Halloween science activity with disappearing skulls

Sometimes it can be hard to include science into a Halloween theme, but I’ve got one that will amaze you and your child. It’s a Halloween science activity with disappearing skulls. 

Halloween isn’t really a big thing in Australia, although it really is growing in enjoyment during the October holidays. We are seeing more and more skulls and trick or treaters as they years go on. 

Here is a super cool science activity that you might like to try with your child. It’s a disappearing skull that’s sure to amazing your child and have them asking lots of great questions. 

Recommended age: 3 years +
(Strict and active supervision required for this activity) 

Halloween science activity with disappearing skulls

To do this disappearing skull science activity for Halloween, you need – 

• biodegradable packing peanut
• bowl of water
• pen

Have your child design their own skull and draw on the packing peanut using a marker. 

Children can get very creative with their skull designs. It’s quite hilarious because in many ways your child can become competitive and want to come up with as many different designs as possible. What a great problem solving task to include! 

All skulls need to be different, what a challenge! 

The science activity is so easy. Simply drop your skull packing peanut into a bowl of water. 

My daughter really didn’t know what to expect when we did this together. It was lots of fun. 

After a few minutes you child will instantly notice some bubbles appearing around the edge of the skull, the process is already beginning!

It’s important to note: If your packing peanut does not dissolve the reason is that your packing peanut isn’t biodegradable, it’s made of plastic! Yuck. You want the biodegradable kind, which is rather common these days and is used around products where packing peanuts are used.

Talk to your child about what they are observing because there is a great opportunity to encourage them to use rich language to describe the process. 

Soggy, dissolving, disappearing are all great words to use around your child. 

Check out a blog post from Christina who made melting snowmen! 

Why is this happening? 

There is a science behind it. The fact is that most packing peanuts are made from a biodegradable corn starch, which is non toxic and can be added to compost. It breaks down and adding them to water speeds up the process. 

Amazing! 

This is one super cool Halloween science activity that your child is sure to love and want to do over again and again and again.

Supervising your child is important and discard the water and any remaining pieces of packing peanut skull that may remain. It can be added to your compost! 

Is this a spooky Halloween science activity your child would enjoy?