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https://www.theowlteacher.com/electricity-pickles/
This demonstration can be used to spike the curiosity in children about electricity. I would use a surge protector and an extension cord. I would unsheathe the extension cord so that I could get to the wire. Once I see the wires I would insert them in each end of the pickle. Then I turn off the lights and let the pickle glow! This can lead into an electricity unit.

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I'm a huge fan of anticipatory sets! I need to get their attention right away. To start teaching electricity, I really wanted something that would sizzle! Kids seem to know a lot about electricity already and have likely seen that after charging a balloon and placing it against a small light bulb, it would light. I wanted something different. It seemed I was in quite the pickle.

Then, I remembered in high school (or maybe it was college - the years start to blend together after a while) that an instructor did just that - electrocuted a pickle! That was what I was going to do! (With permission, of course.)

I gathered all my materials - a small extension cord that houses three plugs, a power strip (with an off/on switch), and a pickle. I cut off the end of the small extension cord and threw away the piece with the three different plug ends. I didn't need that. Then, I took that same end and split it. I used a wire cutter to pull off the insulator (special coating) so that the conductor (wire) was exposed. (See below.)

Making Electricity with a Pickle!

Next, I plugged in the power strip and switched it to the off position. Then, I pushed one wire into each end of the pickle. I found it was easier if I used a toothpick to poke a small "starter" hole in the pickle first. It varied from pickle to pickle, but most were a bit tough on the ends due to the vine of the plant. I also discovered that the farther in the wire is inserted, the better your glow length across the pickle will be. However, you do not want the wires touching one another from one end to the other. Some of the conductor or plastic coating can go inside the pickle. Finally, I plug in my extension cord (that is plugged into the pickle) into the power strip.

When I am ready for my "show" to begin, all I have to do is hit the light switches to turn off the lights (as it is seen best in a dark room) and hit the switch on the power strip to turn it on. Then, you will see and hear this (My hubby did it for me so I could video tape - he said it made him feel "dangerous." What a wild man he is! There's no sound so you can hear the popping and sizzling.):

And students will be excited!

I don't do it for very long, because, as you can see, it starts to pop, sizzle, and spark. What you cannot see is the smell. It starts to smell a bit. It's not a bad smell, just a burnt pickle smell! 🙂

After this introduction we will begin talking about how this relates to electricity! This is my anticipatory set of sorts...just to get them excited and thinking. I don't reveal just yet how it relates to electricity. As we progress through the unit, I like to once in a while remind students they should be thinking back to the beginning - the pickle demonstration (as students should NEVER do this - it should ONLY be a teacher demonstration!) and how it relates to what we are learning. Occasionally, students will tell me they think they know. At the end of the unit, we talk about it.

In case you are wondering, the pickle creates a closed circuit and contains something that causes it to be a conductor of electricity, whether it be the salt ions in it or whatever. The electricity travels from the outlet to the pickle, across the pickle, and back to the outlet. If we were to cut the pickle in half during this demonstration (NOT recommended), then it would then become an open circuit and the flow of electricity would be stopped. This also demonstrates that electricity produces heat energy (as the pickle did get hot!), sound energy (the sizzle), and light energy (it glowed!).

Isn't science exciting and fun?

Happy Teaching!

Please make sure you have your principal's permission first, if you choose to do this. Second, do NOT let the students do this, as it can be dangerous for them to play with open wires and "liquid" on their hands with electricity. As an adult you are aware of the dangers and take the necessary precautions. An alternative to doing the demonstration is to show this video to your students and talk about it.

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Teaching Electricity with Pickles - The Owl Teacher

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I'm a huge fan of anticipatory sets! I need to get their attention right away. To start teaching electricity, I really wanted something that would sizzle! Kids seem to know a lot about electricity already and have likely seen that after charging a balloon and placing it against a small light bulb, it would light.

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http://www.learnplayimagine.com/2013/04/how-to-make-lightning.html?m=1
This demonstration can be used to engage students before a weather unit. Before I introduce the lesson/unit I would demonstrate this lightening experiment. I would take a pencil and attach to an aluminum baking pan with a push pin. I will rub the wool against the Styrofoam for 2 minutes straight. Then I will place they tray on the Styrofoam to create a spark of lightening making kids curious about how lightening works.

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After showing JZ (5) and J-Bug (4) how to make rain in a jar, JZ asked me how to make lightning. I decided to show him by demonstrating static electricity. A lightning bolt is basically a dramatic display of static electricity in action. You see lightning when a spark of moving electrons races up or down between a cloud and the ground.

To demonstrate how to make lightning I set up two simple science experiments.

How to Make a Spark

To show JZ how to make lightning I stuck a pushpin through the center of the aluminum tray then stuck the pencil eraser to the pushpin. The pencil served as a handle to lift the aluminum tray.

Next I had JZ vigorously rub the wool on the Styrofoam tray for two minutes. It really takes two solid minutes, and he had to rub hard and fast for the experiment to work. Note: If you don't have wool, rub the Styrofoam on your hair for two minutes.

Finally, we picked up the aluminum tray using the pencil handle and set it on the Styrofoam plate. Unfortunately, no matter how hard I tried I could not capture the spark on film. It didn't even show up in the video I took. To see the spark you'll have to try this for yourself! Trust me, it's a lot of fun and worth the few minutes.

The second experiment we used to demonstrate how to make lightning was much more simple and only requires two items.

Have your child rub the inflated balloon vigorously on his head for two minutes, or take turns rubbing it on each other. The go into a dark room and touch the spoon to the balloon and see what happens!

More weather science for kids:

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After showing JZ (5) and J-Bug (4) how to make rain in a jar , JZ asked me how to make lightning. I decided to show him by demonstrating static electricity. A lightning bolt is basically a dramatic display of static electricity in action.

