STEAM: Pumpkin Reaction Balloons

Hi Kids,

Recently, my librarian friends showed me some really cool videos of students making volcanoes. They told me the volcano was actually a chemical reaction and it blew my mind, just like a volcano!

I asked how kids are able to do an experiment with chemicals. It turns out that it’s done with two very common ingredients that you can probably find in your kitchen—vinegar and baking soda.

We talked about other ideas for experiments with these ingredients and came up with a fun way to celebrate fall. So ask an adult to help you and have fun using a chemical reaction to inflate a balloon!

Bear hugs,

Thorndyke

Materials

• Balloon
• Scissors
• Marker
• Two funnels
• Disposable glove (for serving food, not medical grade)
• Small rubber bands
• Baking soda
• White vinegar

Instructions

1. Cut the finger from the glove and put it at the bottom of the one of the funnels.

2. Ask your adult to pour vinegar into the finger bag.

3. Use the small rubber band to tie off the bag of vinegar. This can be tricky, and you don’t want any of the vinegar to get on the outside of the bag. It’s ok to ask your adult to do this part for you!

4. Ask your adult to please hold the balloon open and put the bag of vinegar in it.

5. Attach the balloon to the end of the other funnel. Pour in baking soda.

6. Tie off the balloon. Again, it’s ok to ask your adult to do this part for you.

7. Decorate your balloon. I made a silly face on mine.

8. Put the balloon on the table and smack it to pop the bag of vinegar. Watch your balloon inflate!

Tips for Adults

• You can cut off the top of a water bottle and use it as a reverse funnel. Pull the balloon through the top of the bottle and put the lip of the balloon around it. This would let your little one feel that they are more in control of the experiment.
• Don’t overfill the bag of vinegar. You don’t want the vinegar to get on the outside of the bag or you risk the reaction happening early.
• Small rubber bands are very important because the bigger ones become almost as big as the vinegar bag.
• If it doesn’t inflate after hitting it you can try to stomp on it to pop the bag.