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Liam absolutely loves fizzy science experiments using baking soda and vinegar. I think the chemical reaction and fun colors grab his attention and get him really excited to do more. And, these fizzing science experiments are super easy to adjust to different seasons and holidays. So, I thought I would set one up for my son for some preschool Halloween science fun.
Fizzing Eyeball Fun for Preschool Halloween Science
I was trying to think of what we could do with these fun plastic eyeballs, and I knew we could incorporate them into a fun Halloween science experiment. I was inspired by a fizzing dinosaur eggs activity with baking soda packed around little toy dinosaurs. So, I thought I would try a similar baking soda and vinegar science activity using the fake eyeballs. Here’s how we did it…
How to Prep Fizzy Eyeballs for Some Halloween Science
This preschool Halloween science activity does take a little prep, but it’s so worth it! For added fun and excitement, prep the fizzing eyeballs without your child or students seeing. They will love the silly and spooky surprise they find inside the fizzing baking soda balls.
First, prep the baking soda mixture. Simply mix around two cups of baking soda and one-half cup of water in a mixing bowl until it forms a firm paste.
Next, pack a thick layer of baking soda paste around each eyeball. The baking soda mixture covered about 6 eyeballs. I mixed up more to make a total of 12 eyeballs. Place each baking soda-covered eyeball on a large tray or in a glass baking dish, then let them sit out overnight to harden.
How to Prep the Preschool Halloween Science Experiment
You can use lots of different tools and containers for this preschool science activity. Preschool science tools like fine motor scoops, grabbers, droppers, and graduated cylinders are perfect for preschoolers’ little hands. But, kids can use a variety of everyday kitchen tools and containers, too, like silicone spoons, scoops, tongs, and plastic food storage containers.
I set up different glass dishes, beakers, plastic containers, and tongs on my preschooler’s work table. Then, I filled the containers with vinegar I colored with different colors of food coloring. You could choose just Halloween colors, like orange, purple, and green, if you’d like. My little guy was so excited to see this colorful fizzing science activity and kept asking to get started right away!
Let the Halloween Preschool Science Fun Begin!
I didn’t want to direct my preschooler too much. But, he really waits for instructions or directions, so I guided him to use the tongs to carefully pick up an eyeball and place it in one of the plastic containers of colored vinegar. I wanted him to see what would happen with the first eyeball. After the first one, I hoped he would then be able to experiment a little bit more on his own. He used an eyedropper to suck up some vinegar (getting great fine motor skill work in the process) and squirted it on the eyeball that he had placed in the container. Hooray for fizzy eyeballs!
Now he knew just what to do and poured the beaker of orange vinegar over another eyeball. Very cool! He loved the reaction it made and set about putting eyeballs in different containers of colored vinegar.
I was glad I had put a tray under all of the containers, because we had a lot of fizzing over going on. He enjoyed making different colored bubbles and making “volcanoes” erupt from the tall glasses!
Some Preschool Fine Motor Practice, Too!
One of the fine motor activities I included in this preschool Halloween science activity was using tongs to pick up the eyeballs as they float in the fizzing vinegar, then placing each one on a plastic painter’s palette. We also counted the eyeballs to see how many more we had to free from the baking soda. He did a great job!
As my little “mad scientist” continued to play with the baking soda and vinegar activity, I came up with an idea to pour the rest of my box of baking soda into the baking dish. Then, I had him use tongs to transfer the eyeballs from the palette to the baking soda in the dish. I then covered the eyeballs with a bit more baking soda and invited my son to experiment with squirting and scooping more vinegar on them.
Free Play & Making Spooky Fizzing Witch’s Brews
After a while, I was really eager to see what it would look like if we poured a lot of vinegar into the dish. I gave him a cup full and it was so cool, like a magical witches’ potion! Lots of bubbly fizzing fun and bouncing floating eyeballs.
Free play followed for a long time afterwards with my little guy brewing eyeball stew and soup. What a sloppy but fun mess we made together! He mixed, stirred, and served all kinds of Halloween eyeball concoctions. He played independently for quite a while, too. And now he’s in the Halloween mood, ready to pick out his Halloween costume and trick-or-treat!