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https://www.buzzfeed.com/peggy/kids-science-experiments-that-adults-can-enjoy-too?utm_term=.rd2WpGV5P#.fgVDvVW49
By sticking an Ivory soap bar into the microwave, it explodes. It gets huge. Students would be amazed and curious as to why soap would do that just because it was in a microwave. This would cause engagement as they would want to touch and play with it. It raises curiosity as to why soap would do that in the microwave. The students could figure out why the soap exploded after seeing the demonstration!

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24 Science Experiments Your Kids Will Love

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Every kid is for rainbows, explosions, or rainbow explosions.

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http://www.keslerscience.com/a-science-demo-day-that-students-will-never-forget/
This demonstration is simple yet effective. A hair dryer is used to make a ping pong ball float in the air. Even when the hair dryer moves to an angle not directly under the ball, the ball will still float. That is when the kids become curious. The ball floating is engaging. This demo can go with a molecule lesson, or anything on air pressure such as weather.

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For the last couple of years I have done an elaborate science demo day in my class for Halloween. This is one of those experiences that students will remember when they look back on their middle school experience. I encourage you to dig deep and really put some thought into the presentation. It will go a long way in making this something students will talk about forever.

Mad Science Lab Setup

I have always done a science demo day on or around Halloween, but it could be done at anytime throughout the year. The theme I've used in the past has been a mad scientist testing out his latest experiments in his laboratory. It's a natural fit for most science teachers, right?

Let's first talk about the costumes. I dress up as a mad scientist. You probably already have a lab coat and some funny glasses. You can find a wig at a local party store or use this one from Amazon. I throw on some safety goggles as well. My partners in the past have also dressed up like nerdy scientists, and it's been a hit.

Last year we were able to fit all of our classes into a flex space (teaching theater). It provided ample room for all the classes to view the demonstrations. We set the mood of the room by putting up black butcher paper on the windows. This served two purposes. We wanted it to be dark for some of the demonstrations, but we also didn't want kids knowing what was happening in the room during setup and throughout the day. It's inevitable that once your first set of classes have seen the demonstrations that students from all over campus are going to swing by and check out what's going on.

At the front of the class we pulled out a lot of glassware and setup our pretend lab. This is a great time to get out your ring stands, test tube racks, flasks, beakers, etc. The key to it looking like a creepy laboratory is to use some atomic glow from Steve Spangler Science. This concentrate can be poured into water, and when a black light is used it's used it is really impressive. We added some glow sticks into the test tubes. They can be found at Target or a dollar store for very cheap. Adding dry ice to the mix sets up the theming perfectly, and students are going to be instantly engaged. I found dry ice at my local grocery store. They sell it by the pound, especially this time of year. Be sure to use gloves when handling it! Below is a quick little video of our setup from last year. I unfortunately didn't get a video of the dry ice.

Something is Different Today

In order to set this day apart from any other day you are going to have to sell it. When students walked into the classroom and saw flasks brewing and heard scary music playing, they were immediately engaged with the atmosphere. Once the bell rang we introduced ourselves to the class and told them the teachers were out for the day. We said we were their 'fun' substitutes and never broke character the entire day. It's funny because even throughout the rest of the year we would always talk about that one day where the subs came in and blew our lab up. Obviously, the kids knew it was us, but they really bought into the story we were trying to tell. You will also want to take 30 seconds and set the expectations for the day. There's plenty of opportunity for this to get out of hand if you don't set clear expectations up front. The biggest safety issue is that everyone remains in their seat unless they are called upon to be part of an experiment. Anyone participating in the demos should also have the proper safety equipment on.

The Demonstrations

My class periods have always been about 40-45 minutes and we were able to get through all of the demonstrations every period. Below are the demonstrations we used. Some of them cost money to setup, but obviously you can substitute in any of your favorite demonstrations. The science department was able to help us fund some of the costs, but we did spend some of our own money also

The transition from demo to demo should be fluid. Think about a street magician. You don't want any downtime between the demos, because students will quickly lose interest. We were able to do this using 3 science teachers and we just rotated who featured each of the demonstrations. One year I was able to have two students help me out with the demos all day long. Your mileage may vary depending on the buy in from your administration.

Demo #1 - Wine Glass Pendulum

Supplies:

This is a great starter demo and will require someone from the audience to participate. I like to do it twice. The first time just do it with washers on both ends, and then have someone come up and do it with a glass or coffee cup for a better effect. In the video Steve uses a spoon attached to one end. You can see that it gets hung up as it slings around. I would just stick with washers or a ring.

Demo Tips:

Make sure the ratio is 14:1 in weight.

As it swings around your finger you may have to put your thumb on the string before it unwinds again.

Ask the class before you drop it for the first time, "What's going to happen?" They will almost all say the weight will pull the lighter weight over your finger and fall on the ground.

Call up an audience member for the wine glass or coffee cup demo.

Put a folded towel underneath the glass just in case 🙂 I've never had it break, but things can go wrong.

The Science:

It's important to talk about the science behind all of the demos, but I'm going to go out on a limb here and tell you not to dwell on it. Talk about it briefly, and move on to the next demonstration. For this demonstration you can talk about potential energy converting to rotational energy as the glass falls. Energy is always transforming from one form to another. It's really as simple as that.

Although this is a pretty cool little demo the kids are going to be wondering, "Is this all?" This is a great opportunity to let them know the math teachers have asked for any unimpressed students to report to their classroom for worksheets. Have some fun with the audience.

Demo #2 - Baby Diaper 3 Card Monty

Supplies:

This demonstration will start to get the kids excited because it's almost certainly going to fool all of them. Watch the video to learn how it's done, but definitely add some more energy than old Science Bob.

Demo Tips:

I like to do it three times. On the third time put the water into the cup with the powder.

The first time you switch the glasses around do it really slowly. Speed up on the second time, and then go really fast on the last time. You could even take it up a notch by telling the entire class that you'll give them all Jolly Ranchers if they can tell you which glass has the liquid water on the 3rd time. Ham it up! Showmanship is your friend.

