Halloween is one of the best times of year to bring a little magic (and a lot of science) into your classroom. 🎃🧪 Kids are already excited about the season, so why not harness that energy with Halloween science experiments? These hands-on activities blend spooky fun with real scientific concepts, making them perfect for late October lessons.
Below, you’ll find some of my favorite Halloween science experiments, many using dry ice—but I’ve also included a few extra ideas so you don’t have to rely on just one material.
Why Try Halloween Science Experiments?
- They’re engaging and memorable for students.
- They tie into real science concepts like states of matter, chemical reactions, and sublimation.
- They’re flexible for small groups, whole class demos, or science centers.
- They bring in a festive seasonal theme while keeping academics front and center.
Halloween Science Experiments with Dry Ice
1. Erupting Bubbles
This is always a crowd favorite!
You’ll need:
- A large graduated cylinder (or other tall clear container)
- Warm water
- A squirt of Dawn dish soap
- Dry ice (handled with gloves or tongs)
How it works:
Add warm water and soap to your container. Carefully drop in dry ice and watch the magic happen! Instead of just fog, the carbon dioxide gets trapped in soapy bubbles that crawl out of the container and burst in a misty fog. Students love catching them in their hands before they pop.
2. Screaming Ice
A simple experiment with a big wow factor.
You’ll need:
Want to save this for later?
We'll email this post to you, so you can come back to it later!
- Dry ice
- A metal spoon (or other metal object)
- A paper plate
How it works:
Place the dry ice on the plate. Press a warm spoon against it and listen to the “screaming” sound! The rapid sublimation of the dry ice creates vibrations that sound spooky—perfect for Halloween.
3. Crystal Ball Bubbles
This one feels like real witchcraft. 🧙♀️
You’ll need:
- A large plastic bowl with warm water
- Dish soap and a piece of twill/string
- Dry ice
How it works:
After placing dry ice into the bowl, dip your string into soapy water and drag it across the rim of the bowl to form a giant soap film. Watch as the bubble grows bigger and bigger, filling with fog until it bursts!
More Easy Halloween Science Experiments (No Dry Ice Needed)
Want some alternatives in case you don’t have access to dry ice? Try these:
- Dancing Ghosts – Cut tissue paper into ghost shapes, rub a balloon on your hair, and use static electricity to make them rise and wiggle.
- Oozing Pumpkin Volcano – Carve a small pumpkin, add baking soda inside, then pour in vinegar mixed with food coloring for a foamy eruption.
- Glowing Slime – Use glow-in-the-dark glue to create slime that’s both spooky and science-based.
- Floating “Eyeballs” – Drop peeled grapes (or plastic eyeballs) into carbonated water to explore density and buoyancy.
Happy Halloween
Bringing Halloween science experiments into your classroom is a surefire way to get kids excited about learning. Whether you go big with dry ice or keep it simple with baking soda and vinegar, your students will remember these spooky science lessons long after the candy is gone.
👉 If you’d like ready-to-use experiment pages, worksheets, and directions, you can grab my Halloween Science Experiment Pack on [Teachers Pay Teachers](your link here).
Happy experimenting—and Happy Halloween! 🎃
