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Simple and safe Halloween demos , Can anyone help

There is an active discussion on this topic currently on the listserve. The recommendation there is a resource from Flynn http://www.flinnsci.com/store/Scripts/prodView.asp?idproduct=14574 Just a personal note. When I use demonstrations, I do my best to connect these to science. I think too often we use demonstrations to get attention without taking the next step to connect the demo. I agree that demos are a great way to engage students but I often have trouble myself connecting the demo to the science. Somethings students are just too distracted with the spectacle and forget that there is science going on.

Of course, dry ice demonstration (phases of matter)from solid to gas.
http://www.stevespanglerscience.com/lab/experiments/awesome-dry-ice-experiments

I know I'm late here, but I like Flinn's Reappearing Pumpkin and I tie it to oxidation-reduction reactions with my AP students....

http://www.flinnsci.com/store/Scripts/prodView.asp?idproduct=16235

The dry ice demonstration is one of my favorite ones. It is a great demo to introduce to children and also great visual for gatherings. If you don't mind the mess you can change it up a bit by carving a pumpkin and adding soap and water to the bottom. Then you can add the dry ice and see the bubbles come out of the pumpkins mouth. I have done this with my nephew and he loves it.

Great demos!

http://creeksidelearning.com/halloween-science-experiments/#_a5y_p=2476019 found a few Halloween inspired science fun!

I find the brain pop website has such amazing and fun experiments for elementary!!!

Cool demo!

This activity is very exspensive. Did you by chance purchase this?

Hi. there is an activity called melting candy. I think will be great to do with an experiment because it allows them with the opportunity to see what candy can melt with depending on what solution the students are using. http://lemonlimeadventures.com/dissolving-candy-pumpkins-halloween-science-kids/

My favorite is the "Exploding Pumpkin" or also called the "Self-Carving Pumpkin" You take a pumpkin and carve it in a very simple pattern (triangles and rectangles). After you're done, put all of the pieces back into their holes to make the pumpkin "look" like it's not carved. In the back where nobody can see, make a small hole large enough for a lit match to fit through (do not plug that one back). To make the pumpkin "carve itself", put an empty soda can with approximately 30 mL of water in it inside the pumpkin. Drop a small piece of calcium carbide into the can and replace the lid of the pumpkin. After about 30 minutes, place a lit match (8" stem or larger) in the back. As soon as the gas gets ignited, the pumpkin will explode from pressure buildup and all of the pieces that you carved before will fall out. This leaves you with a magic pumpkin! We do this every year at Halloween for the new classes and it's the most exciting part of the day!

My favorite is the "Exploding Pumpkin" or also called the "Self-Carving Pumpkin" You take a pumpkin and carve it in a very simple pattern (triangles and rectangles). After you're done, put all of the pieces back into their holes to make the pumpkin "look" like it's not carved. In the back where nobody can see, make a small hole large enough for a lit match to fit through (do not plug that one back). To make the pumpkin "carve itself", put an empty soda can with approximately 30 mL of water in it inside the pumpkin. Drop a small piece of calcium carbide into the can and replace the lid of the pumpkin. After about 30 minutes, place a lit match (8" stem or larger) in the back. As soon as the gas gets ignited, the pumpkin will explode from pressure buildup and all of the pieces that you carved before will fall out. This leaves you with a magic pumpkin! We do this every year at Halloween for the new classes and it's the most exciting part of the day!

My favorite is the "Exploding Pumpkin" or also called the "Self-Carving Pumpkin" You take a pumpkin and carve it in a very simple pattern (triangles and rectangles). After you're done, put all of the pieces back into their holes to make the pumpkin "look" like it's not carved. In the back where nobody can see, make a small hole large enough for a lit match to fit through (do not plug that one back). To make the pumpkin "carve itself", put an empty soda can with approximately 30 mL of water in it inside the pumpkin. Drop a small piece of calcium carbide into the can and replace the lid of the pumpkin. After about 30 minutes, place a lit match (8" stem or larger) in the back. As soon as the gas gets ignited, the pumpkin will explode from pressure buildup and all of the pieces that you carved before will fall out. This leaves you with a magic pumpkin! We do this every year at Halloween for the new classes and it's the most exciting part of the day!

Pre-Cut a jack-o-lantern, have a small reaction happen within the pumpkin that is quick and flashy. The reaction will pop the eyes, mouth, and nose out of the pumpkin! Better to do it in the dark!

Excellent ideas all around. I would want to do something like disprove the possibility a popular spooky halloween mainstay... but I wonder if disproving something fun would be more of a buzzkill than and exciting holiday treat...

Yes, the Steve Spangler Science Resources are very good and are extremely safe for students to handle.