The Science:

The powder is actually a finely cut polymer that is super absorbent. Explain to them this is actually the same polymer that is found in baby diapers. It absorbs all of the liquid into the diaper and turns into a gel.

Demo #3 - It's Time for the Holidays - Let's Make Some Snow

Supplies:

The background for this demonstration is that you've been working on a new formula snow so you can open a ski slope out behind the school and retire a millionaire. Steve is a master of setting up demonstrations and using humor while doing so. This demo is a quick one.

Demo Tips:

The Science:

The powder is the same super absorbent polymer from the last demo. The only difference is how it's cut into fine pieces. It doesn't gel together like the other cut polymers.

Demo #4 - Beach Ball Blower

Supplies:

This is a fun one which has an unexpected outcome. I called the hair dryer my 'molecule machine' just to make it a little more fun and engaging. You can have a volunteer come up and do this one. Ask them what is going to happen if you point the hair dryer straight up and then put a ping pong ball in the air stream. Have them do it. Once the ball is floating in the air stream ask them what will happen if you start to tilt the hair dryer at a 30 degree angle. The amazing thing is that the ball remains floating in the air even when it's not directly above the hair dryer. Check out the demo below from an old video I made. Heads up, that website doesn't exist anymore. All the goods are now found on this site.

That's cool and all, but it gets really awesome when you bust out the leaf blower from under the desk and do the same demo with a beach ball.

Demo Tips:

Don't show the audience the leaf blower and beach ball until you're ready to use them. Maybe even ask them how you could expand on the experiment to give it a bigger wow factor.

If you tilt the airstream too fast the ball will fall off.

The Science:

The Bernoulli Principle states that as an air stream (or fluid) speeds up, a decrease in pressure will occur. Fast moving air will cause a drop in air pressure (relative to the air pressure outside the column of moving air). The moving column of air produced by the hair dryer causes an area of low pressure. The pressure in the column of air is lower than the pressure outside of the column of air. The ball cannot move into the area of the higher pressure air. When it moves in that direction, the higher air pressure pushes it back into the low pressure column of air.

Demo #5 - The Unpoppable Water Balloon

Supplies:

Balloons, water, and matches typically aren't something I would recommend for a middle school science classroom, but this one is great and as you'll soon find out why it's the most rewarding demo you will do all day long. First, blow up a balloon and then ask the audience what is going to happen when you light a match and touch the flame to the bottom balloon. Of course, it's going to pop. Demonstrate that. Fill up another water balloon with about a cup of water and then blow air into the balloon so it is fully inflated. Once again ask the audience what is going to happen if you touch the flame to the bottom of the balloon. They should say that it will also pop. They will be wrong.

This is where it gets good. Ask the audience if anyone would like to test it out by sitting in a chair underneath the water balloon while you put the match to it. This is your opportunity to find a student that has been a little challenging in your class all year and invite them up. They probably will already have their hand up because they like to be on stage 🙂 Make sure to have them remove any electronics from their pockets and have them agree not to get mad if they happen to get wet. I always tell them no one has gotten wet all day long, but it's possible.

Have them sit down in the chair and then hold the water balloon over their head. Light the match and then hold it directly underneath the area of the balloon with water. It won't pop. You can hold it there for quite a long time without popping. Tell the kid they were lucky today and then immediately take the match and touch it to the part of the balloon that has air in it. The balloon will pop and the kid will get soaked. You'll be an instant hero! Have a towel ready for the student and thank them for being a good sport.

Demo Tips:

Make sure the audience participant doesn't have electronics in their pockets.

The kids will secretly love you for drenching the class clown.

The Science:

Water is a great conductor of heat and the heat transfers from the match directly to the water without popping the balloon.

Demo #6 - Boo Bubbles

Supplies:

This is a great demonstration when talking about the properties of dry ice. You could probably create your own setup here, but the one sold on the SS website is great and works every time.

Demo Tips:

The Science:

Dry ice is just frozen carbon dioxide. It transitions from a solid to a gas without turning into a liquid. This process is called sublimation.

Demo #6 - Dry Ice Crystal Ball

Supplies:

For this demonstration you can continue to talk about the properties of dry ice or just go with some made up story about wanting to make a crystal ball to see into the future to find out who is going to pass or fail the class 🙂 We're all about having fun here. This is a great time to kid around with the kids and build relationships with them. You certainly don't want to pick on anyone or hurt feelings though.

Demo Tips:

Make sure the container is very clean and free of soap residue on the inside. Once soap gets in the water it will create a bunch of small bubbles and ruin the effect. This becomes an issue when you do this experiment 6-8 times a day. Just make sure to wash it between demos.

Make sure the water is nice and hot.

The Science:

Dry ice is just frozen carbon dioxide. It transitions from a solid to a gas without turning into a liquid. This process is called sublimation.

Demo #7 - Atomic Worms

Supplies:

This demonstration is a lot of fun and produces has a pretty disgusting outcome. I like to set this one like I'm preparing my dinner. When you squeeze one liquid into another liquid it becomes a solid. Lots of fun!

Demo Tips:

The activator solution will last you the entire day. You won't need to make a new batch each time.

I have the sense of humor of a junior high student, so I like to hold a big long one right up to my nose and then ask the class if I have something hanging from my nose. They love that.

I would refrain from passing them around unless you want a mess

The Science:

Worm Goo is a long chain of molecules called a polymer. When the Worm Goo comes in contact with the Activator, the goo immediately changes from a liquid to a solid! That's because the Activator acts a cross-linking solution that links the long strands of polymers in the goo together. I'm not 100% sure if the science is completely accurate on this next statement, but I like to say a precipitate was formed. A precipitate is an insoluble solid that emerges from a liquid solution.

Demo #8 - Air Cannon

Supplies:

For our class I made a smaller version of the one that Steve uses in this video, but it was still very effective. It's really fun if you have a couple of them and can allow students to compete by knocking cups off the heads of audience members.

