Elephant toothpaste is an excellent hands-on activity that gets your students excited about learning matter!

Adult supervision is recommended for all activities. Parents and teachers should evaluate each activity for the age, ability, and needs of their children. By participating, you assume responsibility for any risks associated with the activity. Note: Elephant toothpaste is a science only demonstration, not actual toothpaste. It should not be used as a product for your mouth or body.

What is Elephant Toothpaste?

Elephant toothpaste is a chemical reaction that occurs when hydrogen peroxide breaks down into water and oxygen. The oxygen molecules get trapped in soap creating a large amount of foam.

Materials

• Clean Bottle
• ½ cup of hydrogen peroxide
• 1 Tablespoon of dry yeast
• 3 Tablespoons of warm water
• Dish soap
• Food Coloring
• Container, tray or tub

Steps

1. Pour hydrogen peroxide in the bottle
2. Add 8 drops of food coloring to the bottle.
3. Add 1 Tablespoon of dish soap to the bottle
4. Swish the food coloring.
5. In a separate cup combine warm water and yeast.
6. Pour yeast mixture into soap mixture. 

What can students learn from this activity?

States of Matter - Have students identify the various states of matter involved before during and after this investigation (solid, liquid, gas)

Properties of Matter - Students can identify what physical chemical properties they can observe before and after the demonstration (color, texture, appearance, amount of mass, temperature).

Chemical changes - Students can identify the change that occurs before and after the demonstration and identify what kind of change it is and if a new substance was formed. This is a great opportunity for them to practice using evidence to prove their thinking. 

Conservation of Matter - Students can discuss whether more matter was created and how it will impact the mass. 

Questions to push students thinking

This activity packs a lot of meaningful science learning into an experience that students will genuinely enjoy!

This activity came from our 5th Grade Matter Unit. It includes the elephant toothpaste demonstration and a complete, ready-to-teach unit —so you can spend less time planning and more time teaching!