• Home
  • BLOG
  • Shop
  • Jarring Science Club Login
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    • YouTube

STEM Activities for Kids- STEAMsational

Science experiments and STEM activities for kids!

  • Home
  • About
  • STEM Activities
  • Science Experiments
  • Jarring Science Club

in Fall STEM Activities· STEM Activities

How to Make Sparkly Salt Crystal Pumpkins for Kids

Save this idea for later!

195shares

Fall means pumpkins, acorns, fall leaves, and all things autumnal. Bring the science to fall when you learn how to make large salt crystals using pumpkins!

Fall means pumpkins, acorns, fall leaves, and all things autumnal. Bring the science to fall when you learn how to make large salt crystals using pumpkins!

Fall STEM activities are a fun way to bring STEM activities and learning into the classroom during the fall season, mixing learning with elements of the season.

This particular salt crystal pumpkins science experiment is a classroom-friendly science activity that shows the basics of crystals, ionic bonds, and evaporation.

This simple activity can be the baseboard for multiple science lessons.

One of my favorite parts of teaching is creating fun seasonal learning activities for my kiddos, like how to make salt crystals for kids!

Follow along to make your own salt crystal pumpkins.

How to Make Large Salt Crystals

The secret to getting large salt crystals is two things. Time and amount of salt.

The more salt you add to your solution, the more supersaturated it becomes. A supersaturated solution makes bigger crystals than a solution with less saturation.

I always add enough salt to my water so that it starts to form a crystal sheet (it looks like ice!) across the surface of the boiling water.

fall stem challenge cards
how to make salt crystals for kids

That’s when you know that the solution has become supersaturated and will make large salt crystals.

Next, is time. The longer you leave your pumpkins in your saltwater solution, the bigger the crystals will get.

I find that about 2 days is ideal for producing the largest salt crystals. After that. most of the salt is pulled out of the water and they don’t usually get bigger.

But, you should experiment with how long you leave it in the water and see if you get the same results!

How Do Salt Crystals Form?

how to make large salt crystals

Salt crystals form when a solution of water becomes over-saturated with salt. As the water evaporates, the salt crystals cling to one another, forming large squares of salt, just like are found in nature.

Kids will be fascinated by the ionic bonds that salt makes, creating perfect squares and rectangles every time.

Salt Crystal Pumpkin Experiment Directions

This fun science activity shows how salt crystals form in a fun fall-themed way.

how to make salt crystals

What you’ll need to make large salt crystals:

This fall, try this fun fall STEM activity and make salt crystal pumpkins! Kids will love this crystal science experiment.

This post contains affiliate links.

  • Salt
  • Small decorative pumpkins
  • Plate

Large Salt Crystal Experiment Directions

perfect salt crystal experiment

Boil a cup of water in a small pot.

Add enough salt so that crystals form on the surface of the water. It will look like a sheet of thin ice.

Remove the water from the heat.

Place your pumpkins onto a large plate. 

This fall, try this fun fall STEM activity and make salt crystal pumpkins! Kids will love this crystal science experiment.

Pour the salt water over the pumpkins, making sure some of the salt at the bottom of the pan is left on the top of each pumpkin.

Set the plate in a dry location and wait for a few days until the water evaporates. 

This fall, try this fun fall STEM activity and make salt crystal pumpkins! Kids will love this crystal science experiment.

Examine the remaining crystals left on the pumpkins.

This fall, try this fun fall STEM activity and make salt crystal pumpkins! Kids will love this crystal science experiment.

If you’ve done the salt crystal leaves or salt crystal apples experiment, compare how the pumpkins have a different appearance.

Why would the crystals form differently under wet and dry conditions?

Fall means pumpkins, acorns, fall leaves, and all things autumnal. Bring the science to fall when you learn how to make large salt crystals using pumpkins!
fall stem challenge cards

Save this idea for later!

195shares

Filed Under: Fall STEM Activities, STEM Activities Tagged With: fall

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 about science to keep up with her daughter.

Through simple at-home science experiments, Brenda developed a passion for science and now acts as an advocate for STEM education for kids at her website STEAMsational.com.

« Easy Fall Science Activities for Elementary Students
Leaf Chromatography Experiment for Elementary and Middle School »

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.

RSS Latest Activities

  • Can You Burn Ice? Burning Ice Experiment
  • Frosty and Fun Winter STEM Activities for 3rd Grade
  • Hands-On Winter Science Experiments for Elementary Kids
Featured on:

Privacy Policy   Store Policies
STEAMsational is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com

Copyright © 2021 · Market theme by Restored 316