Demo Tips:

Cutting the hole in the bottom of the can is the hardest part. I ended up using a serrated knife to do the job. It doesn't have to be perfect.

Adding a smoke machine makes this demo a lot cooler. Everyone wants to see smoke rings fly across the room.

The Science:

The ball of fog/air that shoots out is really a vortex. The vortex is created because the air leaving the trash can at the middle of the hole is going faster than air leaving around the edge of the hole. This science experiment illustrates that air occupies space. As you hit the rubber sheeting it pushes into the trash can. As a result, the volume inside the can decreases and pressure increases. That pressure increase pushes some of the air out of the hole in the bottom. The smaller the hole you cut, the greater the velocity the air/fog will come out when you strike it.

Demo #9 - Whoosh Bottle

Supplies:

Disclaimer: Don't be an idiot with this one. You need to make sure anyone nearby has safety goggles on and that a fire extinguisher is readily available. We have always done this indoors, but we were in a room with high ceilings. Students should not participate in this demo because it can be dangerous. It's a highlight though. They will talk about this one.

Demo Tips:

Make sure to coat the inside of the jar really well with the alcohol.

Shake up the water bottle with your hand covering the opening to allow the vapor to build up.

If you can time it correctly this demo goes great with the song from Pitball called "Fireball". We were able to time it to where the flame happens right when he belts out "FIREBALL!" It was awesome.

The Science:

The Whoosh is created because the expanding hot gases are trying to quickly escape from a narrow opening at the top of the bottle.

Take a Bow

I've done this with my classes for the last several years and it truly is a magical day. You are providing the students with an experience they can't get anywhere else. I survey my classes at the end of each year, and this day is inevitably one of the favorites year after year. Encourage other teachers and admin to come in and see what science is all about.

What are some of your favorite demos? I'd love to continue the conversation in the comments below.

Disclaimer

Although most of the science experiments above are regarded as low hazard, the author and publisher expressly disclaim all liability for any occurrence, including, but not limited to, damage, injury or death which might arise as consequences of the use of any experiment(s) listed or described here. Therefore, you assume all the liability and use these science experiment projects at your own risk!

Some links within the article are affiliate links to Amazon in which I receive a small commission at no cost to you. I have no affiliation with Steve Spangler other than I love the way he makes science accessible to everyone.

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A Science Demo Day That Students Will Never Forget

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For the last couple of years I have done an elaborate science demo day in my class for Halloween. This is one of those experiences that students will remember when they look back on their middle school experience. I encourage you to dig deep and really put some thought into the presentation.

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http://onelittleproject.com/shaving-cream-rain-clouds/
This demonstration develops curiosity by a 'cloud' making it rain. Food coloring goes through the shaving cream and drips into the water making it look like rain. Before I introduce a lesson on the water cycle or weather I can use this activity. As the students come into the classroom I will have a cup of water. I will mix different colors of food coloring with water. Then I can drop that over the larger glass of water that has shaving cream on top of it. The colors will go through the shaving cream making colorful rain in the water.

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I wasn't sure how these shaving cream rain clouds were going to turn out, but they were beautiful! I love any experiment that's easy enough for my kids to do themselves. And I also love when I get to use a rainbow assortment of colours to create something beautiful. So this was a winner! This activity was easy to put together and allowed us to learn a little bit about weather. Although, my girls were definitely more interested in the hands on part, not so much the learning. But what can you do?

You'll need:

A couple of clear glasses, vases, or bowls (it's fun to switch up the shapes and sizes!)

Food colouring

Shaving cream

Small bowls or containers that hold 1 to 2 ounces

Water

An eye dropper, syringe or 1/4 teaspoon measuring spoon

We're definitely getting some good use out of the shaving cream we bought from the dollar store. I originally bought four small cans, and so far we've used them to make puffy paint, shaving cream play dough, and now this experiment. And two of the bottles are still fairly full. I guess a little goes a long way with shaving cream.

Start by filling the small containers with water. The less water you use (so the more concentrated the food colouring), the faster your "rain" will drop. But on the other hand, the more water you use, the more rain you'll be able to make. So keep that in mind as you fill them up.

Add different colours of food colouring to each of the small containers. My containers held about 1 ounce of water and I added about 10 drops of food colouring. (Except I only added 5 drops of purple, because it gets dark really fast).

Fill a clear glass with water about 2/3 full.

Top it with a generous amount of shaving cream.

Use the eye dropper (or syringe, or 1/4 tsp measuring spoon) to drop the different colours of water onto the shaving cream cloud. The closer you squirt to the edges, the faster it will go through the shaving cream and come down as rain.

You can tell your kids that the water is like the air, and the shaving cream is like the clouds. And as the clouds get saturated with water, they produce rain.

Or if your kids are young with mine, you can just say "Oooo... look at all the pretty colours!" I'm not sure my 3 year old and 5 year old really cared that we were trying to represent clouds and rain here.

They just thought it was lots of fun to play with the different colours and to mix everything together!

My 5 year old enjoyed adding all of the colours to her glass. I told them hers was more like a storm cloud, and they seemed happy enough with that.

My 3 year old can't quite get the hang of the eye dropper yet, so she just used a small measuring spoon to slowly drop the colours into the glass.

It's going to take a few days for all that food colouring to come off of our countertops. It's a good thing we plan to replace them at some point!

It was pretty fun to watch the ominous dark rain clouds start to let go of little blue water droplets!

And then we did it all again with a small, square vase. This one was definitely my favourite size and shape to use. There was lots of room to add all of the colours, and lots of volume so we could actually add tons of the food colouring to it without it turning into a black mess.

When we were finished, my girls enjoyed mixing all of the colours together and then stirring it all up (in the sink) into a colourful mess. I find the most successful activities with my kids are the ones where they are allowed to make the biggest messes! They didn't have much patience for watching the rain drop down, but they sure loved mixing all of the colours and getting their hands dirty!