Full Preschool Science Experiment · Halloween Fizzing Eyeballs
Fizzing Eyeballs · Fun Preschool Halloween Science Activity
Tools
- mixing bowl (small-medium)
- whisk (or spoon)
- glass baking dish (large, deep)
- sheet pan (large)
- plastic food storage containers (various sizes)
- spoon (optional)
- eye dropper (optional)
- round plastic paint tray palette (optional)
Materials
- 2 cups baking soda ((or more))
- 1/2 cup water
- 6-12 plastic eyeballs
- 2-4 cups white vinegar
- food coloring (in Halloween colors like orange, green, and purple)
Steps
To Prepare Eyeballs:
- Mix 2 cups baking soda and 1/2 cup water in mixing bowl until it forms a thick paste.
- Form a layer of paste around 6-12 plastic eyeballs, set each aside in baking dish, and allow to sit overnight or until completely dry.
To Prepare Activity:
- Fill 2 to 4 small plastic containers with 2-4 cups white vinegar, then use food coloring to color each one a different color.
- Arrange cups of colored vinegar, baking dish of eyeballs, plastic paint tray palette, tongs, and other tools on and around a large baking sheet.
- Invite child to explore the eyeballs and colored vinegar using the various tools and containers.
- Encourage extra fine motor practice by having child use tongs to transfer eyeballs into and out of containers.
Preschool Halloween Science Kits and Supplies on Amazon:
Get everything you need for your preschoolers’ Halloween science fun right from Amazon…
365 by Whole Foods Market Baking Soda, 16 OunceSet of 12 Super Creepy Plastic EyeballsAmazon Brand Happy Belly Distilled Vinegar, 128 Fl OzFood Coloring Set of 12Joyhill Stainless Steel Measuring Cups and Spoons SetConstructive Playthings Messy TraysLearning Resources Jumbo Colorful EyedroppersLearning Resources Helping Hands Fine Motor Tool SetLearning Resources Classroom Liquid Measuring SetSilicone Kitchen Utensil SetLearning Resources Mix And Measure Activity SetMr. Pen Paint Tray PalettesLearning Resources Primary Science Lab Set
Plus, find all of our favorite STEM toys and books in B-Inspired Mama’s Amazon Shop: Fun Finds for STEM Learning
Like this Preschool Halloween Science Idea? Save It & Share It!
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More Preschool Science Experiments and Activities from B-Inspired Mama
- Preschool Fizzing Christmas Science Fun
- 28 Fun Valentine’s Day Science Experiments for Kids
- Exciting Fizzing Hearts Valentine’s Day Science Experiment
Valerie says
I love this. I only have one question isn’t the vinegar smell overwhelming. Do you have a brand you recommend. I will have to definitely do this outside. When we did something similar several years back I had a few parents that had a coronary because there kids smelled like vinegar that’s why I was asking. For me I say go for it and explore.
Emma says
That looks like great fun! What a wonderful idea. Thanks so much for linking to Challenge and Discover.
Shaunna @ Fantastic Fun and Learning says
This is such an awesome activity! Although I’m sure my kids would FREAK when the first eyeball popped out. We’ll have to try this soon. Thanks for sharing at Discover & Explore. I’m featuring this post today.
Stephanie says
Wow! Crazy cool! Thanks so much for linking up to Discover & Explore this week!
Jill says
Baking soda and vinegar are two of the most fun hands-on science materials we as homeschoolers have. Thank you for sharing and for linking up this week to the Thoughtful Spot Weekly Blog Hop.
Anna@The Measured Mom says
Wow – so much learning packed into this very fun activity! I can see how kids of all ages would love it. Thanks for sharing with us at After School!
Jen@PlainVanillaMom says
This is so cool! What a great idea 🙂 We have those eyeballs too. We have to do this!
Natalie says
So fun and unexpected! Thanks for sharing with Afterschool!
Renae says
I LOVE this idea! I just picked up those eyeballs at the dollar store because I figured I could do something with them. This looks to be it! Thanks for sharing!
Sarah says
Thanks Krissy! It looks wonderful!