted house is perfect for many ages to enjoy, even the adults too!

Halloween Tangrams

It’s fun to pair a favorite holiday with a great, hands-on math lesson. Create Halloween-themed pictures using simple shapes. It’s not quite as easy as it looks, but it encourages kids to get thinking!

Make Bubbling Ghosts

Build bubbling ghosts with this simple ghost experiment every scientist will enjoy!

Halloween Balloon Experiment

Take the Halloween Stem challenge. Can you inflate a balloon without blowing air into it yourself? Find out how with our Halloween balloon experiment. All you need are a few simple ingredients!

Set Up A Pumpkin Pulley System

Test your engineering skills to build your own pumpkin pulley simple machine for a fun Halloween STEM activity. Just a few simple items and you have a great pumpkin themed simple machine to play with indoors or outdoors.

Pick A Pumpkin Book

Pick a Halloween Book and come up with your own STEM challenge. See our list of pumpkin books !

Pumpkin Clock

Make a clock using pumpkins to power it. Really? Find out how to make a powered pumpkin clock for a fun Halloween STEM Challenge.

Race Car STEM Activities

Add a pumpkin to your race track. Engineer a pumpkin tunnel or create a jump track for your cars.

Halloween Candy Catapult

Design and build a pumpkin catapult from Popsicle sticks for a fun Halloween STEM challenge.

Halloween Lava Lamp Experiment

Do you want to try a little spooky science this year? Our Halloween lava lamp experiment is perfect for young mad scientists!

Candy Corn Gears

Candy is great for another awesome STEM activity for kids. For a Halloween twist, make your own gears with candy corn. Explore how gears work while you test out your engineering skills.

Zombie Fluffy Slime

Brains and more brains with our homemade zombie theme fluffy slime recipe. Perfect for kids who love all things zombie for a cool Halloween STEM activity.

Rolling Pumpkins

Set up your own ramps from cardboard, wood, or even rain gutters. See how small pumpkins roll down different ramps and angles. Does a pumpkin roll?

Puking Pumpkin

Chemistry and pumpkins combine for a unique erupting science activity!

YOU MAY ALSO LIKE: Mini Pumpkin Volcano

Halloween Bath Bombs

Chemistry in the bath tub with fizzing eyeball Halloween bath bombs you can make easily with the kids. Explore a cool chemical reaction between an acid and base while you get clean!

Flying Tea Bag Ghosts

Have you seen flying ghosts? Well, maybe you can with this easy flying tea bag experiment. You only need a few simple supplies for a fun floating tea bag science experiment with a Halloween theme.

Floating Ghost Drawing

These floating drawing experiments are super easy to do and they always amaze the kids!

Roll A Skeleton Halloween Game

Add some math to your Halloween STEM activities. This fun printable game involves rolling a dice to get the corresponding skeleton part. Then, kids make the parts out of playdough and add them to the coffin. The result is a whole skeleton lying in a coffin!

Also check out our printable roll a Jack O’Lantern game.

Halloween Art Activities

Go ahead and add some of these favorite Halloween art activities to your countdown!

More Fun Halloween Activities To Try

• Halloween Science Activities
• Halloween Board Games (Preschool-Adult)
• Witch Printable Activity Pack (Free)
• Halloween Slime Recipes
• Halloween Art Projects (Famous Artists and Crafts)
• Halloween Coding Pictures (Free)

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 grades Kindergarten through elementary but is scaleable for many ages and abilities.

What’s Included:

• 25+ Halloween theme science and STEM activities with printable sheets, instructions, and helpful information all using easy-to-source materials perfect for limited-time needs. Includes a Halloween engineering pack with fun, problem-based challenges for kids to solve!
• The skeleton activity pack includes building a skeleton challenge and a coding challenge! Try a skeleton bone bridge-building STEM challenge!
• Halloween theme brick printable activities for hands-on learning with math that is perfect for early finishers or home fun and reinforces basic math concepts.
• Bonus fun pack includes games and activities to round out your Halloween theme, such as I Spy, bingo, matching, Would You Rather cards, scavenger hunt, word search, A-Z Halloween hunt, and a coloring page.
• The Halloween STEAM Pack includes artist-inspired projects by Warhol, Lichtenstein, and more!

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Pumpkin Science Experiments – Pumpkin Volcano for Kids

My kids love hands-on Science Activities, and  Pumpkin Science Experiments  are one of our favorites. You can get the kids outside, and it doesn’t matter how messy they are. That’s a win for the kids and for you. 