This shaving cream rain clouds experiment is a fun and relatively easy activity to do with kids. You can turn it into a learning session about weather and discuss clouds, rain and storms. Or if they aren't in a learning mood, you can simply enjoy the colours and experience the different textures and colours you'll get to make. Either way, it's fun to do and beautiful to watch!

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I wasn't sure how these shaving cream rain clouds were going to turn out, but they were beautiful! I love any experiment that's easy enough for my kids to do themselves. And I also love when I get to use a rainbow assortment of colours to create something beautiful.

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https://www.stevespanglerscience.com/lab/experiments/original-mentos-diet-coke-geyser/
This demonstration could engage students into measuring during labs. Mentos are put in a 2 liter of pop. The pop will erupt pretty high in the air if the right amount of Mentos are applied. This leads into curiosity about chemical reactions and conducting a science investigation with different variables. The eruption should cause students to engage in their own experiential.

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Experiment

How Does It Work
Geysers of Fun
Why do Mentos mints turn ordinary bottles of diet soda into geysers of fun? The answer is a little more complicated than you might think. Let's start with the soda: soda pop is made of sugar or artificial sweetener, flavoring, water and preservatives. The thing that makes soda bubbly is invisible carbon dioxide (CO ₂), which is pumped into bottles at the bottling factory using lots and lots of pressure. If you shake a bottle or can of soda, some of the gas comes out of the solution and the bubbles cling to the inside walls of the container (thanks to tiny pits and imperfections on the inside surface of the bottle called "nucleation sites"). When you open the container, the bubbles quickly rise to the top, pushing the liquid out of the way. In other words, the liquid sprays everywhere.
More Carbon Dioxide Observations
Is there another way for the CO ₂ to escape? Try this: Drop an object (like a raisin or a piece of uncooked pasta) into a glass of soda. Notice how bubbles immediately form on the surface of the object. These are CO ₂ bubbles leaving the soda and attaching themselves to the object. Adding salt to soda also causes it to foam up. That's because thousands of little bubbles form on the surface of each grain of salt. This bubbling process is called "nucleation." The places where the bubbles form - whether on the sides of the can, on an object or around a tiny grain of salt - are called the (yep, you guessed it!) nucleation sites.
Why are Mentos Mints so Special?
The reason why Mentos work so well is twofold. First, there are thousands of tiny pits on the surface of each mint. Second, the weight of the Mentos candy itself is important in this Mentos and Coke experiment. Each Mentos mint has thousands of tiny pits all over its surface. These tiny pits act as those nucleation sites we discussed - which are perfect places for all those CO ₂ bubbles to form. As soon as the Mentos mint hits the soda, bubbles form all over the surfaces of the candies and then quickly rise to the surface of the liquid. Couple this reaction with the fact that the Mentos candies are heavy and sink to the bottom of the bottle and you've got a double whammy! The gas released by the Mentos mints literally pushes all of the liquid up and out of the bottle in an incredible and amazing soda blast! Cool, huh?
Measuring the Height of the Geyser
To make any of these tests meaningful, you'll need to find a way to measure the height of the eruption in this experiment with soda and Mentos. Have a friend or a parent record this experiment while you perform it. This is a great way to watch and document the results of your experiment; however, you'll also need some specific measurements for data. Try placing the soda bottle next to the wall of a brick building (after getting permission from the building's owner, of course). Measure the height of the geyser by counting the number of bricks that are wet once the geyser stops. If you want a more specific measurement, use chalk to mark off 1-foot increments on the brick wall before you drop the Mentos into the bottle of soda. Make comparisons, create a chart with your data and draw some conclusions. Be sure to thank the building's owner and to hose off the wall of the building when you are finished!
Measuring the Volume of the Geyser
If you want to examine the volume of the geyser instead of the height, make a note of the volume of a full bottle of soda before you drop the Mentos into it. (OK, this is a trick question because a 2-liter bottle of soda holds - you guessed it - 2 liters!) Once the geyser stops, pour out the remaining contents of the bottle and measure how much liquid is left inside. You could use a beaker or a graduated cylinder to measure the remaining liquid in milliliters. Remember that 1 liter is equivalent to 1000 mL. Subtract the remaining amount of liquid from the original volume of the bottle to calculate the volume of the geyser. Then, make comparisons, create a chart with your data and draw your conclusions.
How Many Mentos Work Best?
This has to be the number one question that everyone asks about this experiment with soda and Mentos. What exactly IS the best number of Mentos mints to use to make the highest-shooting geyser? This is a great topic for a science project - you'll need lots of soda and Mentos mints and a few friends to help record all of the data.

Be sure that the soda bottles are all the same brand and type. It's also important that all of the test bottles are stored in the same place so that the liquid in each bottle is the same temperature.

Line up a row of ten 2-liter bottles against a brick wall (see "Measuring the Height of the Geyser"). Each bottle will receive a different number of Mentos. Drop one Mentos candy into the first bottle and record the height by counting the wet bricks (or set up your own scale behind each soda bottle). Drop two Mentos candies into the second bottle - and so on - until you've completed the experiment with all ten bottles.

Of course, this could go on forever. However, you'll start to see a trend in your data that shows the maximum height of the geyser for a certain number of Mentos. Many soda geyser-ologists believe that seven Mentos candies produce the highest-shooting geyser. Using any more than seven Mentos mints is just a waste, according to these soda-soaked science enthusiasts. What do your results reveal about the effect of the number of Mentos on the height of the geyser?
The Brand Test
It's time to put your favorite soda to the test in this fun experiment with soda and Mentos! Does one brand produce higher-flying geysers? How does generic soda stack up against the big-name brands? If you're doing a science fair project, your initial question might be: "What is the effect of the brand of soda on the height of the geyser?"

Use your data from the previous test to determine the standard number of Mentos candies to use for this test. The only variable you'll change in this test is the brand of soda; everything else will remain the same (for example, the number of Mentos and the amount of soda). Again, make sure all of the soda is at the same temperature. That's because temperature plays an important role in the reaction, too. The brand of soda is the only thing that changes (the variable).

