DIY Fairy Potions

Your kids will be dazzled by this activity designed for preschool and school-age children! Children will be able to explore chemical reactions while engaging in imaginative play which is beneficial for their overall development. A chemical reaction will occur once the vinegar is added to the baking soda, which will result in a bubbly potion. Younger children may need assistance with this activity, especially when handling messier ingredients (i.e. vinegar and baking soda). This activity is guaranteed to engage your child while they learn about science and after exploring this activity your child’s imagination is sure to take flight!

What You Will Need:

• Baking soda

• Vinegar

• Food coloring

• Glitter (optional)

• Glass jars or test tubes (preferably with lids)

• Pipet or spoon

• Natural elements (grass, leaves, bark, pine cones, flower petals, for example)

• Tape

• Permanent marker (ask parent for permission)

Activity Notes:

Make sure you do this activity in an area where you can get messy (for instance, a bathroom or tabletop)!

Make sure you ask your parents for permission to use the ingredients

Directions:

First, set out your jars or containers. Feel free to make as many potions as you want!

Next, place the natural elements in the jars of your choice. I chose to make my potions colored coordinated, but you can decide how to separate the different elements!

If you decide to add glitter to your potions, next add the glitter to the jars after placing the elements. Use your creativity to decide where to place the glitter!

Next, take your spoon and add two spoonfuls of baking soda to each of the jars. Ask an adult for help if you’re not sure about how much baking soda to put!

Mix the ingredients by shaking the containers, and then add about three drops of food coloring to each of the jars.

You can decide which colors you would like for the potions.

Now slowly pour the vinegar into the jars (or test tubes). The vinegar and the baking soda will create a super cool chemical reaction!

Watch what happens as you add the vinegar (with a parent’s supervision). Notice how the potion almost seems to come to life!

You can continue to add vinegar to your jars to watch the chemical reaction again, just make sure you don’t add too much which may cause the potion to overflow!

Finally, place the lids on the fairy potion jars to store them for later and ask for an adult’s help if you need help with naming and labeling your potions.

*Safety precaution: If you shake the jar after securing the lid, untwist the lid to release the pressure and then twist the lid again.*

These potions are perfect for decorating or looking at, but they will not be able to be used for further experimentation or shaking since the glass may break from the pressure.

Store the potions for up to two days and then toss the potions in your yard just like a fairy would use them!