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*Safety Check-In: The activities in this curriculum are intended for family-style use under direct adult supervision. Because every family’s home environment and children are unique, please use your best judgment to ensure a safe experience. Always verify materials—such as plants, food items, or chemicals—for safety and allergies before use, and keep heat sources, tools, and small parts under close adult watch. You know your children best; please adapt these activities as needed to ensure they are age-appropriate and safe for your specific family.
Ignite your student’s imagination and scientific inquiry with the “Witch’s Brew” experiment, an enchanting, hands-on lesson designed to demystify the complex world of chemical reactions. By transforming your classroom or laboratory into a bubbling cauldron of discovery, this unit provides a captivating entry point into the fundamental laws of chemistry. Students will move far beyond simple observation as they actively participate in creating vibrant, effervescent reactions, effectively bridging the gap between “magic” and the observable evidence of chemical change—such as gas production, temperature shifts, and color transformations.
Full Lesson Plans
Witch’s Brew Experiment
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An activity-based learning extension exploring:
- chemical reactions: 5 main types; molecular synthesis & decomposition focus
- parts of a chemical reaction: reactants, products, & catalysts
- evidence of a reaction: exothermic & endothermic reactions
- tie-ins to the experiment
Click here to see what’s included and how family-style learning works with our lessons.
What’s Included
Our curriculum is designed to foster genuine critical thinking through intentional lesson layout: a foundational introduction to core concepts, hands-on activities and play-based learning that puts ideas into practice, and a reflective discussion to synthesize the learning. Depending on the subject, features may include:
- direct connections to the featured activities
- new information & concepts
- visual charts
- practice pages with answer keys
- observation and design pages
- naturally integrated vocabulary
- warm and memorable images
- scaffolded learning
- connections to living books & stories
- higher-order discussion questions
- immersive and play-based learning experiences
- social studies units often include positive affirmations combined with play-based bilateral stimulation
Family Style Learning
Our activities are intentionally designed to grow with your family. Lessons are designed for elementary and middle school students, but toddlers and preschoolers thrive using the exact same setups, learning through play. Because learning goals develop in complexity over time, you get more bang for your buck—utilizing the exact same supplies across all ages and through many years.
How activities are used by age:
- Infancy & Toddlerhood: Focuses on hands-on sensory and play-based exploration (touching, feeling, experiencing).
- Preschool & Pre-K: Develops language, basic concepts, and descriptive vocabulary using the same activities.
- Elementary & Beyond: Expands play and sensory based activities into formal lessons with deep conceptual understanding.
Through direct sensory experience, younger children will naturally absorb basic vocabulary and be exposed to advanced language and learning alongside their older siblings.
Materials & How To
Click here for materials & setup directions.
Materials:
- 10″ witch’s cauldron
- 3/4 cup active dry yeast (approx. 12 tablespoons or roughly 6–7 packets)
- 2 1/4 cups warm water (not hot)
- green food coloring
- mini Halloween props
- 6 cups hydrogen peroxide (3% solution)
- 3/4 cup liquid dish soap (12 tablespoons)
How To:
Make sure to do this experiment outside or in a space that can be easily cleaned like the bathtub.
Combine active dry yeast and warm water in a small bowl. Mix into a smooth paste.
Pour hydrogen peroxide, liquid dish soap, green food coloring, and Halloween props into the cauldron and stir gently.
Say a silly spell and pour the yeast water mixture into the cauldron mixture. Stand back as you watch your magic work! When the bubbles settle, be sure to feel the sides of the cauldron.
Find our full lesson plans above for more guidance and depth of learning.
Additional Learning Resources
Click here for additional resources, activities, & lessons.
Themed Learning Extras
We love to tie our activities together through immersion. Discover our themed resources to enhance your home learning — including music & meditations, read alouds & picture books, movie night picks, and additional free curriculum below:
Additional Learning Resources – October
More Lessons & Activities
If you are looking for more activities and lessons to add to your home classroom, you can find them here:
- Halloween: Explore our full collection of related lessons here.
- October Themes: Browse our October page for more seasonal & themed activities.
- Plan Ahead: Visit our Monthly Collections to get ready for upcoming learning.
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