Pumpkin theme is so much fun and there are countless activities that you can try with this ‘October vegetable’. I got some mini pumpkins off the list from our weekly grocery shopping on a whim. At home I brainstormed some ideas to use it and landed on these fizzing pumpkins science experiment.
Materials needed
- Mini pumpkins
- Baking soda
- Vinegar
- Dish soap
- Food coloring
- A shallow tray
Gather all your supplies on a flat surface. First cut the tip of pumpkins to make a bowl shape deep enough to hold the ingredients. Be sure to use ripe pumpkins else it will be very hard to cut the tips. After cutting remove all the goop from inside using a spoon.
Do likewise for how many ever pumpkins you wish to use. I used four of them and set them out on a tray. Then fill each pumpkins with
- 1 cup baking soda
- 1 tbsp dish soap
- 2-3 drops of food coloring
The dish soap gives extra frothing effect while in action. You can add different food coloring in each pumpkins. In another bowl keep some vinegar with a spoon or scooper to pour from. You can use droppers also for additional fine motor challenge.
I waited for R to get home from school since I was not sure if M will be daring to do this activity on her own. Once he settled I took out the tray and he was all excited. Looked like he already knew what to do. May be they might have done similar experiments at school. He grabbed the cup and pour the vinegar onto one of the pumpkin. Voila!! There came the gushing frothy colors from pumpkins. It was so soothing and astonishing to watch.
M was so taken aback by this sight as expected. She too tried with a small spoon to get her own tiny foams. R kept on pouring the vinegar to make more and more foams. 
Whiles he was having fun we also talked about little science there. When vinegar and baking soda are mixed together the hydrogen ions in the vinegar react with the sodium and bicarbonate ions in the baking soda to release carbon dioxide gas. Just like carbon dioxide bubbles in a carbonated drink, the carbon dioxide rises to the top of the mixture. This creates the bubbles and foam we see.
The vinegar was over quickly and he requested even more. I gave in and we did yet another round of fizzing pumpkins. I would say this is a must try activity and I am sure the kids will never get tired of this activity so gear up with a full bottle of vinegar 😊