Pumpkin Science Experiments for Kids

Ah, autumn! The leaves are falling, the air is crisp, and pumpkins are popping up everywhere—from your front porch to your latte. But did you know that pumpkins are not just for carving jack-o'-lanterns or whipping up a tasty pie? They’re also the perfect ingredient for some hands-on, squishy, and slightly spooky science experiments that your kids will absolutely love. So, grab your lab coats (or old t-shirts—science can be messy!), and get ready to turn those pumpkins into the stars of your very own at-home science lab. Are you ready for some squashy, spooky, and oh-so-scientific fun?

1. Pumpkin Volcanoes: Erupting Fun Right From Your Kitchen

Nothing says “mad scientist” quite like making things explode, and what better way to start than with a pumpkin volcano? This experiment is simple, safe, and spectacularly messy—everything a kid (and maybe secretly a parent) dreams of.

What You’ll Need:

• A small pumpkin (the smaller, the better—it’s easier to handle)
• Baking soda
• Vinegar
• Food colouring (optional, but it makes the “lava” look way cooler)
• Dish soap

How to Make Your Pumpkin Volcano:

• Prepare the Pumpkin: Cut the top off your pumpkin and hollow it out like you’re doing pumpkin carving.
• Add the Ingredients: Inside the pumpkin, place a few spoonful’s of baking soda, a squirt of dish soap, and a few drops of food colouring.
• Let the Eruption Begin: Pour in the vinegar and watch the magic happen! The mixture will fizz, foam, and overflow just like a volcano.

Science Behind It: When baking soda (a base) mixes with vinegar (an acid), they create carbon dioxide gas, which is what causes all the fizzing and bubbling. It’s a classic chemical reaction that’s guaranteed to get some “oohs” and “ahhs” from your mini scientists.

2. Pumpkin Float or Sink: A Gourd-Geous Physics Lesson

Ever wonder whether a pumpkin will sink or float? Let’s turn this mystery into a fun physics experiment that even your littlest ones can join in on.

What You’ll Need:

• A tub or large bowl filled with water
• Various pumpkins and gourds of different sizes and weights

How to Play:

• Make Predictions: Ask your kids to guess if each pumpkin will float or sink. This is a great time to talk about why things float (hint: it has to do with density!)
• Test It Out: One by one, place each pumpkin in the water and see what happens.
• Record Your Results: Keep track of which pumpkins floated and which sank. Compare this to the kids' predictions—did anything surprise them?

Science Behind It: Most pumpkins float because they’re mostly hollow inside, which makes them less dense than water. This experiment is a fantastic way to introduce the concept of buoyancy in a hands-on, splashy way.

3. Pumpkin Seed Slime: Gooey, Stretchy, and Slightly Gross (But in a Good Way!)

Slime is always a hit, but have you ever tried making it with pumpkin guts? It’s the ultimate sensory experience—gooey, stretchy, and perfectly autumnal.

What You’ll Need:

• Pumpkin guts and seeds (yep, all the slimy innards from your carving session)
• Clear glue (about 120ml)
• Liquid starch (about 60ml)
• A bowl for mixing

How to Create Pumpkin Seed Slime:

• Scoop and Save: When carving your pumpkin, save the guts and seeds in a bowl. The slimier, the better!
• Mix It Up: In a separate bowl, mix the clear glue and liquid starch together until it starts to form slime.
• Add the Guts: Stir the pumpkin innards into the slime mixture, and get ready for some sensory fun!

Science Behind It: Slime-making involves a chemical reaction between the glue and the starch, forming a polymer that’s stretchy and gooey. Adding the pumpkin seeds and guts makes it extra squishy and introduces new textures for kids to explore. Plus, it’s just plain fun to play with!

4. Pumpkin Seed Counting and Sorting: Math Meets Science

Who knew pumpkin seeds could be so educational? This activity turns scooping seeds into a math and science lesson rolled into one.

What You’ll Need:

• Pumpkin seeds (the more, the merrier!)
• Bowls or containers for sorting
• A marker and paper for recording results

What to Do:

• Scoop and Clean: Have your kids scoop out the seeds from a pumpkin, then rinse them off in a colander to remove the goo.
• Count and Sort: Encourage your kids to count the seeds and sort them by size, colour, or shape.
• Graph Your Findings: Create a simple bar graph to record your findings—how many big seeds vs. small seeds, etc.

Science and Math Behind It: This activity combines sorting and counting, which are key math skills, with a little bit of biology as kids explore the insides of a pumpkin. Plus, it’s a great way to get them to practice patience and precision!

5. Glow-in-the-Dark Pumpkins: Light Up the Night with Science

End your pumpkin science day with a glow-in-the-dark experiment that’s sure to dazzle. This is perfect for those spooky autumn evenings and doubles as a great science lesson on phosphorescence.

What You’ll Need:

• A carved pumpkin (simple designs work best)
• Glow-in-the-dark paint
• A UV flashlight (optional, but helps to make the glow pop)

How to Make Your Pumpkin Glow:

• Carve Your Pumpkin: Keep it simple—big eyes, a triangle nose, and a wide mouth work best for this experiment.
• Paint It Up: Use glow-in-the-dark paint to cover the inside or outline the features of your pumpkin. The more layers, the brighter it will glow.
• Charge and Glow: Place your pumpkin in bright light to “charge” the paint, then turn off the lights to see it glow. Use a UV flashlight to make the glow even more intense.

Science Behind It: Glow-in-the-dark paint contains phosphors, which absorb light and re-emit it as a glow. It’s a great way to teach kids about how light energy works, and it looks super cool in the process!

Pumpkins aren’t just for pies and jack-o’-lanterns—they’re a goldmine for fun, messy, and educational science experiments that your kids will love. Whether you're exploding pumpkin volcanoes, splashing around with buoyant gourds, or mixing up some gooey slime, these activities are sure to make your autumn unforgettable. So, grab a pumpkin, roll up your sleeves, and dive into the squishy, slimy, spectacular world of pumpkin science.