Spooky School Experiments: Dry Ice Explosion for Halloween Fun!

Halloween is the perfect time to turn your classroom into a bubbling, fog-filled science lab! With dry ice experiments, students can explore the exciting world of chemistry while enjoying a spooky twist. From eerie dry ice fog to bubbling boo bubbles, these school spooky experiments are a big hit with children of all ages.

At Wild Science, we bring the magic of hands-on learning into schools across the UK. Our themed science workshops, including Halloween science days, introduce little scientists to fun, safe, and educational dry ice experiments that make learning unforgettable.

What Makes Dry Ice So Cool?

Dry ice is the solid form of carbon dioxide gas (CO₂). It’s extremely cold, at around -78°C, and instead of melting into a liquid like normal ice, it sublimates — meaning it turns directly from a solid into a gas. This unique process creates that mysterious, dense fog everyone loves during Halloween.

When you mix warm water with dry ice, the heat causes the solid carbon dioxide to sublimate faster, producing thick white fog that spills dramatically across tables or cauldrons. Add a bit of dish soap or bubble solution, and you get smoky bubbles or “boo bubbles” — spooky floating orbs filled with fog that pop with a soft puff of mist.

This simple yet fascinating experiment helps students understand states of matter, gas expansion, and sublimation, all while having so much fun!

The Science Behind the Dry Ice Explosion

Ever wondered why a dry ice explosion happens? It’s not magic — it’s science!

When you seal dry ice inside a container with warm water, the solid carbon dioxide rapidly changes into a gas. Since gas takes up more space than a solid, the pressure builds up inside the container until it pops! The result? A safe and exciting “explosion” that demonstrates gas expansion, pressure physics, and the energy transformation process.

This is one of Wild Science’s favourite Halloween science demonstrations for older students. It perfectly combines learning with a thrilling visual effect, creating that “wow” moment every science teacher loves.

Did you know? Dry ice doesn’t melt into a puddle — it completely disappears into the air because it sublimates directly into carbon dioxide gas!

Fun Halloween Dry Ice Experiments for Schools

At Wild Science, we make sure every Halloween workshop is safe, interactive, and age-appropriate. Here are some popular dry ice science activity ideas that can be done in the classroom:

1. The Bubbling Potion

Mix dry ice, warm water, and a few drops of food colouring in a clear bowl or pumpkin container. Add dish soap to create a bubbling potion that overflows with foggy bubbles. The reaction is safe and fascinating — students can see the carbon dioxide gas escaping and forming fog.

2. Boo Bubbles (Fog Inside Bubbles)

In this experiment, dry ice fog is trapped inside soapy water bubbles, creating floating bubbles filled with mist. Students can gently catch and pop them — when they burst, they release a small puff of fog. This is a great way to explore surface tension, gases, and pressure.

3. Jack-O’-Lantern Cauldron

Place dry ice inside a carved pumpkin or jack-o’-lantern, add hot water, and watch as fog pours out of its mouth and eyes like a smoky Halloween monster! It’s a safe, visually stunning science experiment that turns art and science into one spooky display.

4. Safe Handling of Dry Ice

Children learn the importance of safety by observing how scientists handle frozen carbon dioxide. Since dry ice is extremely cold, it must be handled with thick knit gloves or tongs, never bare hands. This teaches valuable lessons about scientific safety and lab procedures.

Did you know? You can often  purchase dry ice from specialised suppliers online, such as Dry Ice Supply UK or Chillistick, who offer next-day delivery services across the Uk — just make sure an adult handles it carefully!

Why Schools Love Wild Science Halloween Workshops

Schools book Wild Science for their Halloween party or science day because we make learning exciting, visual, and accessible for every age group.

Our sessions are led by professional experts who explain the science behind the fun — why dry ice sublimates, how pressure builds, and what causes carbon dioxide fog to appear so dense.

Each of our experiments aligns with curriculum goals in physics, chemistry, and STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) education, allowing children to learn through real scientific observation.

Whether it’s a spooky science assembly or a hands-on classroom session, students love the thrill of seeing fog-filled cauldrons, hearing fizzy gas reactions, and feeling like real scientists.

Did you know? Adding salt, warm water, and soap to a dry ice experiment changes the reaction speed. It is a fun way to explore variables and scientific testing.

Educational Benefits of Dry Ice Experiments

Besides being loads of fun, our experiments promote critical thinking, observation, and scientific reasoning. Students:

• Learn about gases, solids, and liquids through first-hand experimentation
• Observe sublimation and pressure in action
• Develop teamwork and communication skills
• Gain confidence in asking questions and predicting outcomes

Halloween science is a fantastic way to combine creativity with real science learning, helping children build curiosity and a lifelong love for discovery.

Safety First: How We Keep Experiments Safe

At Wild Science, safety is always our top priority. With over 11 years of experience delivering 1,400+ mix events annually, Wild Science is trusted by teachers nationwide for safe, educational, and unforgettable science experiences.

All dry ice experiments are conducted by trained experts who understand the physics of sublimation and carbon dioxide safety. We ensure:

• Proper use of gloves and tongs
• Supervised handling of frozen carbon dioxide
• Safe distances are maintained during demonstrations
• Safety instructions are given before the workshop

This ensures every school's spooky experiment is both educational and perfectly safe.

Did you know? NASA scientists use similar principles of sublimation when studying ice on Mars!

Book Your Halloween Dry Ice Science Workshop

Make this Halloween unforgettable! Bring Wild Science to your school and watch your students’ faces light up with amazement. From bubbling potions to fog-filled cauldrons, our spooky dry ice science experiments will turn your classroom into a mini-laboratory of fun.

Want to bring the fizz, bang, and pop to your next event? Book a Wild Science workshop. Wild Science delivers Halloween school workshops in London, Manchester, Birmingham, Bristol, Leeds, Glasgow, and across all UK regions.

Terms and conditions apply. Click here to see full terms.

Events We Can Attend

You can invite us to bring our animals along for a wide variety of occasions, such as:

• School fairs and educational workshops
• Seasonal celebrations like Halloween, Easter, or Christmas
• Summer fetes, galas and community festivals
• Corporate functions, office parties, and team-building days
• Children's birthday parties and family garden parties
• Adult birthdays, animal therapy sessions and special receptions
• Charity fundraisers and open days
• Science-themed days and classroom activities
• Playgroups, nurseries, and youth clubs
• Care homes, residential homes, and SEN/additional needs groups
• Libraries, museums, and wildlife centres
• Exhibitions and promotional events
• Photoshoots and film productions
• …and plenty of other unique events too!

Please ensure that your venue will allow science and animal activities before booking to ensure everything runs smoothly.