Pumpkin Activities are the perfect fall theme for children of all ages. We started this for a toddler and preschool Volcano Science Experiment years ago, and now it’s become a yearly tradition. Baking Soda and Vinegar Science Experiments are so easy. Why not put it in a pumpkin for extra fall fun? Your children will love this Erupting Pumpkin Science Activity.

Pumpkin Science for Kids

Pumpkin Science Experiments – Pumpkin Volcano

If you are looking for simple Science experiments and activities , add this to your fall list. Kids love bubbly, fizzy, erupting, and fun, which makes this Pumpkin Volcano Activity perfect every time you do it.

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Exploring science through pumpkins is the perfect fall activity for curious kids. There are plenty of pumpkin-related science learning activities to explore : float them, weigh them, cut them open, measure the circumference, and explore what’s inside. 

Pumpkin science experiments and exploration give you a unique opportunity to teach your kids how to think like a scientist. Explore the scientific method and encourage kids to be curious and ask lots of questions.

Encourage your little learners to make observations, form a hypothesis, and collect data about their pumpkins. You can even use this amazing and helpful Charlotte Mason and Montessori inspired all about pumpkins unit to introduce your preschool, kindergarten, and early elementary learners to pumpkins and all their parts.

Pumpkin Books for Kids

Are you looking for fall picture books to explore with your kids this season? Check out these great pumpkin read-aloud books, perfect for storytime this Fall:

• How Many Seeds in a Pumpkin? by Margaret McNamara – This book adds some pumpkin themed fun to learning about counting skills like skip counting and estimation. It’s the perfect book to share after creating your pumpkin volcano to add a little extra math to your pumpkin exploration.
• Too Many Pumpkins by Linda White – I love this book for many reasons! It allows children to learn many important lessons through a beautiful story they won’t soon forget. With mentions of the Great Depression and lessons that focus on thinking about others rather than focusing on yourself, White’s story is a perfect Thanksgiving read-aloud this Fall.
• Pumpkin Jack by Will Hubbell – Get ready for more science with this creative book about the pumpkin life cycle. In this book, kids can see what happens to a pumpkin after Halloween. Add these pumpkin life cycle cards, and you’ve got yourself a fantastic Fall science lesson!
• The Pumpkin Runner by Marsha Arnold – Kids will love the illustrations and Joshua Summerhayes, the loveable hero, in this book. This Fall must read is based on actual events, so you won’t want to miss finding out what happens at the end of this important race.

Pumpkin Activities for Preschool and Kindergarten

Planning a pumpkin themed unit for your preschool or kindergarten classroom this fall? Then, you won’t want to miss these pumpkin lesson plans .

These early learning bundles cover lots of important skills including: counting and number recognition, phonics and literacy, and fine motor skills. Keep scrolling to discover even more fun activities for your kids to explore this fall. 

How to Make a Pumpkin Volcano

What you will need to make your  Pumpkin Volcano  is in this picture below. However, I have it displayed in list form towards the bottom of the page.

Pumpkin Science Experiments for Preschoolers

Begin by carefully cutting around and removing the top of your pumpkin. Adults should do this step for children because pumpkins can be very hard to cut, and it will take a sharp knife.

Remove the top from the pumpkin, and use a spoon to scrape out all of the seeds and pulp, until the inside of the pumpkin is mostly cleaned out. Kids love helping with this part. If you don’t mind a little mess, let them get their hands in the pumpkin to clean all of the seeds out.

When the pumpkin has been cleaned out, you are ready to start erupting pumpkins.

Next, fill a few small cups with vinegar and add green food coloring to one cup and red and yellow food coloring to the other cup to make orange.

You can use a popsicle stick or spoon to stir the colors and disperse them entirely into the vinegar. Your children will love adding color to the vinegar , and making it a little more festive adds to the excitement!

Place your small pumpkins into a baking dish with high sides, a clear bin or another container.

This will help to catch the mess when the fizzing effect overflows, and it makes for easy cleanup. We all love the easy cleanup.

Pumpkin Science Activity

Pour some baking soda into the bottom of each pumpkin. You can use at least 2 tablespoons. I usually have a set of bowls or measuring cups filled with your ingredients ready to use. This way the kids can spend their time doing science and discovering what will happen as they add more.

