Explosive Summer Fun

Summer break is upon us and that means we parents need to find a multitude of ways to entertain our children on hot summer days. Adults and kids alike love to find fun ways to make things explode that won’t hurt anyone. Fireworks are all fun and games but we can’t do that every day of the week. For those boring Tuesday mornings, get out into the sunshine and show your kids some science in action with baking soda bottle rockets. I love to find new and exciting ways to incorporate STEM activities into our days.

Baking Soda Bottle Rockets

• ARM & HAMMER^® Baking Soda
• Vinegar
• Water bottle
• Cork
• Duct tape
• 3 Pencils
• Toilet paper
• Funnel

Let’s Do Science!

Grab your water bottle, duct tape and pencils. The purpose of the pencils is to stick them into the ground to hold up the bottle for maximum explosion. With the points facing up, tape them around the bottle evenly at a height a few inches above the opening of the bottle.

Make sure your cork fits nicely in the neck. I found wine corks too narrow so I picked up a mixed pack at my local craft store. Angled corks will work better than circular ones.

Stick the funnel into the opening of the bottle between the pencils and fill about half way with vinegar. Cork the bottle. Take two squares or so of toilet paper and pour about 1tbsp of ARM & HAMMER^® Baking Soda into the centre. Roll it up into a tube that is narrow enough to fit inside the opening of the bottle. Set aside for now.

Head outside with your bottle and toilet paper/baking soda package. Get ready to move quickly! Uncork the bottle, drop in the packet, cork it up again (enough that the vinegar doesn’t pour out but not too snug). Flip that bottle over, stick the pencils into the grass and RUN!

BOOM!

You just witnessed a scientific reaction. Did the kids love it? I bet daddy might have enjoyed it even more. I know my husband sure did! Check out our explosion in the video below.

We always have a few boxes of ARM & HAMMER^® Baking Soda around the house for a variety of reasons. Among them, cleaning just about anything and fun crafts such as our baking soda dough ornaments, perfect for a variety of holidays! How do you use your baking soda around the house?

 

As part of our 2017 Brand Ambassador partnership with Church & Dwight, we receive monetary compensation, as well as products to review and giveaway. The views and opinions expressed are our own.