3 spooky science experiments for kids this Halloween
Are you looking for some spooky science to do at home? Discover how to make fake blood, gooey oobleck slime and a puking pumpkin right here, PLUS discover which issues of Whizz Pop Bang contain Halloween activities!
Make fake blood
You will need…
• 4 dessert spoons of golden syrup • 10-20 drops of red food colouring • 1-2 drops of blue food colouring • 1-2 pinches of cocoa powder • Flour
What you do… Mix the red food colouring into the syrup a drop at a time until it looks blood coloured. Adding a drop of blue food colour ing will make it even more realistic, but be careful you don’t make it purple! Mix in a pinch of cocoa powder. Add a little flour if it needs thickening, or a drop or two of water if it needs thinning out. Drip it around your mouth like a vampire and go and scare your friends!
Looking for more spooky science? These issues have some simple Halloween science ideas inside!
Make a moveable skeleton in SPECTACULAR SKELETONS!Make brilliant bat bunting! Thanks to Henry, aged 7, for sending in pictures of his brilliant bats – find the instructions in issue 63: Sweet Dreams!
Looking for more home science fun? From science experiments, science activities, collectible science club badges to science colouring and more, you’ll find loads of brilliant ideas right here!
Half term is almost here and families far and wide are wondering how to fill a lockdown holiday with fun and excitement.
Why not take Whizz Pop Bang’s Seven Days of Science challenge? Every day, we’ll give you all the information and resources you need to complete a simple, satisfying and curiosity-awakening challenge from your home. Enter a science pancakes competition and try some kitchen science experiments, science papercraft, science quizzes for kids, nature activities. It’s also a great way to get children well and truly excited about NASA’s Perseverance planned landing on Mars on Thursday 18th February!
Discover some home chemistry experiments that involve things you’ve probably already got in your kitchen! Here are some you might like to try:
Make gloopy slime! Slime-obsessed children will love this gooey activity! They will make their own slime, then decide if it is a solid or a liquid. You will need: cornflour, water, mixing bowl, food colouring.
Make a volcano Print out a volcano template and create your very own miniature volcano using the harmless chemicals you find in your kitchen cupboards! You will need: the volcano printout below, a small container (e.g. a spice jar), bicarbonate of soda or baking powder, sticky tape, vinegar, red and yellow food colouring, uncoloured soap or washing up liquid, a tray.
Bubbling magma experiment Explore the difference between runny magma and viscous magma. You will need: two glasses, water, a viscous substance (like honey or golden syrup), two paper straws, safety goggles or sunglasses
We love this pancake recipe: BBC Good Food’s perfect pancakes but your science pancakes can be American style, vegan, savoury… whatever takes your fancy.
Next, decorate your pancakes with something inspired by space, nature, engineering or anything else linked to science! Here are a few ideas to get you started:
Today’s the day to get outside and do something to help nature! You could refill bird feeders and bird baths, plant some wildflower seeds or go on a litter pick. To make an upcycled bird feeder, you will need: An empty, clean and dry plastic bottle (e.g. milk bottle), a sharp knife, some sticks, strong glue or glue gun, 30 cm twine
If you want to do something inside instead, give these seed dispersal activities a go – it’s a great way to understand how plants and animals work together. To make a super-speed peashooter, you will need: Biro or gel pen, dried pea To make a model dandelion seed, you will need: A sheet of A4 paper, ruler, scissors, pencil, sticky tape
Thursday 18th February: Take the ‘Seven minutes of terror’ challenge!
Today’s an exciting day – NASA’s Perseverance rover is due to land on Mars! You can watch the landing at 8.55pm here (but you might have to wait until tomorrow morning – that’s pretty late!)
Meanwhile, take the 7 Minutes of Terror Challenge to discover the hair-raising journey a spacecraft takes as it travels through Mars’s atmosphere. Download the activity here:
Have you done lots of science activities and experiments this week? Or have you got a burning science question for our all-knowing robot, Y? Send messages, questions and pictures to y@whizzpopbang.co.uk and let us know all about your week of science!
Whizz Pop Bang is a top-quality, gender-neutral, advert-free science magazine for families everywhere. Each issue is packed with experiments, activities, amazing facts, puzzles, jokes, riddles and more. Find out more here!
Free family fun at the Museum of Science and Industry, May 26th – June 4th 2017
Manchester Museum of Science and Industry Making Pop Bottle Microscopes
Steam train at the Museum of Science and Industry Picture: Jason Lock
What’s the difference between an inventor and a superhero? And can you ever be both? This May half term at the Museum of Science and Industry meet the innovators behind some of the most amazing inventions of all time and ask what powers they used that made their breakthroughs possible. Experience explosions, electricity and steam then play our special trading card game to find out which inventor was the most super of them all!
Set on the site of the world’s first passenger railway station, all of Manchester’s magnificent firsts are celebrated here at the museum – and why not top it off with a ride on our powerful steam train, the 1830 Express?
There are a huge range of activities to choose from, including:
The Super Power Show: POW! KABLAM! Join us for exploding experiments and electrifying demonstrations as we find out all about power. Discover some super inventors and the powers they used to move their machines and contraptions. Plus start your collection of Superhero trading cards.
Pop Bottle Microscopes: What’s stronger than the Hulk and nearly as see through as the invisible man? Graphene! So grab some tape and investigate graphite by building your own pop-bottle microscope in this hands on workshop.
Creative Coding: What do you get if you add 1 + 0? You get computers, laptops, smart phones and even robots. Discover how to code and spell your own name in binary and turn it into a necklace or wristband in this hands on workshop. Its sure to be 01100110 01110101 01101110.
Engine Demonstration: How can the stuff that comes out of your kettle power a whole factory or even a city? This interactive engine demonstration will show you how steam can power an engine the size of an elephant and how it still powers our homes today.
Manchester Mills: Why did Manchester get the nickname “Cottonopolis”? Join us for a live demonstration of our textiles machinery as we turn plants into clothes. Plus discover the difficult jobs which went along with working with such powerful machines.
The 1830 Express: Hop on the 1830 Express and step back to a time to when cotton was king and railways were about to change the world forever.
All happening during May half term, May 26th – June 4th 2017! For more details visit msimanchester.org.uk
