When you take two of kids' favorite things — Halloween and making a mess — and then add in a secret science lesson, you're sure to get amazing results. Not only will your children get into the Halloween spirit, but they'll also learn something too. (And that will make the mess worth it!) It's pretty easy to give basic science experiments a Halloween twist. Just add something festive (like pumpkins or bats) or something spooky (like ghosts or disembodied hands) into the ingredient mix, and voilà! It's Halloween-themed.
Need inspiration for combining science and Halloween? Look no further. We've got some killer ideas for making science experiments fit for Halloween season.
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These Halloween science experiment ideas will get kids excited to celebrate, they engage and appeal to their senses — and some of them result in cool, unpredictable fun. So whether your kids would prefer to melt ghosts, make a jack-o'-lantern erupt, or concoct some slime using actual pumpkin, there's something here they'll love to do!
Best of all, there are chemistry, engineering, and physics lessons hiding in all of these fun experiments. As you're doing them, make hypotheses and talk about what's happening and why.
Don't be surprised if you learn something, too, along the way. Happy Halloween!
Spider Slime
Creep out your kids out with this spider web slime from Little Bins for Little Hands. When this non-Newtonian fluid warms in your hand, it has even more elasticity. Very cool (er… hot?)!
Vanishing Ghosts
This inexpensive science experiment from There's Just One Mommy will have your kids oohing and ahhing. Next time you get a package in the mail, save those biodegradable packing peanuts. Draw little eyes on them and pop them in water. Watch as they vanish into thin air.
Rotting Pumpkin
Follow Little Bins for Little Hands' lead by teaching your kiddos the science of decomposition. After you carve your pumpkin and celebrate Halloween, watch and observe as your pumpkin rots. Make hypotheses about what will happen next to your good ol' jack-o'-lantern.
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Spooky Expanding Ghost
For this science experiment from Bitz & Giggles, your little ghost busters will be ecstatic to see this chemical reaction of baking soda and vinegar. The carbon dioxide created from the reaction will blow up a ghostly balloon.
Frozen Disembodied Hands
Teach your mad scientists how salt melts ice. To give this experiment a Halloween vibe, take a cue from Happy Hooligans, and fill rubber gloves with spooky knickknacks, water, and food coloring. Then freeze them. Have your younger Dr. Frankensteins melt the ice with salt.
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Pumpkin Slime
Calling all pumpkin lovers! Sugar, Spice and Glitter gave us a pumpkin spice twist on the slime trend. Using a basic slime recipe, she added orange food coloring and clean pumpkin seeds to the mix. Present the slime in a cleaned-out pumpkin for a Halloween-inspired slime party.
DIY Jack-o'-Lantern Circuits
Have your STEM-enthused kids create their very own jack-o'-lantern using conductive dough, wires, a light bulb, and an orange pool noodle. It's actually easier than you may imagine; just follow Steam Powered Family's lead.
Halloween Pumpkin Clock
Did you know, fruits and and veggies like pumpkins and potatoes can create electricity? This experiment by Little Bins for Little Hands will teach you how to power a clock with a pumpkin.
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Melting Wicked Witch
Sugar, Spice and Glitter melted the wicked witch by sprinkling vinegar on a green baking soda play-dough base. We love how inexpensive and easy this science experiment is. Plus, cleanup is a cinch.
Ghostly Bubbles
Teach your kids the science of bubbles and how they interact with each other. We love how Little Bins for Little Hands gave this experiment a Halloween twist by decorating the white paper cups to look like ghosts.
Exploding Ghosts
Here's a fun Halloween science experiment from Housing a Forest using ghost Peeps, a plastic bottle, and your microwave. Watch what happens when you microwave the ghosts for 30 seconds. Wow! (And you can do this at Easter time too with regular Peeps.)
Zombie Brain Surgery
Here is a science experiment from Schooling a Monkey that your little zombies will just die over. Draw a brain on a plastic bag, fill it with red-dyed water, and start your surgery by punching sharp pencils into the bag. You'll be surprised how the water doesn't leak out.
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Erupting Jack-o'-Lantern
Inspired by the classic science fair volcano, this oozy experiment by Little Bins for Little Hands is one where your kids can make your jack-o'-lantern become an ooey and gooey chemistry lab. All you need is to mix vinegar, baking soda, dish soap, and green food coloring to create this cool eruption.
Creepy Crawly Escape
The folks from Little Bins for Little Hands and Pre-K Pages came up with this Halloween-inspired experiment that is sure to wow younger kids. Pack spider rings and googly eyes in baking soda and then sprinkle on the vinegar. Watch as all of the creepy crawlies are released. Ewww!
Spooky Static Science Experiment
Show kids the science of static electricity using tissue paper bats and a balloon. This simple experiment from Inspiration Laboratories is spooky fun. Watch your bat dance before your eyes!
