Halloween ghost balloon adventure
Can a little ghost balloon grow? Watch an adult-led Halloween science demonstration, compare sizes and decorate a pumpkin with three handprint ghosts. For children aged 3–7 watching with a grown-up.
Watch on YouTube ↗
13:23 · Ages 3-7 · Opens on YouTube in a new tab.
THE ADVENTURE
Can our ghost grow?
Watch Ivan and Ms Irina explore an adult-led bicarbonate of soda and vinegar demonstration, compare balloon sizes and paint three handprint ghosts on an orange pumpkin. Make a prediction, count along and talk about colours and expressions with your grown-up.
YouTube title: 👻 Halloween Ghost Adventure 🎃 Balloon Science Experiment & Pumpkin Painting | Ivan Explorer
What happens in this adventure?
Ivan and Ms Irina explore a white balloon with a ghost face. Bicarbonate of soda and vinegar react to release carbon dioxide, a gas that inflates the balloon. Children are invited to make a prediction, notice what changes and compare bigger and smaller balloons.
The adventure then moves to pumpkin painting. White handprints become three little ghosts on an orange pumpkin. Eyes and mouths give the ghosts different expressions, with opportunities to count from 1 to 3 and name colours and feelings.
A little watch-together checklist
- Before the balloon grows, ask: “What do you think will happen?”
- Point to a bigger balloon and a smaller balloon. Try the words “big”, “small” and “growing”.
- Count the three handprint ghosts, pointing to each one once.
- Choose a ghost expression: happy, surprised or spooky. Make a face together or describe what you notice.
These are optional conversation prompts, not a transcript or an assessment. At home or in an early years setting, pause, repeat or stop to suit your child.
The experiment is for grown-ups only
An adult must prepare and carry out the science demonstration. Children may watch only with a parent or carer present and supervising. Children must not try the experiment on their own or handle the experiment materials.
The video is an invitation to watch, predict and talk together, rather than an independent experiment for children. A grown-up should also supervise any pumpkin painting and choose suitable washable art materials.
WATCH → TALK → PLAY
Continue with these free Halloween games
Pumpkin colour by number
- Choose a numbered paint.
- Find a matching number in the picture.
- Fill a shape and name its colour.
Build a Halloween basket
- Choose a ghost, pumpkin, cat or star bag.
- Add the decorations you like.
- Place the treats in the opening and count together.
These existing games are separate themed activities. They do not recreate the balloon experiment.
Prefer a paper activity?
The existing Halloween Explorer A4 book has eight pages, including six drawing and counting activities, a cover and an explorer award. It accompanies our earlier pumpkin fizz and spider-counting episode; it is an optional extra for this adventure, not a new ghost-balloon experiment pack.
Browse the available printable books →Questions for grown-ups
Which age group is the video for?
The owner recommends ages 3–7, watching together with a parent or carer. Choose one question or count at your child’s pace.
Why does the ghost balloon grow?
The reaction releases carbon dioxide. This gas takes up space inside the balloon, making it inflate.
Can children carry out the experiment?
No. A grown-up must prepare and carry it out. Children can take part by watching, predicting, comparing and counting with their supervising adult.
Is there a matching new activity book?
No new book has been released for this episode. The games and earlier Halloween book linked above are available separately.
Ivan Explorer is created with the guidance of Ms Irina, an Early Years & Montessori Teacher, SENCo, ELKLAN-qualified practitioner and ELKLAN Tutor.
By Ivan Explorer – Discovery Kids. Overview based on the owner-supplied episode description and sampled frames from the finished local video, reviewed on 27 October 2026. Conversation prompts are additional suggestions. Promotional cover artwork was AI-assisted using episode frames.