Valentine's Day Fizzy Heart Experiment for Kids

I’ll take any excuse to conduct a science experiment with kids! Valentine’s Day, Fourth of July, Christmas, Easter, the season doesn’t really matter. It’s always a good time to make chemical reactions. Since it’s Valentine season, this fizzy heart experiment is a wonderful way to celebrate. The Baking Soda & Vinegar Fizzy Heart Experiment for Kids is easy and exciting! And, of course, it’s packed with scientific learning.

frozen baking soda and vinegar heart valentine's day science experiment for kids

Recommended Grade Level:

Preschool

Kindergarten

1st Grade

Supply List
Coordinating Activities

Materials for the Frozen Hearts Valentine’s Day Science Experiment

Baking Soda
Vinegar
Water
Heart Silicone Molds
Pipette
Red Food Coloring

easy diy valentine's day stem experiment magic milk science experiment in a heart shaped bowl with red food coloring.

valentine's day slime recipe featured image

Valentine's Day Fizzing Heart Science
What's the science behind the vinegar and baking soda reaction?
- Language Development
Benefits of the Valentine's Day Frozen Fizzing Hearts Experiment
Materials needed for the Fizzy Hearts Baking Soda and Vinegar Experiment:
Step-by-Step Instructions for the Frozen Fizzing Hearts Science Experiment
Yay! You did it. What Now?
Extend and Adapt the Fizzing Hearts Activity:
More Ways to Explore Valentine's Day in Preschool
Frequently Asked Questions
Valentine's Day Fizzing Hearts Baking Soda and Vinegar Experiment
Valentine's Day Printables for Kids

Valentine’s Day Fizzing Heart Science

I love this fizzing heart experiment because it takes the holiday that appears as a distraction to kids all February long, and makes it into an engaging learning experience. I’ve learned over the years that instead of pulling your hair out over distracted kids, big emotions, and wild behaviors, sometimes it’s best to embrace the season. Since we’re educators, we can’t eliminate the learning, but we sure can disguise it! Our Growing Theme Bundle for Preschool has all of the holiday themed activities you’ll need for an entire school year!

Need more engaging science ideas? We might have a few in mind!

What’s the science behind the vinegar and baking soda reaction?

Even if preschoolers aren’t quite ready to grasp all of the scientific jargon or concepts, early science experiments start building a solid foundation for future learning. After the results are in, here is the science behind this baking soda and vinegar science experiment:

Vinegar contains acetic acid and hydrogen ions
Baking soda contains sodium and bicarbonate ions
When the two are mixed together, they create carbonic acid
The carbonic acid then begins to decompose into carbon dioxide, which rises and creates the bubbles/fizz

Benefits of the Valentine’s Day Frozen Fizzing Hearts Experiment

Besides the fact that kids are naturally curious, there are lots of other benefits they’ll reap by exploring mixtures, reactions, and more. This baking soda and vinegar experiment is easy to do, which means that rather than focusing on preparation and process, they can focus on observation and experimentation. Which creates a much more laid-back atmosphere for working on other skills.

Build Background Knowledge

Previous experiences, language, and vocabulary related to science provide valuable background knowledge. As children grow and delve into different science concepts, their early experiments give them a firm foundation to build upon.

Fine Motor Skills

Experiments often require pouring, dipping, squirting, and other movements that require fine motor control. I can’t think of a more fun way to exercise those muscles!

Hand-eye Coordination

Those same movements that require fine motor control also improve hand-eye coordination.

Language Development

Giving children a wide variety of experiences from a young age helps them understand the world. As they learn and talk about science, language and vocabulary skills are greatly enhanced.

Materials needed for the Fizzy Hearts Baking Soda and Vinegar Experiment:

¾ c. baking soda
¼ c. warm water
Large mixing cup
Red food coloring
Vinegar
Heart-shape silicone mold (an ice cube tray also works)
Shallow bowl
Medicine dropper (optional)

supplies for making a baking soda and vinegar experiment

Step-by-Step Instructions for the Frozen Fizzing Hearts Science Experiment

Step One:

Gather all the necessary supplies before beginning the science experiment. In a large mixing cup, stir together the baking soda and water until the baking soda is dissolved. Stir in red food coloring.

Step Two:

Pour the mixture into the heart-shaped silicone mold and freeze overnight or until completely frozen.

red baking soda mixture in silicone heart molds.

Step Three:

Pour vinegar into the shallow bowl. Carefully lower the frozen heart into the vinegar. Observe the reaction!

valentines day fizzy hearts science experiment sq 7

Tip: Use a dropper of vinegar for a more localized reaction.

Yay! You did it. What Now?

Well now that your kids are hooked on creating chemical reactions, the sky’s the limit! I like to have students record results on paper. For preschool, that can be as simple as a half-sheet of paper. Ask children to draw what happened during the fizzing hearts experiment.

Extend and Adapt the Fizzing Hearts Activity:

Alter the Mixtures: Create fizzy hearts by freezing vinegar and water. Then, activate by dipping into a baking soda/water mixture.

Play with Amounts: Add more or less of each ingredient, like more baking soda, to compare the reactions.

Create a Challenge: Older students might enjoy a friendly competition. Which group can create the most impressive explosion? How? Why?

Speed it Up: For learners that need more instantaneous results, omit the freezing process and just add the vinegar right to the heart mold.

Get Creative: Get a little artsy by adding multiple colors, or mixing colors, to see what those results are in addition to the chemical fizzing.

More Ways to Explore Valentine’s Day in Preschool

Holiday-themed learning activities are the best, because you typically get high engagement. Looking for more meaningful learning opportunities centered around V-Day? Check out our 17 Valentine’s Day Candy Activities, or this Roll & Count Math Game.

Frequently Asked Questions

These are frequently asked questions about the Valentine Fizzing Heart experiment.

What causes the reaction when the hearts are dipped in vinegar?

The fizzing reaction occurs because vinegar (an acid) reacts with baking soda (a base), releasing carbon dioxide gas.

Can I use other shapes, too?

Yes, you can use any mold shape you like to make the experiment more fun and engaging.

How can I extend the learning beyond witnessing the reaction?

Explain the basic concept of chemical reactions and encourage children to observe and describe what they see and hear during the fizzing process.

What can we do while we wait for the hearts to freeze?

Make predictions, learn about chemical reactions, and build background knowledge so students are more prepared when they see the actual experiment.

Valentine’s Day Fizzing Hearts Baking Soda and Vinegar Experiment

Hopefully this experiment added a scientific element to a holiday that can sometimes be all about flowers, candy and gifts. Comment below to let us know how your heart experiment went!