by Rachel Wells
The excitement of the changing seasons is a perfect time to break out some fun, fall themed science experiments. From dancing corn to homemade butter, these entertaining experiments are perfect for elementary school kids and sure to be a blast.
Dancing Corn
Supplies Needed:
- Corn kernels
- Baking soda
- Water
- Vinegar
- Glass jar
Step-by-Step:
- Add ¼ cup of corn kernels into the jar.
- Add in water to fill the jar about ¾ of the way full.
- Add in 1 tablespoon of baking soda and mix until almost dissolved. Make sure its mixed evenly among the corn kernels.
- Add in ¼ cup of vinegar. This will cause a reaction right away (think of a simple volcano experiment). Since some bubbles may overflow be sure to place your jar on a tray. After the mixture becomes clear you will start to see the corn dance, or bounce up and down throughout the jar.
This reaction occurs because the vinegar and baking soda reaction causes bubbles that carry the corn kernels to the surface of the water, and when the bubbles pop, the corn kernels will drop back down. The process continues resulting in lots of dancing popcorn kernels.
Homemade Butter
Supplies Needed:
- Heavy cream
- Salt (optional)
- Mason jar with lid
Step-by-Step:
- Fill the jar half way with heavy cream. If you want salted butter you can add a little bit now.
- Start shaking! In about 15 minutes you will have fresh, tasty butter.
Skittles Pumpkin
This is such a fun twist on a well known experiment.
Supplies Needed:
- Plate or shallow dish
- Orange and green skittles
- Water
- Small cup
Step-by-Step:
- Arrange your skittles in a pumpkin design like the picture below.
- Slowly pour water onto the plate (be careful not to bump it!) and watch as the colors blend into an adorable pumpkin design.
Grow a Pumpkin in a Pumpkin
Supplies Needed:
- Small pie pumpkin (the kind you find in the produce section at the grocery store)
- Dirt
- water
Step-by-Step:
- Cut the top off of your pie pumpkin.
- Pour dirt into the pumpkin (filled to the top.)
- Water the dirt daily, and watch as the seeds begin to sprout.
Pumpkin Crystals
Supplies:
- Glass jar
- Borax
- Boiling water
- String
- Orange and green pipe cleaners
- Pencil/pen/wooden craft stick
Step-by-Step:
- Bend your pipe cleaners into your desired shape. We chose a curly orange bottom with a small green stem on top.
- Tie a piece of string onto your pipe cleaner stem and tie the other end of the string to the center of the pencil. Set aside.
- Boil 2 cups of water and stir 8 tablespoons of borax in until it dissolves.
- Fill your jar with the borax solution.
- Place your pipe cleaner into the jar. The pencil should stay on the top of the jar to keep the pipe cleaner suspended in the borax mixture. Make sure the pipe cleaner isn’t touching the sides of the jar.
- Leave the jar for at least 24 hours so the crystals can grow. When you are ready to remove the crystal, gently tug the string out of the jar.