Maker Monday: Blow-up Balloon

Playing outdoors is educational, too, when the play includes interactive STEM activities, like this week’s Maker Monday experiment, a Blow-up Balloon.

The science lesson comes from a mixture of baking soda and vinegar, which creates a bubbling chemical reaction that results in carbon dioxide. The gas expands and blows up the balloon all by itself.

Lucky that the main ingredients are so inexpensive because kids will want to repeat this experiment again and again.

For more fun, draw a silly face on the balloon before beginning and watch it grow!

Supplies:

Empty water bottle

Baking soda

White vinegar

Balloon

Funnel

Measuring cup

Tablespoon

Pour 1/2 cup vinegar into the empty water bottle and set aside.

Attach the empty balloon to the bottom of the funnel. Pour in 2 tablespoons of baking soda. Stretch the balloon onto the water bottle, keeping the baking soda away from the opening.

Once you’re all set, lift the balloon up, allowing the baking soda to drop down into the vinegar.

Watch the bubbling as the gas expands and blows up the balloon. Let the giggling begin!

For more Maker Monday projects and other fun stuff for kids, visit the Kidsburgh Activities page.