Prep: time to gather everything up. Mess: the mess washes away pretty easily. Don’t use too much food colouring, it can stain.
This was my son’s favourite Halloween activity last year, and I think it will be again this year!
What you’ll need:
- Cauldron, bowl, carved out pumpkin, muffin tin, beakers, any vessel…
- Baking soda
- Food colouring
- Halloween parts
- Squeeze bottle or droppers
- Vinegar
How to: I gave my little guy a tray of spooky loose parts and a recipe to follow to make a creepy Halloween soup or potion. I lined the bottom of the cauldron with food colouring and baking soda. He added all the creepy bits and then I gave him a squeeze bottle of vinegar.
To him the best part was making it fizz up. To me the best part was that he didn’t realize he was learning as we read the recipe, counted out the ingredients, talked about the chemical reaction… my favourite kind of learning is when he has no idea it’s happening.
This activity lends itself well to more dramatic play! Pretend to be a scientist experimenting – what is the scientist creating? A chef making a special dish – who is it being cooked for? Where will it be eaten? A witch creating a new potion – what will the potion do if it’s used? Be creative and silly.