Blood.
It either makes you squeamish or you just might find it fascinating.
Kids often get REALLY into blood this time of year, thanks to the popularity of vampires during the Halloween season.
We’ve explored blood during Halloween before, but this year, as one of our Halloween STEM activities, we made a red blood cell model that shows each part of blood in a way that’s easy for kids to explore in a hands-on way, without using a microscope! Follow our directions on how to make a model of blood with this easy blood model project!
This activity is perfect as part of your Halloween STEM challenges for middle school!
When you make your own version, use supplies already in your classroom to build your blood model, or you can use the same supplies we did.
How to Set Up a Blood Model Project
The base of this blood model is one of our slime recipes.
You don’t have to have a microsope for this activity, but if you do, it’s fun to compare the difference between the red blood cell model school project you make and how blood looks under the microscope.
What you’ll need to make a red blood cell 3D model:
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- Microscope and blood slide (optional)
- Liquid laundry starch
- Red food coloring
- White Styrofoam balls
- Red Styrofoam balls
- Straight erasers (or an equivalent object)
- Elmer’s clear glue
- Petri dish
Other Middle School Halloween Activities
If you love these middle school STEM activities, you’ll also want to check out:
- Exciting Halloween STEM Challenges for Middle School
- 100+ Fun and Not-Too-Spooky Halloween STEM Experiments
- Halloween Science Experiments in a Jar
- Halloween Science Experiments
What are the parts of blood that should be included in a red blood cell 3D model project?
Blood contains four parts:
- Plasma
- Red blood cells
- Platelets
- White blood cells
Each of these parts should be represented in your blood model.
You don’t have to use exactly the same items that we did to make each part.
Kids can use their imagination and the supplies that you have on hand in your classroom or at home to complete this project.
How to make a model of blood
Before starting, whip up some red slime using this slime recipe. The slime is the base for the blood model.
Add the Styrofoam balls and mix them into the slime.
Add the erasers on top.
This makes the four parts of blood:
- Plasma (the slime)
- Red blood cells (the red Styrofoam)
- Platelets (the erasers)
- White blood cells (the white Styrofoam)
After mixing everything up, put it into petri dishes for fun. If you want the kids to take the slime home, the petri dishes are a fun way to do that.
Examine the blood under the microscope and see if you can see the different parts of the blood cells.
Examine the homemade blood cell model in the microscope. What differences do you see?
More Halloween STEM Activities
If you liked this 3D blood model, you’ll also like to make this boiling blood slime!
We also have Halloween STEM activities for kindergarten, Halloween STEM for first grade, Halloween STEM for 2nd grade, Halloween STEM for 3rd grade, Halloween STEM for 4th grade, Halloween STEM ideas for 5th grade, and middle school Halloween STEM activities!
Get more Halloween science fun in the Spooky Science ebook!