This week’s Christmas science activity comes just in time for you to start doing some Christmas baking. Baking sugar cookies and gingerbread men can be so much fun for kids (and messy for mom). The excessive globs of frosting (more frosting than cookie) with colors blending together to make a muddy brown snowman or Christmas tree are just…delightful.

So, this year, we have an idea that might be easier for moms AND fun for kids. Fizzing Christmas Cookie Cutters! We’re going to use those cookie cutters for a fun, easy science experiment. Like last week’s experiment, this fun activity stems from acid base reactions.

Materials

  • Cookie cutters
  • Baking Soda
  • Vinegar
  • Food coloring
  • Cookie sheet or large pan to keep the mess contained
  • A dispensing mechanism (medicine dropper, pipette, or even just a spoon will do)
  • Something to hold the colored vinegar (plastic containers, cups, jars, etc.)

Instructions

  1. Place your cookie cutters on a cookie sheet or large pan.
  2. Fill each cookie cutter with baking soda.
  3. Pour vinegar into your containers and add food coloring. Red and green would be appropriate for Christmas, but use whatever colors float your boat!
  4. Using your dispensing mechanism, add drops of vinegar to the baking soda filled cookie cutter and ta-da! Let the fizzing begin.
  5. For more fun play, try color mixing. Alternatively, place drops of food coloring under the baking soda to create a fun color surprise when plain drops of vinegar are added.

This experiment was discovered on the Inspiration Laboratories blog where you’ll find many other great ideas for your little ones. Join us again next week for more holiday fun!