Try out our 3 Halloween spooky science experiments and make spooky slime, dancing ghosts and a pumpkin volcano!

Find out how to make these experiments by watching the short animated video below, or follow the instructions underneath the video.

Spooky Slime

To make some spooky slime you'll need:

• Cornflour
• Food colouring
• Water
• Mixing bowl
• Spoon

Instructions

1. First add a few drops of food colouring into your water.
2. Then add a cup of cornflour to your mixing bowl.
3. Then pour in a bit of water and mix it.
4. Keep adding water and mixing until you have slime that is the texture of honey.

Now trick someone into getting into a gooey mess by rolling it into a ball, then and hand it to someone and watch it run through their fingers.

Science behind the experiment

Slime is an example of a non-Newtonian fluid. When you apply a force (like a stir) to the slime, it gets thicker and more like a solid. When you stop applying a force, then the slime gets runny and more liquid like again.

Dancing Ghosts

To make dancing ghosts you'll need:

• Tracing paper
• Balloon
• Scissors
• Sticky tape
• Pencil

Instructions

1. Draw a picture of a ghost on tracing paper.
2. Then cut it out.
3. Stick the bottom of the ghost to the surface of a table.
4. Nor rub your balloon against your hair or a piece of clothing
5. The static electricity in the balloons will attract the tracing paper, making the ghost rise up.
6. Experiment with making it dance along to some music.

Science behind the experiment

When you rub a balloon on something it causes static electricity to build up. This happens because of movement of tiny negatively charged particles called electrons. Objects with opposite charges can attract making the hair stand up on your head as you rub and making the ghost rise into the air when it gets close to the balloon.

Foaming Pumpkin Volcano

To make a foaming pumpkin volcano you'll need:

• Pumpkin
• Pen
• Bowl
• Food colouring
• Washing up liquid
• Vinegar
• Bicarbonate of soda

Instructions

• Cut the top off the pumpkin and scoop out the pulp and seeds.
• Place the bowl inside the pumpkin.
• Draw a scary face on the pumpkin.
• Add bicarbonate of soda until the bottom of the bowl is full.
• Add washing up liquid until the bicarbonate of soda is covered.
• Add a couple of drops of food colouring.
• Pour in the vinegar.
• And watch as it froths and foams and starts to pour over!

Science behind the experiment

When Bicarbonate of Soda and vinegar come together it causes a chemical reaction. This reaction produces the gas Carbon Dioxide, you can see and hear this happening when the mixture starts to fizz. By adding the washing up liquid, as the Carbon Dioxide is released it gets trapped creating soapy bubbles.