Just think - your results could be the catalyst for the next Mentos Geyser Experiment craze!
The Temperature Test
What is the effect of temperature on the height of the geyser? Does warm Diet Coke and Mentos versus cold Diet Coke and Mentos make a difference? Does warm Diet Coke create a higher geyser explosion than does cold soda? The key is to keep every launch fair and to make sure the only variable is the temperature of the soda. You'll need a thermometer to record the temperature of the soda just before you launch it.

To enforce the fairness factor, you must stick with one brand of soda for the entire test. Let's use Diet Coke in this example. You'll want to purchase three bottles of Diet Coke and two rolls of Mentos. You're going to set up three tests: warm soda, room temperature soda and cold soda. Place one bottle of Diet Coke in the refrigerator and let it sit there overnight. Place the second bottle in a place where it will reach room temperature overnight. There are two safe ways to warm the other bottle of soda. The simplest method is to let the unopened bottle sit in the sun for several hours. You can also place the bottle of unopened soda in a bucket of warm water. (Never use a stove or a microwave to heat a bottle of soda!)

It's time to return to your launching site. Check to make sure your measuring scale is in place (counting bricks or using an alternative scale against the wall). Let's start with the bottle of cold Diet Coke. Open the bottle and dip the thermometer down into the soda. Record the temperature. Load seven Mentos mints into your paper roll or your Steve Spangler Science Geyser Tube and drop them into the soda. Immediately record the data for the cold soda test. Repeat the same procedure for the bottle of soda at room temperature and then again for the bottle of warm soda. It's important to use the same number of Mentos for each test and to drop them into the soda bottles the exact same way.

No matter which brand of soda you tested, the warm bottle probably produced the highest-shooting geyser. Warm soda tends to fizz much more than cold soda. Why? The answer lies in the solubility of gases in liquids. The warmer the liquid, the less gas can be dissolved in that liquid. The colder the liquid, the more gas can be dissolved in that liquid. This is because as the liquid is heated, the gas within that liquid is also heated, causing the gas molecules to move faster and faster. As the molecules move faster, they diffuse out of the liquid, leaving less gas dissolved in that liquid. In colder liquids the gas molecules move very slowly, causing them to diffuse out of the solution much more slowly. More gas tends to stay in solution when the liquid is cold. This is why that at the bottling plant, the CO ₂ is pumped into the cans or bottles when the fluid is just above freezing - around 35 degrees Fahrenheit. This low temperature allows the maximum amount of CO 2 to dissolve into the soda, keeping the carbonation levels as high as possible.

Take It Further
Take it Further
Simply dropping Mentos mints into a bottle of soda to make a geyser isn't really science - it's just a fun trick to do in your backyard. The real learning takes place when you start to change one variable at a time to see how it affects the performance of the geyser.
The Big Blast
After completing all of these tests, you've become somewhat of a Mentos Geyser Experiment expert who has the research to support the answer to this question: "How can you make the highest-shooting Mentos geyser?" Each test isolated an independent variable. Combining all of the information you observed into one launch is a great way to wrap up your science fair project! For example, based on your individual test results, you might have arrived at this recipe for the best Mentos Geyser:

Use a bottle of Diet Coke

Make sure the soda is at least 85 degrees Fahrenheit

Drop seven Mentos into the soda all at the same time

By using the scientific method and some critical thinking skills, you've successfully turned a great gee-whiz science trick into an exciting and explosive research-based science fair project!

Science Fair Connection
Science Fair Connection
You may be asking yourself, "Can I use the Mentos Geyser for my science fair project?" The answer is YES, but you'll need to learn how to turn a cool science activity into a real science experiment. The secret is to turn your attention away from the spraying soda and concentrate on setting up an experiment where a single variable is isolated. Then, observe, record and report the results.

To get the best results in a science experiment, you will need to standardize the test conditions as much as possible. The biggest challenge in the Mentos Geyser Experiment is finding a consistent way to drop the Mentos into the soda every time. This was the original reason I invented the Geyser Tube toy: to find a way to standardize the actual drop of the Mentos mint candies. If you're not using the Geyser Tube, make sure to come up with your own method for dropping the Mentos mints into the soda exactly the same way each and every time.

Mentos and Coke Geyser Phenomenon History

As strange as it might sound, the Mentos Geyser Experiment never actually started out using Mentos chewy mints. This science demonstration was popular among chemistry teachers back in the 1980s. Instead of Mentos mints candy, however, they used a roll of Wintergreen LifeSavers and a pipe cleaner. Teachers threaded the roll of Wintergreen LifeSavers onto a pipe cleaner as an easy way to drop all of the LifeSavers into the soda at the same time. Within seconds of dropping the candies into the soda, a huge geyser would erupt from the bottle.

By the end of the 1990s, however, the manufacturer of Wintergreen LifeSavers increased the size of the mints (no one was ever certain why). This made the diameter of the candy too large to fit into the mouth of the soda bottle. Science teachers started experimenting (as they like to do) with other candies and mints that would have the same effect when dropped into a bottle of soda. As luck would have it, the solution to the problem was within arm's reach of the Wintergreen LifeSavers in the candy aisle: Mentos chewy mint candies!

Because Mentos mints didn't have holes in the middle like LifeSavers, getting them into the bottle was a little tricky. Everyone found their own method for quickly dropping the Mentos into the soda. Some people fashioned a tube out of paper; others used a piece of plastic tubing to load the Mentos. At the time, my solution was to load the Mentos candies into something called a "Baby Soda Bottle" - a test tube-like container that held an entire roll of Mentos perfectly. Oddly enough, this container was actually a "pre-form" or 2-liter soda bottle before it was blown up into a big bottle. That's why it's called a Baby Soda Bottle!

