Dancing Spiders: Halloween Science Activity.
My kids love “dancing” science activities! We have done raisins, rainbow popcorn kernels (find directions here), and even lemon seeds! A fun version for Halloween is to use mini plastic spiders! Below I have included two versions for the same activity. The first version uses Alka-Seltzer tablets and the second version uses baking soda and vinegar. I hope you can try it!
The Science:
When using the Alka-Seltzer tablet, the effervescent table sinks to the bottom and starts dissolving in the water. As it dissolves, carbon dioxide bubbles are released and rise through the oil to the top. As the bubbles rise, it takes the spiders with it! Once the bubbles reach the top, they pop and the spiders sink back down through the oil. This creates the “Dancing (or Jumping) Spiders”!
If you do the second version of the activity (directions below) and use baking soda and vinegar (instead of the Alka-Seltzer Tablets), the vinegar sinks to the bottom when you pour it into the jar. Reactions occur between the baking soda and vinegar which creates carbon dioxide gas, just like the carbon dioxide gas created as the Alka-Seltzer tablet dissolves!
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Dancing Spiders with Alka-Seltzer Tablets
Materials:
Small plastic spiders*
Oil
Water
Alka-Seltzer tablet (or other effervescent tablet)
Clear containers (like mason jars)
Steps:
1. In a clear jar, add a small amount of water.
2. Fill the rest of the container with oil. (I used baby oil, but you can also use other oils, like vegetable oil.)
3. Add plastic spiders. *For this to work, the plastic spiders must sink to the bottom!
4. Break an Alka-Seltzer tablet into small pieces and drop 1 or 2 of those pieces into the container.
If the movement of the spiders starts to slow down, you can add more Alka-Seltzer to keep the spiders jumping!
Dancing Spiders with Baking Soda
Materials:
Small plastic spiders*
Baking soda
Oil
White vinegar
Clear containers (like mason jars)
Steps:
1. In a clear jar, add a layer of baking soda to the bottom.
2. Fill the container about halfway with oil (I used baby oil, but you can use other oils, like vegetable oil).
3. Add plastic spiders. *For this to work, the plastic spiders must sink to the bottom!
4. Slowly add vinegar and watch the spiders dance!
If the movement of the spiders starts to slow down, you can add more vinegar to keep the spiders “dancing”!
Use baking soda and vinegar to make spiders “dance”!