01/18/2022
Happy Make it Monday!
Today we will be making an exploding snowman!!! This is a fun preschool STEM activity that your kids will want to do over and over again!
You will need:
Sandwich bag
Permanent markers
Baking soda
Vinegar
Paper towel or tissue paper
First, give the sandwich bag to your child (if old enough) to decorate with permanent markers. This is a good opportunity to teach them how to draw a snowman's face! I recommend a large piece of paper or old placemat for this one! Next, wrap 3 teaspoons of baking soda inside a paper towel or tissue. Place the baking soda packet inside the plastic bag. Pour about 1-2 cups of vinegar into the sandwich bag and close quickly! It should swell up quickly. Stand back and watch it explode!
If you do not want to have the snowman possible explode in your hand, add the vinegar to the bag first, put in the baking soda wrapped in the paper towel without letting it touch the vinegar, seal it, and then let the paper towel drop down!
Q: Why did the snowman explode?
A: As baking soda, or sodium bicarbonate, mixes with vinegar, carbon dioxide is created. The bag starts to fill with carbon dioxide (and that's why you see the bag start to swell up) until the pressure is too much and … BOOM!
If your kids are like mine, they will want to do it over and over again! Pull out a step by step drawing book and let them practice their drawing skills on the bags! Here are some ideas for changing different variables:
What happens if you don't use a paper towel to wrap the baking soda and put the baking soda directly in the bag?
What happens if you add more vinegar or more baking soda?
If you use the same amount of vinegar and baking soda, can you explode a bigger bag (try a gallon-sized bag)?