Troubleshooting Ensued

I must admit, however, that even with the Baby Soda Bottle method, the results were not very consistent. It proved challenging to get away from that bottle before it exploded. For that reason, I solicited help from our creative team at Steve Spangler Science to come up with a Geyser Tube - a better, more consistent way to drop the Mentos candies into the 2-liter bottle. Better yet, if we could trigger the drop of the Mentos from a distance, we wouldn't get as wet.

Experimenting with Trigger Devices

The next few months were spent building trigger devices that ranged from plastic tubes with sliding doors and magnets that held metal stoppers in place to an elaborate battery-operated switch that was triggered by a motion detector. We even played with ways to use the Geyser Tube to trigger multiple soda geysers in a method similar to a Rube Goldberg machine. The bottom line was that we needed to find a way to standardize the drop of those Mentos mints.

As they say, the simplest design usually turns out to be the best and most elegant solution to the problem. The winning Geyser Tube design was a clear plastic tube with a special fitting that twisted onto any soda bottle. The trigger pin at the bottom of the tube prevented the Mentos from falling into the bottle until you pulled the string attached to the pin. The moment the pin was pulled, a slider ring resting above the pin fell into place and covered the holes where the trigger pin once was. The Mentos mints then dropped into the soda. But there was one added bonus: the restricted hole at the top of the plastic tube helped to build up more pressure in the bottle and launched the soda up to 30 feet into the air!

Fortunately, the maker of Mentos (Perfetti Van Melle) also liked our Geyser Tube design. We launched the Mentos Geyser Tube toy at the New York Toy Fair in February 2007.

A Television and Live Stage Phenomenon

The Mentos Geyser Experiment became one of my featured demonstrations - both on television and during my live stage presentations. While I had performed variations of the Mentos Geyser Experiment on television many times from 2001 to 2004, my performance of the demo in the backyard of Denver's NBC affiliate KUSA-TV in September of 2005 proved to be the tipping point. The demo went from relative obscurity to an internet sensation!

My cohost for the KUSA-TV science segment was the lovely Kim Christiansen. During the commercial break, I told Kim what was going to happen and reminded her to pull her hand out of the way of the erupting geyser and to run backward. Unfortunately, Kim got so caught up in the fun that she forgot to do both - and got soaked in Diet Coke on live television! To add insult to injury, she did it two more times. Each time, she was covered in more soda until her once-pink dress was now more Coke-colored than pink!

KUSA-TV News posted that original video on their website along with my blog post titled, "News Anchor Gets Soaked!" Within a few weeks, links to the video and my blog entry numbered in the thousands. I also posted the video on a new online video-sharing site called YouTube (YouTube was only seven months old at that time). As they say, the rest is history. Within the next 12 months, over 800 Mentos Geyser Experiment-related videos were posted on YouTube, making the demo one of the most popular pop-culture science experiments in recent history.

The Million Dollar Question

We knew the Mentos Geyser Experiment was a popular experiment when a producer from ABC's Who Wants to Be a Millionaire called for help when writing a question. Here's the question we came up with:
In an experiment popularized online, what candy creates an explosive geyser when dropped into a 2-liter Diet Coke bottle?
The question was asked on a special College Week episode of Who Wants to Be a Millionaire. The participant got it right for $8,000, saying: "I saw it on TV, and I bought Mentos and a 2-liter bottle of Diet Coke. So, I'm going to go with Mentos. That's my final answer."

The contestant ended up doing really well, going all the way to the $250,000 question; however, he walked away with $125,000.

Steve Spangler Science Online Experiment Library

Don't miss our other super-fun and hands-on experiments in our huge online experiment library! From after-school activities and science classroom activities to STEM club experiments, our website is one of the most trusted resources for fun, age-appropriate experiments for kids of all ages.

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Mentos Geyser Experiment Steve Spangler Science

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Experiment Geysers of Fun Why do Mentos mints turn ordinary bottles of diet soda into geysers of fun? The answer is a little more complicated than you might think. Let's start with the soda: soda pop is made of sugar or artificial sweetener, flavoring, water and preservatives.

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uOSBC0SXVR4
This demonstration focuses on Newtons laws. To me it relates to the water bottle challenge in which the students would be engaged to. I would take a crochet hoop and place it one top of an open water bottle. I place a pen cap on top. As I pull the hoop off of the water bottle the cap will drop straight into the small bottle opening! Students will be curious as to why it could land in the water bottle which would lead into Newtons laws of motion.

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Home Experiment: Newton's First Law/Law of Inertia

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This is a variation of the classic pulling out the table cloth experiment. The pen cap can be substituted for anything small enough to fit inside of the bottle's neck. If you find it difficult, you can try using something that is shorter, such as a pebble.

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https://sciencebob.com/make-a-levitating-orb/
This experiment would develop a student's curiosity about static electricity and charges. Old Christmas tinsel is used to make the orb. A PVC pipe or balloon is rubbed against hair for a while to produce static electricity. That then repels the orb when it is set above it making the orb levitate. This would engage them and make them curious about how the orb would levitate and why it might do so.

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You will need

1 inch (2.5 cm) wide PVC Pipe about 24 inches (60cm) long. You can also use a regular balloon if you do not have PVC pipe.

Mylar tinsel for Christmas trees. There are many types of tinsel and many will not work - you should look for the thinnest and narrowest possible. The tinsel used in the video is about 1 millimeter wide. If it is much wider than that, the orb may be too heavy to levitate. (You can order the exact same from Bob by clicking HERE.)

A head of clean, dry hair

Scissors

What to do

1. Arrange 6 strands of mylar together and tie them together in a knot at one end.

2. Tie them together again about 6 inches (15cm) from the first knot.

3. Cut the loose mylar strands off just past each knot.

4. Charge the PVC pipe by rubbing it back and forth through your hair for 10 seconds.

5. Hold the mylar orb (by the knot) above the charged pipe and let it drop and touch the pipe.

6. It should repel away and start floating. If the tinsel keeps sticking to the pipe, the tinsel is probably not thin enough and you will need to try another kind of tinsel or order some from us. (You will usually have to "recharge" the pipe before each levitation.)

