Inflate a Balloon With Baking Soda and Vinegar

Cut a thick strip of copy paper. Draw a shirt for the front of the empty bottle.

Have your child put some glue on the back of the paper then glue it around the empty plastic bottle.

Put the balloon flat on a table and hold it while your child uses the marker to draw a smiley face on the balloon.

Pour 1/2 cup of vinegar into the empty water bottle.

Use a small spoon and carefully add baking soda into the balloon until it's about 1/4 full. Ask your child, “What do you think will happen when the baking powder mixes with the vinegar?”

Now, it's time to perform the science experiment! Carefully stretch the neck of the balloon around the neck of the bottle, making sure to keep the baking soda in the balloon. At the count of three (have your child count with you!), dump the baking soda into the vinegar and watch as the balloon "face" grows and inflates. Ask your child to describe what she sees. Then ask, “What does it sound like?” And, “How big do you think the balloon will get?” Wait a few minutes and see if she’s correct.

Explain to your child that mixing vinegar and baking soda created a reaction — a gas, carbon dioxide. As the carbon dioxide fills the bottle, it then moves into the balloon to inflate it. Your child will find it interesting that people breathe in gases — oxygen and nitrogen and and exhale gases — nitrogen, oxygen and carbon dioxide. If your child has ever tried to blow up a balloon, she’s also using carbon dioxide to do it!