In this BLOG post I will teach you how to make this fun and festive fizzy activity for kids!
If you are looking for something that is a WIN every single time, this is it!
Baking soda and vinegar is a classic experiment that helps kids to play, explore and learn scientific concepts through play.
It uses two pantry staples and is exciting and engaging every single time.
It's fun. It fizzes. It bubbles and it is a delight to the senses!
Why will you LOVE fizzy fun?
You will LOVE these Science activities because they are simple, fun and use simple materials. They teach BIG skills in a play-filled way. They can be differentiated in a ton of ways. They clean up easily. They are truly magical each and every time so you can repeat and repeat and REPEAT!!
What are the benefits?
Through fizzy play, kids have the ability to:
Learn about chemical reactions
Strengthen fine motor skills
Learn color names
Practice color theory: what happens when colors mix
Explore cause and effect
Improve concentration and focus
Here are my favorite tools for fizzy fun:
Pipette or medicine dropper
Squirt bottle
Spray bottle
Why? Well, they are a fun, play-based way to strengthen motor skills. They are perfect for little hands. As they pinch, squirt and squeeze, they are building stamina and strength in their fingers.
Why is strengthening fine motor skills important?
Great question! Fine motor skills refer to the small muscles in the fingers and hands. Those muscles and movements are responsible for self-help skills such as feeding yourself, zippering your coat and tying your shoes.
They are also responsible for big tasks such as writing!
Kids who struggle with fine motor skills may have difficulty doing these tasks. They may get discouraged easily with additional motor tasks such as forming letters, cutting and buttoning their coat.
Through consistent opportunities (like this!), kids can develop important motor skills to support their development as they get older.
Want to extend your learning?
There are tons of ways to add academic work into your play.
Check out our Frozen Fizzy Letters HERE.
Another simple way to extend your learning is to add a few drops of food coloring into the vinegar.
What does this do? It adds an extra layer of sensory goodness into your play! Now you can talk about colors. What is the name of each color that you use? What happens when you mix two colors together?
Materials:
Ice cube tray/heart mold
Sensory tray or bowl
Baking soda
Water
White vinegar
Pipette or medicine dropper
Food coloring (optional)
Glitter (optional)
Step 1: Grab an ice cube tray or heart mold.
Step 2: In a bowl, mix 2 cups baking soda and 1/2 cup of water. Mix.
Step 3: Fill the mold with the mixture. Depending on the size of your tray, you may have extra or need a little more! You just want a "paste" consistency. Freeze for a few hours until solid.
Step 4: Once frozen, place in a sensory tray or bowl. In a cup or bowl, mix together half water and half white vinegar. If you are using food coloring, squirt 3-5 drops in now.
Step 5: Use a pipette or medicine dropper and squirt the mixture onto the letters. Watch as they bubble and fizz!
Look at these other fun Fizzy Activities!
Always monitor young children in or around water. Small objects can be choking hazards. You get to decide what is safe and manageable in your home.
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