When I first became a parent I honestly thought sensory bins were just a buzz word or a fad. Now, after raising toddlers, I truly believe sensory play is a vital part of childhood development, allowing kids to explore, discover, and engage their senses. One fun and educational way we do sensory play is through baking soda and vinegar science tubs. Or, as my kids call them, “science bins”. This activity combines simple ingredients—baking soda, dish soap, and food coloring—with dyed vinegar to create a captivating and messy experience that kids will love.
Why Sensory Play?
Sensory play encourages creativity, fine motor skills, and cognitive development. It helps children learn through exploration and experimentation, making concepts like cause and effect easier to understand. The fizzing reaction between baking soda and vinegar adds an element of excitement, keeping kids engaged while they learn. We love a good STEM learning moment in our house and this bit of science is one my kids request over and over. Also, if you’re looking to get into sensory bins, we absolutely love this sensory table.
What You’ll Need
Materials:
– Baking soda
– Dish soap
– Food coloring (various colors)
– Vinegar
– Plastic bins or trays
– Spoons or small cups for scooping
– Droppers or squeeze bottles (for the vinegar)
– Safety goggles (optional, but fun!)
Setting Up Your Science Tub
1. Prepare Your Base: Start by filling a gallon ziplock bag with a generous amount of baking soda. You can create different bags for various colors too.
2. Add Dish Soap: Squirt a small amount of dish soap into the baking soda. This will help create a bubbly effect when the vinegar is added, making the reaction even more enjoyable. If you’d like to color your baking soda, add the food coloring now too. We usually color both the baking soda and vinegar and talk about what color the reaction will produce, but leaving the baking soda mixture uncolored is perfectly fine too! Seal the bag and shake to combine the dish soap and color with the baking soda.
3. Color the Vinegar: In separate containers, mix vinegar with food coloring. You can create a rainbow of colors for kids to experiment with. This step adds an artistic element to the sensory play.
4. Provide Tools: Set out spoons or small cups for kids to scoop the baking soda and droppers or squeeze bottles filled with the dyed vinegar. This encourages fine motor skills as they transfer liquids and powders. We also love any small toys that can get buried in the bubbles, that really extends the play time for us.
The Fun Begins
Let the exploration begin! Dump the baking soda mixture into your sensory bin and set out the vinegar. Encourage kids to use the droppers to add colored vinegar to the baking soda and watch as the mixture fizzes and bubbles. They can experiment with different amounts of vinegar to see how it affects the reaction. My kids start with a dropper for a bit but honestly their favorite thing is dumping all the vinegar in and seeing how big the bubbles get. Ask open-ended questions during play like:
– What happens when you add more vinegar?
– How does the color change?
– Can you create a pattern with the colors?
Learning Opportunities
This sensory activity provides multiple learning opportunities:
– Science Concepts: Kids will observe a chemical reaction as baking soda (a base) and vinegar (an acid) react to produce carbon dioxide gas, creating bubbles and fizzing.
– Color Mixing: As different colored vinegars are added, children can see how colors mix, introducing them to basic color theory.
– Measuring and Pouring: This activity encourages measuring, pouring, and mixing, which are essential skills for early math development.
Baking soda and vinegar science tubs offer a fantastic way to engage children in sensory play while introducing them to fundamental scientific concepts. The combination of textures, colors, and sounds makes for an unforgettable experience. Plus, it’s an easy and affordable activity that can be set up at home or in a classroom. So gather your materials, let the creativity flow, and watch your little scientists explore the wonders of chemistry through play!