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St Mary's Primary School Banbridge

Pumpkin Science .... with a twist! in Primary 2 Mrs Quigley

24th Oct 2017

We love pumpkins and we LOVE SCIENCE! This pumpkin science experiment is a fun way to get little minds thinking and to develop a natural curiosity to learn and investigate.What’s the twist? You add a pumpkin! Classic baking soda and vinegar....It’s just awesome how you can enjoy science and make it exciting for young kids. Anything pumpkin is always fun, whether you eat it, carve it or turn it into hands-on science! Our pumpkin volcano science activity creates a tremendous sense of awe and wonder. 

 After the pumpkin is cleaned out, find a container to put inside the pumpkin.

 Here’s the mixture I made to fill a bowl and pumpkin:

1. warm water mixed with food coloring filled to about 3/4 full

2  4 drops of dish soap

When you are ready to make the eruption

3. A few tablespoons of baking soda: then get ready to add….

4. 1/4 cup of vinegar and watch with delight!

 WHAT’S THE SCIENCE?

We talked a bit about why the eruption happens.  The baking soda is a base and the vinegar is an acid. When they combine a chemical reaction takes place and a gas is produced. The gas is carbon dioxide which fizzes and bubbles. This is easier done by showing him the reaction, so we added the vinegar!

Imagine the surprise when the foam comes fizzing out!