How does it work?

It is all about static charges. Similar static charges repel away from each other. When you rub the pipe in your hair you give the pipe a negative static charge. The orb is attracted to the pipe at first because the orb has a positive charge. As soon as the orb touches the pipe, it picks up a negative charge. Since the pipe is negative and the tinsel orb is now negative, they repel away from each other and the orb levitates! The orb will also take on more of a "ball" appearance when charged since all the tinsel strands are repelling away from each other. Did you notice the orb is attracted to other objects around you - including you? That is because most objects (including you) have a positive charge.

CHECK OUT MORE VIDEOS OF THE ORBS BY CLICKING HERE .

MAKE IT AN EXPERIMENT

The project above is a DEMONSTRATION. To make it a true experiment, you can try to answer these questions:

1. Does the number of mylar strands affect how well the orb levitates?

2. Do different materials (hair, fur, wool) build up better static charges?

3. How long does the static charge last / how can you make it last longer?

4. Do different widths of pipe affect the floating ability of the orb?

Science Bob

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1 inch (2.5 cm) wide PVC Pipe about 24 inches (60cm) long. You can also use a regular balloon if you do not have PVC pipe. Mylar tinsel for Christmas trees. There are many types of tinsel and many will not work - you should look for the thinnest and narrowest possible.

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https://sciencebob.com/chicken-sounds-from-a-cup/
This demonstration would engage students into a lesson on sound. They probably do not chicken sounds come from a cup too often. They would wonder how that specific sound came from a cup with yarn. A cup has yarn pulled through it. The end of the yarn where the knot is to hold it, has a paper clip on the end. Once the gadget is made then a small paper towel can be drug down the string to make the chicken sounds!

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You will need

* A plastic drinking cup
* Yarn or cotton string (nylon string will not work well)
* 1 paper clip
* Paper towel
* A nail
* Scissors
* Water

What to do

Cut a piece of yarn about 20 inches (40 cm) long.
Ask an adult to use the nail to carefully punch a hold in the center of the bottom of the cup.
Tie one end of the yarn to the middle of the paper clip.
Push the other end of the yarn through the hole in the cup and pull it through as shown in the picture.
Get a piece of paper towel about the size of a dollar bill, then fold it once and get it damp in the water.
Now it's time to make some noise! Hold the cup firmly in one hand, and wrap the damp paper towel around the string near the cup. While you squeeze the string, pull down in short jerks so that the paper towel tightly slides along the string. If all goes well - you hear a chicken!

How does it work?

This is an example of how a sounding board works. The vibrations from the string would be almost silent without the cup, but when you add the cup, it spreads the vibrations and amplifies them (makes them louder.) Pianos and music boxes use wood to act as a sounding board to make the instrument louder.

MAKE IT AN EXPERIMENT

The project above is a DEMONSTRATION. To make it a true experiment, you can try to answer these questions:

1. What types of string or yarn makes the loudest sound? Which ones make the quietest?

2. Does the size of the cup affect the volume of the sound?

3. Try materials other than a paper towel to see if it affects the volume of the sound.

Science Bob

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CHICKEN SOUNDS FROM A CUP! - ScienceBob.com

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You will need * A plastic drinking cup * Yarn or cotton string (nylon string will not work well) * 1 paper clip * Paper towel * A nail * Scissors * Water What to do Cut a piece of yarn about 20 inches (40 cm) long.

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https://www.mamasmiles.com/visual-science-experiment-for-kids-fire-needs-oxygen/
This demonstration can help the students with curiosity onto the introduction of the scientific method or a general fire safety week. My kindergartners are having a fire safety week soon and this would perk their curiosity. I will light 2 tea light candles. I will then cover them with 2 different size jars. The students could predict which jar would make the fire go out first.

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Did you know that this week is Fire Safety / Prevention Week? When Mike and I were first married, the couple across the hall from us lost everything in their apartment when they threw water on what should have been a small grease fire. Thankfully they were okay, and the fire did not spread to the rest of the building, although their apartment had to be completely gutted. This fire safety experiment is a great illustration of why you want to smother a grease fire (with the pan's lid or baking soda or a fire extinguisher). It also explains why you avoid opening windows in burning buildings. Children are born curious, and this curiosity makes them excellent scientists! This simple, visual fire safety experiment for kids is a great way to get children thinking about the relationship between fire and oxygen.

Save Lives with this Simple Fire Safety Experiment

The experiment is very simple. Light two candles, and cover one with a large jar, and the second with a smaller jar. Make sure that you cover the candles smoothly, since sudden movements may make the flame go out before the experiment begins!

I had actually never tried this experiment before pulling it out for my kids, and I was surprised by how quickly both candles went out - but there is no question that the smaller jar (with less oxygen) extinguishes more quickly.

More Fire Safety Tips for Families

It's hard to think straight in an emergency, and every bit of practice helps! My kids have been practicing Stop, Drop, and Roll in school (and after school), and we have a fire safety plan for our house. We will be going over it again this week. Children need to know where to go and what to do when there is a fire. Make sure your children know where the fire extinguisher is, and how to use it! Remember that couple I introduced at the beginning of the post? The floor's fire extinguisher was right outside their door, but they had forgotten about it in their panic. The entire building's alarm had gone off. They were standing at the door of their burning apartment, frozen. They wouldn't move. I handed them the fire extinguisher as soon as I realized what was happening. Within seconds the fire was out. Had they thought to use it earlier, they may have been able to save their belongings, and their apartment. Of course, it was much easier for me to think clearly, since it wasn't my apartment that was on fire. It is very hard to make good decisions when in the middle of a crisis. This is why it is so important to plan ahead!
What are your top fire safety tips?

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Save Lives with this Simple Fire Safety Experiment

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Did you know that this week is Fire Safety / Prevention Week? When Mike and I were first married, the couple across the hall from us lost everything in their apartment when they threw water on what should have been a small grease fire.