Science Experiments for Kids: Erupting Apple Science

by TurkeyMom in Science

Ages3–8 yrs

Prep30 min

Activity30 min

Leveleasy

MessHigh

Works for1:1 · Small group · Class

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.

⚠️ Safety first

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 the kids arrive

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

Put 1 cup of baking soda in a separate bowl for each color.
Add 1 tbsp water and 1 tbsp liquid watercolors a little at a time, and mix into a dough until the color is even.
Add 3 squirts of liquid soap and mold the dough into apples.
Press a couple of leaves into the top of each apple for the final touch.
Freeze the apples overnight so they harden.
Place each apple in its own bowl and set out the vinegar in squeeze bottles.
Ask the kids to guess what is inside the apples.
Squirt vinegar on the apples and watch them fizz and erupt.
Squish and smash the apples, and keep squirting vinegar for more fizzies.
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.from the author
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.from the author
Once the fizzing begins, pop questions to the kids about the ingredients in the apples.from the author
Keep engaging the kids to make predictions and to use language to describe what's happening in front of them.from the author
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.from the author
You can always add extra soap during the activity to create more suds.from the author
Since we've done plenty of baking soda and vinegar experiments, it was clear to the kids that the apples must contain baking soda.from the author

Make it your own

Have the kids make the apples themselves for extra sensory play during setup.
Set it up yourself and have the kids guess the ingredients and explain why the reactions happen.
For older kids, record observations and analyze the results.