Doktor Kaboom: Under Pressure!

This science experiment combines baking soda and vinegar to create a fizzy chemical reaction! 

Start by measuring a small amount of baking soda into a container and slowly add vinegar. Watch as bubbles form and overflow. As you conduct the experiment, discuss the reaction between the baking soda and vinegar, and explore how the gas creates pressure, causing the bubbling effect. Reflect on how this reaction can be compared to the release of built-up stress or tension. You’ll learn the science behind the reaction and see some exciting results.

Movement and music can unlock a deeper understanding of your emotions. Through these, you can express and process your feelings.

Start by putting on some music and allowing yourself to move. Describe your feelings. Then, give yourself the opportunity to move like a certain emotion. For example, try “under pressure” and freeze in that emotion. Ask yourself what it feels like. Notice your facial expressions and how you hold your body. Then, take some time to debrief and reflect on the experience, reminding yourself of ways you can defuse negative emotions.

This experiment demonstrates Boyle’s Law while providing talking points for social-emotional skills. 

Inflate a balloon halfway and tie it, then observe how you can manipulate the pressure put on the balloon by squeezing it or changing its shape. This shows how pressure decreases as volume increases (let go of the balloon) and how pressure increases as volume decreases (pinching the balloon and forcing the air into a smaller part of the balloon). By observing how releasing pressure in the balloon causes it to relax, you can draw parallels to managing your own stress and the importance of finding ways to relieve it.