• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Get Our Latest Updates: Download a FREE Set of Coloring Pages! ⇾

Menu Icon
Close Extra Navigation
  • Coloring Banners
  • Coloring Pages
  • Sensory Kits
  • Virtual Preschool
  • Shop
    • Coloring Pages
    • Coloring Banners
    • Virtual Preschool
    • Sensory Kits
    • Directed Draws
    • Journaling Prompts
    • Gift Card
  • Blog
    • Sensory
    • Art
    • Outdoor
    • Science
    • Draw
    • Math
  • Instagram
  • Facebook
  • Pinterest
  • TikTok
Friends Art Lab

Friends Art Lab

LOGIN

Menu Icon
Close Extra Navigation
  • Coloring Banners
  • Coloring Pages
  • Sensory Kits
  • Virtual Preschool
  • Shop
    • Coloring Pages
    • Coloring Banners
    • Virtual Preschool
    • Sensory Kits
    • Directed Draws
    • Journaling Prompts
    • Gift Card
  • Blog
    • Sensory
    • Art
    • Outdoor
    • Science
    • Draw
    • Math
  • Instagram
  • Facebook
  • Pinterest
  • TikTok
go to homepage
  • Coloring Banners
  • Coloring Pages
  • Sensory Kits
  • Virtual Preschool
  • Shop
    • Coloring Pages
    • Coloring Banners
    • Virtual Preschool
    • Sensory Kits
    • Directed Draws
    • Journaling Prompts
    • Gift Card
  • Blog
    • Sensory
    • Art
    • Outdoor
    • Science
    • Draw
    • Math
  • Coloring Banners
  • Coloring Pages
  • Sensory Kits
  • Virtual Preschool
  • Shop
    • Coloring Pages
    • Coloring Banners
    • Virtual Preschool
    • Sensory Kits
    • Directed Draws
    • Journaling Prompts
    • Gift Card
  • Blog
    • Sensory
    • Art
    • Outdoor
    • Science
    • Draw
    • Math
Friends Art Lab / Blog / St. Patrick’s Day Gold Coin Science Experiment for Kids

St. Patrick’s Day Gold Coin Science Experiment for Kids

By Kristian Klebofski   Published: March 12, 2023    Updated: March 22, 2023

Baking soda, vinegar, and gold coins, OH, MY! This St. Patrick’s Day gold coin science experiment for kids is the most incredible activity for your little leprechauns.

Three photos show the St. Patrick's Day Gold Coin Science Experiment. The first photo shows green bubbles, the second shows a gold coin appearing from under the bubbles, and the third photo shows a hand holding four excavated coins.
Table of Contents:
  1. This St. Patrick’s Day gold coin science experiment sizzles with baking soda and vinegar
  2. You’ll see why the St. Patrick’s Day gold coin science experiment is love at first sight
  3. Materials
  4. Directions
  5. Video
  6. Some tips and tricks
  7. Why are there gold coins for St. Patrick’s Day?
  8. Your leprechauns will love this St. Patrick’s Day gold coin science experiment

This St. Patrick’s Day gold coin science experiment sizzles with baking soda and vinegar

I LOVE baking soda and vinegar experiments with my whole heart.

In fact, I love them so much that I buy both supplies in bulk from Costco, and I replace them more frequently than you might imagine.

30 pounds of baking soda and 10 gallons of vinegar? TOTALLY NORMAL. NOTHING TO SEE HERE.

Making science trays is one of my favorite ways to use this dynamic duo. Trust me, you’ll be hooked, too!

Related: Our GIANT 10-foot St. Patrick’s Day coloring banner will have your kids “Dublin” over with joy!

Two gold coins appear under baking sods after they're covered with blue, yellow, and green vinegar.

You’ll see why the St. Patrick’s Day gold coin science experiment is love at first sight

Kids love searching for, finding, and excavating toys.

According to my very precise calculations, our preschoolers have spent 6.2 billion hours over the years going on hunts for treasure, dinosaur bones, fossils, and more.

Imagine their delight when you invite them to find golden coins. Pure excitement!

Looking for more St. Patrick’s Day activities for kids? These will have your kids ready to sham-rock:

  • Rainbow Drawing Activity with FREE Printables – Friends Art Lab
  • Rainbow Leprechaun Trap – Days with Grey
  • Kid’s Soda Bread Recipe – Rainy Day Mum
The materials for the St. Patrick's Day Gold Coin Science Experiment  (yellow vinegar in a jar, blue vinegar in a jar, eye droppers, plastic coins, baking soda) sits in a shallow green tray on an orange table.

Materials

Friends Art Lab is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Read more about these links in my disclosure policy.

