Spooky Science

Happy spooky season, science buddies!  In honor of the most spine-tingling time of year, here are some creepy STEM activities that you can try at home!

Flying Ghosts
What you'll need:
Tea bags
Black permanent marker
Lighter
Non-flammable surface

How it works:
1. Cut the top off of the tea bag, making a straight line.  Unfold the tea bag and empty the contents.
2. Draw a face toward the bottom of the bag.
3. Shape the tea bag into a cylinder and place it upright on the non-flammable surface.
4. Light the top of the tea bag on fire and watch what happens!

Witch's Brew
What you'll need:
Hydrogen peroxide
Warm water
Yeast Packets
Flasks or plastic bottles
Teaspoon and Tablespoon
Food coloring
Dish soap
Tray or container (to catch foam)
Small cup

How it works:
1. Pour half a cup of hydrogen peroxide into a container.
2. Squirt dish soap into the container.
3. Add food coloring.
4. In the small cup, mix one teaspoon of yeast with two tablespoons of warm water.
5. Pour the yeast mixture into the container and watch what happens!

Candy Catapult
What you'll need:
10 Jumbo popsicle sticks or craft sticks
Rubber bands
Bottle cap
Hot glue gun
Fun items to fling (plastic eyeballs, spiders, candy pumpkins, etc.)
Small measuring tape.

How it works:
1. Secure 8 craft sticks together at the ends with rubber bands.  Wind the bands tightly.
2. Take a stick and wedge it into the middle of the stack (horizontally) just above the bottom stick.  Make sure it is centered in the stack.  Place the remaining craft stick on the top of the stack in line with the one you just added.
3. Secure the tips of the two sticks together with a looser rubber band.  It will need to have some give to get a good launch.
4. Use a glue gun to add a bottle cap to the top of the catapult.
5. See how far you can fling things with your catapult.

Have fun and stay spooky!