Pour the colored vinegar into the pumpkins over top of the baking soda. Watch as a fizzing reaction occurs and bubbles over.

Fall Activities

You or your children can stir the baking soda left in the bottom of each pumpkin to cause another smaller reaction, or even pour more baking soda on top.

You can even set this up at a  Kids Science Table so they can spend the day discovering what kind of reaction vinegar and baking soda make.

Children can spend an hour playing like this and experimenting with their erupting pumpkins.

Pumpkin Volcano Video

Fizzy pumpkin experiment.

• Baking soda
• Green, red and yellow food coloring
• Popsicle stick or spoon for mixing
• Sharp knife
• Large baking dish or container for eliminating mess

Instructions:

• Begin by using a sharp knife to carefully cut around and remove the top of your pumpkin. Adults should do this step for the children.
• Remove the top from the pumpkin, and use a spoon to scrape out all of the seeds and pulp, until the inside of the pumpkin is mostly cleaned out.
• Fill two cups up with vinegar.
• Add green food coloring in one cup, and add red and yellow food coloring to the other cup to make orange. You can use a popsicle stick or spoon to stir the colors and disperse them entirely into the vinegar.
• Place the two small pumpkins into a baking dish with high sides or another container. This will help to catch the mess when the fizzing effect overflows and makes for easy cleanup.
• Put some baking soda into the bottom of each pumpkin. You can use at least 2 tablespoons.
• Pour the colored vinegar into the pumpkins over top of the baking soda. Watch as a fizzing reaction occurs and bubbles over. You can stir the baking soda left in the bottom of each pumpkin to cause another smaller reaction, or even pour more baking soda on top.

Pumpkin Volcano Science Experiment

You can find our Watermelon Volcano (that’s super cool) by clicking here . This was one of our first science experiments with toddlers, and it was so much fun. 

Pumpkin Books

Pumpkin lesson plans preschool .

Science for Kids

Studies have shown that if you like this, you will also love the following articles. I have pulled them together for you right here!

Lava Lamp Science Experiment 

Magic Milk Experiment 

EXPLODING PUMPKIN SCIENCE

This Fizzy Exploding Pumpkin Volcano Science Experiment is the Perfect Fall Activity

• Food Coloring

Fill two cups up with vinegar. Or use as much as you want for exploding fun.

Add food coloring to your cups of vinegar. You can use a popsicle stick or spoon to stir the colors and disperse them completely into the vinegar.

Place small pumpkins into a baking dish with high sides or another container. This will help to catch the mess when the fizzing effect overflows and makes for easy cleanup.

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Spooky Lava Lamps – Halloween Science

September 20, 2012 By Emma Vanstone 31 Comments

Lava lamps are one of my favourite things to make. They are very easy to make but really impressive for children to watch.

I also have a pumpkin lava lamp you might like.

You will need

• A clear plastic bottle or jar
• A bottle of vegetable oil
• Alka Seltzer
• Food colouring (a spooky colour )

Instructions

Fill the bottle or jar a quarter full with water.

Top up to the (near) top with the vegetable oil.

The oil and water should separate into two layers, water at the bottom and oil sitting on top. Add about 6-8 drops of food colouring once they have separated.

Pop in half an Alka Seltzer tablet and watch the bubbles form.

Add more Alka Seltzer bit by bit to keep the bubbles rising and falling.

Whatever you do, do NOT shake them up as my 2-year-old did. Let’s just say it was very messy!

What’s going on?

Firstly, water and oil do not mix – this is because water is a polar molecule – its structure means that it has a positive charge on one end and a negative charge on the other. Water molecules stick together because the positive end of one water molecule is attracted to the negative end of another.

Oil molecule structure is different – it is non-polar, meaning that its charge is more evenly spread out, so the oil is not attracted to water – in fact, we call it hydrophobic (water-fearing) as it tries to get as far away from water as possible and will not mix.

The reason that oil rests on top of the water rather than underneath is because it has a different density to water.

As the alka seltzer is added (this is made of citric acid and sodium bicarbonate), it reacts with the water to form carbon dioxide gas and sodium citrate. It is the carbon dioxide bubbles that carry the coloured water to the top.

Last Updated on October 6, 2023 by Emma Vanstone

Safety Notice

Science Sparks ( Wild Sparks Enterprises Ltd ) are not liable for the actions of activity of any person who uses the information in this resource or in any of the suggested further resources. Science Sparks assume no liability with regard to injuries or damage to property that may occur as a result of using the information and carrying out the practical activities contained in this resource or in any of the suggested further resources.

