Fizzy Treasure Rocks
Last year, when we played with Baking Soda Letters in the Water Table, I found out that baking soda can be dried and reused even after it has already reacted with vinegar. After our Fizzy St. Patrick’s Day Science activity a few weeks ago, we once again had a lot of wet baking soda left over, and E and I decided to turn them into Fizzy Treasure Rocks.
Are you in need of more awesome spring learning for your kids? You’re in luck! Check out this list of fun spring activities for kids and try them with your little ones.
We took large handfuls of wet baking soda, placed a gold coin in the middle, and formed the baking soda around it. Check out how we’ve had so much fun making this fun activity, a perfect treat for St. Patrick’s Day for your little ones.
This delightful activity isn’t just about making a mess (though that’s part of the charm); it’s a crafty pathway to developmental milestones too. Your children get to mix, shape, and eventually dissolve these magical rocks, uncovering hidden treasures within!
It’s a perfect blend of science and playtime, stimulating curiosity and wonder in young minds. Imagine the joy as they witness the fizzy reaction of vinegar and baking soda, a firsthand lesson in basic chemistry that’s much more gripping than any textbook could offer all while having lots of fun!
Recommended St. Patrick’s Day Books
Make sure to read any of these engaging books that your kids will love. The perfect way to learn more about the meaning behind St. Patrick’s Day.
St. Patrick’s DayThe Secret Life Of Leprechauns: St. Patricks Day Picture Book For Preschoolers & Toddlers. Ideal for ages 2-6.The Night Before St. Patrick’s DaySilly McGilly, St Patricks Day Book, st Patricks Day, Fun Childrens Book, Leprechaun Tricks, Family ToysSt. Patrick’s Day in the MorningThat’s What Leprechauns Do
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Fizzy Treasure Rocks Supplies
Below are the simple materials you’ll need for this wonderful St. Patrick’s Day activity:
- Wet baking soda. (If you don’t happen to have any leftovers from another activity, you can just add a little water to unused baking soda. Or simply do another activity first 😉 )
- Gold coins or other small treasures to hide in the baking soda
- Vinegar
- Fizzy tub colors, liquid watercolors, or food coloring
- Squeeze bottles
- Containers
- Water table (optional but great for minimizing messes and for sibling play).
Don’t forget to check out other Fizzy Experiments Your Kids Will Love.
Recommended Treasure Digging Kits
Other than these Fizzy Treasure Rocks, your kids will love these other treasure-digging kits!
Thames & Kosmos I Dig It! Treasure – Pirate Treasure Excavation KitNATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC Mega Fossil and Gemstone Dig KitsJumbo Pirate Dig Kit – Pirate Toys for KidsXXTOYS Pirate Treasures Dig Kit Break Into 5 Bricks Treasure Excavation KitsConstellation Mega Fossil Gemstone Dig KitNUOBESTY 1 Set Gem Excavation Kits Gems Digging Kit for Kids Mineralogy Geology Science Gift
How Do You Make Fizzy Treasure Rocks
We let the fizzy treasure rocks dry for several days. Try to avoid handling them as much as possible, as they can be quite fragile once they’re dry.
When we’d decided that they were dry enough, I gently placed the baking soda rocks in the water table. I also scattered some extra dried-out baking soda that we hadn’t turned into treasure rocks all over the water table.
E wanted to color the vinegar green again and put yellow and blue fizzy tub color tabs in one squeeze bottle and one pitcher full of vinegar.
Then she got to work while N watched.
She didn’t spend that much time on the treasure rocks, though.
Instead, she decided to grab a small cup, fill it with crumpled-up baking soda and add a tiny bit of vinegar. She’d wait until the fizzing stopped, add more baking soda, then add another tiny bit of vinegar. It was quite fun to watch, and she was extremely patient.
Only after she’d done that for a really long time did she decide to make the cup overflow 🙂
Meanwhile, N went for mass fizzing action when he poured out the larger container all at once.
He chose the sensory approach to this activity and spent some time putting his hands in the foam over and over and splashing around.
When E was done with the squeeze bottle, he imitated her approach – he didn’t mind that the bottle was empty at this point 😉
To finish off the activity, E asked for some more vinegar to work on the treasure rocks some more.
For some reason, neither child was interested in the actual treasures this time, but that’s completely okay. I set up the activities (sometimes with help), and they decide how to use them 🙂
Are you looking for other fun and simple activities? You could try this Fine Motor Activity with Straws and Pipe Cleaners or this Simple Transportation Sensory Bin!
Fizzy Treasure Rocks
Equipment
- 50 Pieces St. Patrick’s Day Shamrock Coins Decorative Plastic Coin Green and Gold Fake Coins Small Lucky Coin Clover Coin for St. Patrick’s Day Party Supplies, 1.38 Inches
- McCormick Assorted Food Color & Egg Dye, 1 fl oz
- Woeber’s 5 Percent White Distilled Vinegar 1 Gallon
Materials
- Wet Baking Soda
- Small Treasure / Gold Coins
- Vinegar
- Fizzy Tub Colors / Food Coloring / Water Color
- Squeezy Bottles
- Container
- Water Table Optional
Instructions
- 1. To create treasure rocks, simply take large handfuls of wet baking soda from another activity. If you don't have any leftovers, just add a little water to unused baking soda or simply do another activity first.
- 2. Place a gold coin or treasure in the middle and form the baking soda around it. Repeat until you have several treasure rocks for the activity.
- 3. Let the fizzy treasure rocks dry for several days. Try to avoid handling them as much as possible, as they can be quite fragile once they're dry.
- 4. Once dried, scatter the treasure rocks in the water table. You can also put some extra dried-out baking soda that you hadn't turned into treasure rocks.
- 5. For St. Patrick's Day theme, you can color your vinegar green and yellow.
- 6. Now it's time to let the kids play and decide how to dig up those treasures!
This is an activity that will not only enhance the kids’ motor skills but they will have fun playing and watching the fizzy rocks! They can play with it however they want and you can put whatever treasures you think they will enjoy looking for.
Try out this fun activity now!