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in Seasonal STEAM· Summer STEM Activities

Patriotic Paint Bombs: A STEM Activity for Kids

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Our favorite way to learn during the summer is with STEM activities for kids. We’ve tried hundreds of projects, had a lot of fun, and learned a lot along the way.

This year, we wanted to make our STEM fun a little more seasonal, which is how we came up for the idea to make patriotic paint bombs. 

You’ll also want to check out the ultimate list of summer STEM activities and the ultimate list of summer science experiments. 

Learn about chemical reactions in this highly visual STEM activity for kids using vinegar and baking soda to create patriotic paint bombs. Summer science!

Patriotic Paint Bombs: A STEM Investigation

summer stem challenge cards

The Science Behind Patriotic Paint Bombs

Learn about chemical reactions in this highly visual STEM activity for kids using vinegar and baking soda to create patriotic paint bombs. Summer science!

Vinegar and baking soda create a chemical reaction when mixed. When acetic acid and sodium bicarbonate mix, it creates CO2, or carbon dioxide.

This expands the bags, which eventually explode, spraying paint everywhere.

This simple science experiment becomes a STEM investigation when you create variables (differing amounts of baking soda and vinegar) and ask questions (will adding paint make the bags less likely to explode?).

Visit Steve Spangler Science for detailed information on the chemistry of the explosion.

We found that you had to add more baking soda to get the bags to explode when paint was added to the vinegar.

In fact, our first attempt didn’t produce enough carbon dioxide to make the bags explode and we had to try again.

Follow the directions to create your own patriotic paint bombs!

Supplies

  • Vinegar
  • Zip lock baggies
  • Baking soda (we purchased a huge container for this experiment)
  • Washable paint in red, white, and blue
  • Butcher paper
  • Muffin liners
Learn about chemical reactions in this highly visual STEM activity for kids using vinegar and baking soda to create patriotic paint bombs. Summer science!

Pour about 1 cup of vinegar into three quart-sized zip baggies. Add about 2 tablespoons of paint to each bag and zip close.

Fill each muffin liner with baking soda. It takes about 2 tablespoons to fill up a muffin liner. Set the liners to the side.

Go outside and spread out some butcher paper onto the yard. The spray can go pretty far, so make sure you have a large area covered in paper.

Place the bags on the center of the paper. Open them slightly and place the muffin liner inside each bag.

We thought they would start to expand and explode immoderately, but there was plenty of time to set the muffin liners inside each bag and close it before major expansion began.

Give the bags a little shake to mix in the baking soda.

Step back and wait for the bags to explode. It took about a minute for our paint bombs to go off. The kids were fascinated by how messy this activity was and loved watching the paint splatter everywhere.

Learn about chemical reactions in this highly visual STEM activity for kids using vinegar and baking soda to create patriotic paint bombs. Summer science!

Save this idea for later!

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Filed Under: Seasonal STEAM, Summer STEM Activities

About Brenda Priddy

Brenda grew up thinking she hated science. But when her 4-year- old daughter was more interested in reading science facts than fairy tales, Brenda realized she had to learn more. Through simple at-home science experiments, Brenda developed a passion for science and now works as a STEMed advocate with a team of science educators to create hands-on STEM projects and curriculum for kids.

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What is STEAM?

STEAM activities for kids promote the idea that science, technology, engineering, art, and math can all work together to help kids become critical thinkers, problem solvers, and innovators!

Join us on our journey to discover just how much fun science experiments can be.

What we do… 

STEAMsational offers STEM and science lesson plans and teaching resources to provide a firm STEM foundation for children in the classroom or home.

All you need to do is find your supplies, gather your scientists, and let the innovation unfold.

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