4 Fun Halloween STEM Activities Inspired by Thanksgiving Point’s Spooktober 

STEM Focus: Chemistry and Bioluminescence 

Ingredients: 

• 1 cup tonic water (contains quinine) 
• 1 teaspoon baking soda 
• A blacklight or UV flashlight 

Steps: 

1. Pour tonic water into a clear cup or bowl. 
2. Mix in baking soda and stir gently. 
3. Turn off the lights and shine a blacklight over your mixture — it should glow! 

What’s Happening: The quinine in tonic water reacts under UV light, creating a glow similar to how some insects light up in nature. 

At the Butterfly Biosphere, guests can discover real glowing creatures and learn about how insects use light to communicate, attract mates, and stay safe. 

ready to explore the real thing? Experience bugs after dark at Creatures of the Night during Spooktober at the Butterfly Biosphere! Get tickets here.

STEM Focus: Chemical Reactions and Food Science 

Ingredients: 

• 1 raw egg (uncooked) 
• 1 cup white vinegar 
• 1 clear glass or jar 
• Optional: food coloring for a spooky twist (green or orange!) 

Steps: 

1. Carefully place the raw egg into the glass or jar. 
2. Pour vinegar over the egg until it’s completely covered. 
3. Watch as bubbles form on the shell — that’s the acid reacting! 
4. Leave the egg soaking for 24–48 hours. 
5. After soaking, rinse the egg gently — the shell will have dissolved, leaving a soft, rubbery “bouncy” egg. 

What’s Happening: The vinegar (acid) reacts with the calcium carbonate in the eggshell, dissolving it and leaving behind the flexible membrane underneath. The result? A bouncy, shell-less egg! 

At Curiosity Farms, kids learn where food comes from and how science connects to everyday life. This experiment shows how chemistry and biology work together in the foods we eat — perfect for curious minds exploring the world of farming and food science. 

don’t miss more farm fun! Visit Barnyard Boo at Curiosity Farms.

STEM Focus: States of Matter and Viscosity 

Ingredients: 

• 1 cup cornstarch 
• ½ cup water 
• Small plastic dinosaurs or toy “fossils” 
• Bowl or tray 

Steps: 

1. Mix the cornstarch and water together in a bowl until it forms a gooey paste (oobleck). 
2. Hide toy dinosaurs or “fossils” inside the mixture. 
3. Let kids dig through the slime to uncover the fossils! 

What’s Happening: Oobleck is a non-Newtonian fluid — it behaves like a liquid when you pour it, but like a solid when you apply pressure. 

At the Museum of Ancient Life, kids can uncover real fossils, learn about dinosaurs, and explore hands-on science in the Paleo Lab. 

Ready to meet dinosaurs? Join us for Dinos After Dark at the Museum of Ancient Life – get tickets here. 

STEM Focus: Sublimation and States of Matter 

Ingredients: 

• 1 small plastic cauldron or bowl 
• 2 cups warm water 
• A few drops of dish soap 
• Food coloring (green or purple works great!) 
• Dry ice (handle with tongs and adult supervision only) 

Steps: 

1. Fill your cauldron with warm water, dish soap, and food coloring. 
2. Carefully drop in a few small pieces of dry ice using tongs. 
3. Watch as the cauldron bubbles, smokes, and overflows with fog! 

What’s Happening: Dry ice skips the liquid phase and turns directly from solid to gas — a process called sublimation — creating that spooky bubbling fog effect! 

Venue Connection: The Museum of Natural Curiosity is all about experimentation and imagination. During Spooktober, kids can take part in festive Daily STEM Discovery programs and explore spooky science hands-on! 

Bring your little monsters to play! Join the Monster Mash at the Museum of Natural Curiosity.