These activities are designed to be carried out by children working with a parent, guardian or other appropriate adult. The adult involved is fully responsible for ensuring that the activities are carried out safely.

Reader Interactions

September 21, 2012 at 5:36 pm

Ooh they look great! That second one looks like frog spawn. Yeeewwww.

September 23, 2012 at 1:00 pm

October 25, 2013 at 2:16 am

I thought that was really cool I really liked the first lava lamp pic.

September 22, 2012 at 12:31 am

I always assumed that these were much harder to make – sure Scamp would LOVE to make a pink version so we’ll try to have a go!

September 23, 2012 at 12:59 pm

they are fab, and you can reuse them!

September 23, 2012 at 8:56 pm

Those look very neat. We will have to try making them some time.

September 25, 2012 at 12:49 am

I’ve never heard of adding alka seltzer (where have I been?). These are great! Thanks for the ideas!

September 27, 2012 at 7:09 pm

Alka seltzer is a fantastic idea! The kids are going to love this one!

October 03, 2012 at 8:50 am

It is very cool.

October 02, 2012 at 3:31 pm

Is there a way to print out how to make the lava lamps? Its a great idea but I can’t have 20 kids around one computer to find out how to do this. Thanks.

October 08, 2012 at 9:38 am

I have just discovered this site and it’s great. My daughter aged 4 is just getting into science and I was thinking about buying her a science kit but now I think I can use these ideas instead!

October 08, 2012 at 6:56 pm

Thats so lovely to hear. Thank you. xx

October 14, 2012 at 2:10 am

I’ll try these on Halloween and let you know how it goes… I plan on dressing as a mad scientist… the kids will love it!!!

October 15, 2012 at 6:30 am

oooh that sounds fun!

October 19, 2012 at 9:40 pm

Thank you for the great instructions! I haven’t tried the alka seltzer before. I would like to see how long it lasts.

October 23, 2012 at 5:26 pm

Great idea! With plastic, would you have to leave the cap off or just make sure it’s screwed on really tight? Don’t want it exploding in the faces of my class! Also, would it work with dissolvable asprin as I am out of Alka Seltzer and not sure I can make it to the shop in time…. Thanks!

October 11, 2013 at 6:34 pm

I’m going to try it for my grands bday party 10/31 thanks, oh and for school too LOL

April 25, 2014 at 1:10 pm

This is a great activity for the end of the year after CRCT testing. I will be doing this with my class. Thank You so Much.

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Science Fun

• A clean plastic bottle, try to use one with smooth sides
• Vegetable Oil (or you could use Mineral or Baby Oil instead)
• Fizzing tablets (such as Alka Seltzer)
• Food Coloring

Watch Scientist Joe as he makes the Lava Lamp Experiment here!

Instructions:

• Fill the bottle up about 1/4th (1 quarter) with water.
• Pour the vegetable oil in the bottle until is almost full. You may want to use a measuring cup with a spout or a funnel. You may have to wait a couple of minutes for the oil and water to separate.
• Add a few drops of your favorite food coloring. Watch as the color sinks through the oil. Did your drops of color mix with the water immediately or float in between for a few minutes?
• Break your fizzy tablet in half and drop part of it into the bottle. Get ready … here come the bubbly blobs!
• You can even get a flashlight, turn off the lights and drop in another half tablet. This time shine the flashlight through the lava lamp while the blobs are bubbling!

WATCH THE QUICK AND EASY VIDEO TUTORIAL!

How it Works:

The oil floats on top of the water because it is less dense or lighter than water. The food coloring has the same density as the water so it sink through the oil and mixes with the water. When you add the tablet it sinks to the bottom then starts to dissolve. As it dissolves it makes gas, carbon dioxide. Gas or air, is lighter than water so it floats to the top. The air bubbles bring some colored water with them to the top. When the air comes out of the colored water blob, the water gets heavy again and sinks. It does this over and over again until the tablet is completely dissolved.

Extra Experiments:

What happens if you put the cap on after dropping the fizzy tablet in? What if you drop a whole tablet in? When it stops bubbling, try sprinkling some salt into your lava lamp. What happens?

EXPLORE TONS OF FUN AND EASY SCIENCE EXPERIMENTS!

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