Christmas Science Advent Calendar: Baking Soda Painted Christmas Tree

Our countdown to Christmas continues for the second day of Advent. I will be sharing a Christmas science idea with you at the beginning of each day until Christmas. Day 2’s activity is a Baking Soda Painted Christmas Tree.

Baking Soda Painted Christmas Tree

 

I first shared the idea for painting with baking soda and vinegar over at Rainy Day Mum. This time we used the technique to paint Christmas trees.

Here’s what you’ll need:

• white paper triangles to build a Christmas tree or a cutout Christmas tree shape
• paint {blue and yellow}
• baking soda
• vinegar
• spoons
• water
• containers
• paint brushes
• glitter {optional}
• laminated paper, a transparency, or other piece of plastic to contain the painting mess

Setup:

1. Be sure to cover your work area because this activity can be messy.
2. Set out a transparency, laminated paper, or other plastic {maybe a large lid} to contain the painting.
3. In one container, mix baking soda, paint, and water until you have a consistency you like. {We used blue paint for this one.}
4. In a second container, add vinegar to the other paint color. Some paints don’t mix very well with vinegar. {The activity will still work just fine.}
5. Sprinkle in a little glitter to either or both of your paint colors. {Glitter is optional.}
6. Set the containers and paint brushes next to your plastic work area.

The Creation:

Have your child paint the plastic work area {we used a transparency this time}. You could also directly paint your paper, but depending on your paint consistency and your child, it may get really wet.

What happens as the blue and yellow paint is mixed?

As the blue and yellow paint is mixed together, it will turn green and you will see little bubbles.

Dump the vinegar {and paint} onto the baking soda and you’ll see even more colored bubbles.

What happens if you mix the paint in the containers? More bubbles!

When you are done playing and exploring the baking soda and vinegar, make a print of your masterpiece. Place the white paper triangles or Christmas tree cutout onto the the paint.

Let the paint dry and build your Christmas tree!

You could use the Christmas tree as ornaments, cards, or decorations. Have fun!

I’ll see you tomorrow for Day 3’s Christmas science activity.

More Christmas Activities for Kids

• Catch all of our Christmas Science Advent Calendar ideas.
• Explore pine needles and Christmas trees and take our Christmas science challenge.
• Turn your child’s art into a great Christmas project with these 15 Christmas ideas with children’s art.
• Check out all of our Christmas ideas.

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