  • Baking soda
  • Vinegar
  • Coloring – liquid watercolors or food dye 
  • Eye droppers or spoons
  • Small bowls or jars
  • Gold coins
  • Shallow tray
  • Tweezers – optional
A shallow green tray has thirteen plastic coins spread around sitting in the bottom of the tray. Yellow and blue vinegar sit next to the tray.

Directions

Quick overview: place, cover, squirt, excavate.

Place the coins in the base of a shallow tray. Spread them out so that there is space between them so that kids really have to look for the coins!

Cover the coins in a thin layer of baking soda. You only need enough to make it so you can’t see the coins anymore.

Squirt the baking soda with colored vinegar! As the two mix, you’ll see them start to sizzle and bubble, and you’ll begin to see the coins peek up and eventually float to the top.

Note: I made my vinegar blue and yellow so that they would make green when mixed – a leprechaun’s favorite color! I love adding in a splash of color theory whenever I can. It will still work perfectly if you don’t have coloring or simply want to keep the vinegar clear.

Excavate the coins from the tray using your fingers or kids’ tweezers.

That’s it! This tray will last much longer than it looks. Once all the coins have been excavated, you can rinse them off and start again.

A close up of blue and yellow vinegar squirt onto baking soda, bubbling and turning green.

Video

Some tips and tricks

  • Make your vinegar last longer by diluting it with water. Even a half-and-half ratio of water to vinegar still makes bubbles and sizzles. While the reaction won’t be as strong as vinegar full-strength, it still gets the job done.
  • No hands in the baking soda is really the only rule I have with baking soda and vinegar trays. This prevents kids from digging holes and grabbing the coins in just a few seconds. This is the best rule and truly extends the play! For this project, hands can only grab coins once they have floated to the top.
  • Dye your water with dried-out markers to make your own DIY watercolors. Dried-out markers that would typically be thrown away make excellent colored water.
A hand holds four plastic coins over the science tray.

Why are there gold coins for St. Patrick’s Day?

If you find the gold, he has to share some of it with you.

Alternatively, if you can catch a leprechaun, he will give you his gold!

Please let us know if you strike gold!

A close up of the St. Patrick's Day Gold Coin Science Experiment where a gold coin peeks out from the baking soda after being squirt with blue and yellow vinegar.

Your leprechauns will love this St. Patrick’s Day gold coin science experiment

It has everything kids love: mystery, science, teamwork, bubbles, and gold!

This is the perfect activity to celebrate such a fun holiday.

Friends Art Lab Best Resources:

GIANT 10-Foot Coloring Banners 🎨
Directed Draw Sets for Kids ✍🏼
Learn About Virtual Preschool 🖥️
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Email
← Previous Post
St. Patrick’s Day Color by Code – FREE Printables
Next Post →
Outer Space Preschool Pattern & Sort Activity – FREE Printable

EXPLORE A CATEGORYScience, Sensory

Related Activities

  • Spooky Gold Paint Potions for Kids
  • Candy Heart Science Tray
  • Sizzling Science Pumpkins
  • Lemon and Watercolor Science

Let’s Stay Connected!

Get our favorite ideas and news sent directly to your inbox.

Reader Interactions

LEAVE A COMMENT

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Primary Sidebar

Kristian

Hi, I’m Kristian!

I love all things early childhood. Having earned a master's degree in education, I love sharing my passion and knowledge both as a classroom preschool teacher and college professor. Friends Art Lab is my heart and I'm excited to share with you! LEARN MORE

Our Favorite Art Posts

Giant Outer Space Coloring Banner

Wet-on-Wet Watercolor Planets

Puffy Moon Art for Kids (with 2 Ingredients!)

Spring Directed Draws for Kids – 8 Designs

ALL ART POSTS

Our Favorite Sensory Posts

Outer Space Play Dough Activity

St. Patrick’s Day Gold Coin Science Experiment for Kids

How to Make Lemon Boats for Water Table Fun

Lemon and Watercolor Science

Lemon Stamp Art

Finger Painting with Rice – A Sensory Dream

ALL SENSORY POSTS

Footer

  • Instagram
  • Facebook
  • Pinterest
  • TikTok

Friends Art Lab Shop

  • Coloring Banners
  • Virtual Preschool
  • Coloring Pages
  • Sensory Kits
  • Directed Draws
  • Affiliate Shop

Visit the Blog

  • Sensory
  • Art
  • Outdoor
  • Science
  • Draw
  • Math

Customer Service

  • Contact Us
  • Shipping
  • Return Policy
  • Gift Card
  • FAQ
  • About Us

© 2023 Friends Art Lab ·  Privacy Policy ·  Terms & Conditions ·  Disclosure ·  Website by Anchored Design