Classroom GamesNo. 2677 · The 2026 edition
Halloween
Dive into the spooky side of science with this collection of Halloween-themed chemistry experiments! From bubbling dry ice concoctions to glowing pumpkin displays, these activities prove that learning
Our own summary of the original — the full post and photos live at teachchemistry.org.
This resource offers a variety of Halloween-inspired chemistry projects designed to make science both engaging and festive. Participants can explore hands-on experiments featuring dry ice reactions, luminescent materials, and creative pumpkin modifications. The guide provides step-by-step instructions for each activity, ensuring that educators and enthusiasts can easily replicate these eerie yet educational demonstrations.
About this
A holiday resource hub from the AACT ChemClub that gathers Halloween-themed chemistry activities, demonstrations, labs, articles and videos. It groups roughly two dozen linked ideas covering dry ice, glow-in-the-dark projects, pumpkins, fake blood and candy chemistry, each pointing to an external source with a one-line summary of what it involves. A safety notice reminds teacher advisors to supervise students and use RAMP before running anything. Note: this page is a curated link collection for Halloween chemistry resources rather than an actual party plan, so it was mapped to the closest content type.
The plan
- Run all ChemClub activities with students under direct supervision of the teacher advisor or an adult
- before each activity — Use RAMP to evaluate all activities before use
- before each activity — Re-evaluate with RAMP if using alternative materials or procedures
- Visit the AACT Safety Collection for more safety information
Decoration ideas
- Create a collection of glowing skulls using laundry detergent (ThoughtCo activity)
- Carve Jack O'Lanterns and apply tips for keeping a cut pumpkin looking pristine longer (Smithsonian article)
- Grow borax crystal pumpkins overnight for a crystal pumpkin display (Little Bins, Little Hands)
- Make nanoparticle pumpkins (C&EN) — cool science rather than porch-display sized
Food & drink
- Glow-in-the-Dark Jell-O recipe to add to a party menu (Mom Advice)
- Halloween candy — learn how long it lasts (Science Meets Food article)
- Pumpkins and chocolate, which both have antimicrobial and antioxidant properties (C&EN article)
Activities
- Dressing for (Chemical Success): students dress in costume as an element from the periodic table (ACS Chemical Education Today)
- Halloween Mystery Box Game: identify creepy-feeling items without peeking, honing observation skills (The Spruce)
- Static Powered Dancing Ghost: make a ghost dance using a balloon's static charge (Science Bob)
- Spooky Diving Ghost: use pressure to make the ghost sink and then float back up (STEAMsational)
- Frankenstein's Hand: an acid–base reaction brings the hand alive (Mom it Forward)
- Genie in a Bottle: drop sodium iodide into 30% hydrogen peroxide to release water vapor and oxygen (Flinn Scientific)
- Using Dry Ice to make a Spoon Sing (Scream!): listen for Halloween-style screams (ThoughtCo)
- Amazing Bag of Blood: stab a bag of 'blood' without spilling a drop (Kitchen Pantry Scientist)
- Halloween Chemistry Demonstrations: spooky twists such as the puking pumpkin, ectoplasmic drool and the dark-side pumpkin (C&EN)
- Math & Science Pumpkins: sink-or-float and other pumpkin lab activities (Oregon Agricultural in the Classroom Foundation)
- Fluffy Zombie Brain Slime: extra fluffy slime made in a brain-shaped or Halloween mold (Little Bins, Little Hands)
- Science Project Runway, Farming Fashion, Chemistry Costumes: creative and cheap chemistry-themed costume ideas (C&EN)
- Periodic Graphics: The Chemistry of Pumpkins — learn pumpkin chemistry before you carve (C&EN)
- The Chemistry of Hollywood Fake Blood: historical and chemical overview plus how to make your own (ACS Reactions video)
- How Much Candy Would Kill You?: LD50 related to sugary candy science (ACS Reactions video)
- Read about the chemistry of blood (Compound Interest) and the foul-smelling molecules putrescine and cadaverine (ACS)
