# Erupting Apple Science
> Mix baking soda with liquid watercolors and a little soap, mold it into colorful "apples" and freeze them overnight. Kids then squirt vinegar on the apples, guess what's inside, and watch them erupt into soapy, colorful fizz.
- URL: https://www.funlittles.com/erupting-apple-experiments-for-kids/
- Ages: 3–8 yrs · Difficulty: easy · Mess: high
- Time: prep 30 min, activity 30 min
- Works for: one-on-one, small group, whole class · one batch serves about 1 kids
- Skills: science, chemical-reactions, predicting, observation, language, sensory-exploration, fine-motor
- Cautions: ingestion-risk

## Materials (one batch)
- 1 cup Baking soda
- 1 tbsp Water (household)
- 1 tbsp Liquid watercolors
- 3 squirt Liquid soap (household)
- Vinegar (household)
- 2 piece Squeeze bottles
- 1 piece Mixing bowls (household)
- Small clear bowls (household)
- 1 piece Shallow tray or clear bin (household)
- Leaves (optional) (household)

## Safety
- These "apples" look like real fruit but are baking soda, paint and soap. They are not food, so don't let kids bite or eat them.
- Vinegar stings eyes and small cuts. Aim the squeeze bottles down into the bowls, keep hands away from faces, and wash hands after.
- Liquid watercolors can stain hands, clothes and surfaces. Use a tray or bin and cover clothing.
- Use clean leaves from a plant you know is non-toxic. Remove them before play if toddlers who mouth things are present.
- Supervise the whole activity, especially the squishing and smashing.

## Before you start
- Make the apples the day before (steps 1-5). They need to freeze overnight to harden.
- Decide whether the kids help make the apples, which is great sensory fun, or whether you make them alone so the kids can guess the ingredients later.
- Fill the squeeze bottles with vinegar.

## Steps
1. Put 1 cup of baking soda in a separate bowl for each color.
2. Add 1 tbsp water and 1 tbsp liquid watercolors a little at a time, and mix into a dough until the color is even.
3. Add 3 squirts of liquid soap and mold the dough into apples.
4. Press a couple of leaves into the top of each apple for the final touch.
5. Freeze the apples overnight so they harden.
6. Place each apple in its own bowl and set out the vinegar in squeeze bottles.
7. Ask the kids to guess what is inside the apples.
8. Squirt vinegar on the apples and watch them fizz and erupt.
9. Squish and smash the apples, and keep squirting vinegar for more fizzies.
10. Add extra soap for more suds, then talk about what you see: observe, experiment, record and analyze.

## Tips
- I usually involve the kids in the entire set up. This time I set it up by myself so the older kid (6) could make observations and predictions about the whole process.
- Making the "apples" is a great way to get kids involved in setup because of all the sensory elements. They'll have a grand time.
- Once the fizzing begins, pop questions to the kids about the ingredients in the apples.
- Keep engaging the kids to make predictions and to use language to describe what's happening in front of them.
- Expect destruction! While one kid had fun squishing up the apples, the other was on a mission to empty out all the vinegar to create fizzies.
- You can always add extra soap during the activity to create more suds.
- Since we've done plenty of baking soda and vinegar experiments, it was clear to the kids that the apples must contain baking soda.

## The original post by TurkeyMom (2015)

T Setting up science experiments for kids can be just as fun as watching them engage in them. I usually involve the kids in the entire set up process. Other times I set up the [science experiment](https://www.funlittles.com/category/science-2/) and have them guess what the ingredients are why certain reactions are happening. Both methods have their own benefits. This time however I set up the experiment by myself so that the older kid, 6 will have a chance at making observations and predictions about the entire process.

**[{More Apple Activities for Kids}](https://www.funlittles.com/tag/apples/)** This [apple science experiment](https://www.funlittles.com/science-experiments-for-kids-apple-cider-experiment/) is also a great one to engage the kids during set up because of the sensory elements involved in making the "apples" The children will have a grand time making the "apples" The end of the post has the entire recipe and the process to make these fun, colorful apples.  We placed the "apples" in separate bowls set out vinegar in squeeze bottles and I prepared the kids to make guesses about the ingredients in the "apples"

 Once the vinegar hits the apples you will start seeing the suds and the chemical reaction between the acid and the base begins.



Once the fizzing begins, you can pop questions about the ingredients in the apples to the kids.  The kids were very much in the mood to destroy and smash the apples. [Sensory activity](https://www.funlittles.com/category/messy-play-2/) alert!! While one kid had fun squishing up the apples, the other was on a mission to empty out all the vinegar to create fizzies.  At this stage depending on the age of the child you can take this apple science experiment any way you want. I always like to continue to engage the kids to make predictions and use language to describe what;s happening in front of them. Since we have done plenty of [baking soda- vinegar science experiments](https://www.funlittles.com/tag/baking-soda/) it was clear to the kids that the apples must contain baking soda.  The eruptions were vibrant with big bursts of color.  You can always add extra soap during the activity to create more suds.    All the colorful apples finally erupted colorfully in unison!



**Recipe for erupting apples science experiment**

- 1 cup baking soda
- 1 TBSP water
- 1 TBSP liquid watercolors { our favorite **[Sax](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0042SR5R2/?tag=blmemo-20)** brand!}
- 3 squirts of liquid soap
- Vinegar in squeeze bottles

***Science Experiments for Kids with erupting apple science***

- Divide the baking soda in 3 separate bowls { for each color}
- Add 1 cup of baking soda in each bowl
- Add 1 TBSP of water and 1 TBSP of liquid watercolors a little bit at a time and start making the dough
- Mix well to incorporate the color uniformly over the baking soda
- Add the liquid soap and mold the baking soda into "apples"
- Add a couple of leaves for the final touch
- Leave them in the freezer overnight for the "apples" to harden
- Squirt vinegar and watch the soapy erupting apples
- OBSERVE, EXPERIMENT, RECORD AND ANALYZE!



MORE APPLE ACTIVITIES!

[Apple Cider Science Experiment for Kids](https://www.funlittles.com/science-experiments-for-kids-apple-cider-experiment/)

[Make Apple Pie Dough for sensory play](https://www.funlittles.com/fall-activities-apple-dough-recipe/)

[Easy taste-safe apple paints](https://www.funlittles.com/fall-activities-homemade-edible-apple-paints/)

[Watercolor Apple Tree Craft](https://www.funlittles.com/watercolor-apple-tree-craft/)

[Toddler Sticky Apple Tree Activity](https://www.funlittles.com/toddler-activities-with-apple-tree-craft/)