Every few seconds, someone looks at Jack again. They don't want to miss the very first sign that he's starting to wake up.
His smiling face is already waiting on the balloon as everyone gathers a little closer around the bottle. No one blows into it or stretches it open. They simply pour in the baking soda and watch, hoping this will be the moment something begins to change.
At first, Jack doesn't move.
Then, almost too slowly to notice, he begins to grow.
His smiling face rises a little higher, then a little higher again, until the flat balloon they were holding just moments before has become a round jack-o'-lantern looking right back at them.
That's usually when the smiles begin.
"We woke up Jack!"
Children don't see a balloon filling with air. They see Jack coming to life.
If your child loves playful science that feels a little like magic, explore our Baking Soda and Vinegar Activities collection for colorful reactions, bubbling discoveries, and unforgettable experiments they'll want to try again and again.
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That's what makes Magic Jack so unforgettable. Long after the balloon has deflated, children still remember waiting for that first little sign that Jack was finally waking up.
Supplies for Magic Jack
One of the sweetest things about Magic Jack is that it feels much more magical than the supplies would ever suggest.
An ordinary bottle, a balloon with a smiling face, and a little baking soda and vinegar. That's really all it takes before children are leaning in, waiting for Jack to wake up.
You'll need:
- An empty plastic bottle
- Orange balloons
- Baking soda
- Vinegar
- A funnel
- A black permanent marker
Optional:
- A blacklight and neon orange balloons for a glowing version of Magic Jack
If you'd like, draw a different face on each balloon before you begin. Some children love making Jack look silly, while others create a whole family of smiling pumpkins waiting for their turn to come to life.
How to Make Magic Jack
Step 1: Get Jack Ready
Every Jack needs a face.
Some children know exactly what Jack should look like. Others hold the marker in the air for a moment before deciding.
One by one, the deflated balloons become smiling pumpkins.
Now everyone has a Jack.
All they're waiting for is the moment he wakes up.
Step 2: Get Him Ready
The bottle is waiting.
Jack is waiting.
Using a funnel, add about 2 to 3 tablespoons of baking soda to each balloon while someone pours about 1/3 cup of vinegar into an empty plastic bottle. Carefully stretch each balloon over the bottle without letting the baking soda fall inside.
Everything is ready.
Now all it takes is one careful lift.
Step 3: Wake Him Up
One careful lift.
They wait.
For just a heartbeat, nothing happens.
Then...
"He's waking up."
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Step 4: Watch Him Grow
Every few seconds, someone looks again.
"Is he bigger?"
Another look.
Just a little.
The smiling face they drew only moments before keeps rising until no one wants to be the first to look away.
"There he is."
He Needs a Friend
"Can we make another one?"
Before the first Jack is even awake, another balloon is already being picked up.
"He needs a friend."
"This one should look sleepy. No... bigger eyebrows."
They wait.
For just a heartbeat, nothing happens.
"I think he moved." Everyone leans a little closer.
Before long, another smiling Jack is looking back at them, and someone is already reaching for another balloon.
"Let's make one more."
What Should We Wake Up Next?
Once children discover they can wake up Jack, they almost always start wondering what else might come to life.
If your child loved watching Jack slowly wake up, they'll love bringing another pumpkin to life as colorful bubbles slowly transform an ordinary pumpkin into something magical.
Launch tiny paper ghosts high into the air as children laugh, race to see whose ghost flies the highest, and eagerly ask to do it again.
Turn an ordinary pumpkin into a bubbling Halloween volcano that foams, fizzes, and overflows with one exciting eruption after another.
He Stayed Awake
Someone picks Jack up before anyone else can.
"He woke up!"
One careful squeeze tells them he isn't quite as round as he was a few minutes ago, but nobody seems to care. He's still Jack.
Instead of going back beside the bottle, he gets carried into the next room.
He sits beside the Halloween books while another story is read.
By bedtime he's a little softer than he was that afternoon.
He's still Jack.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will the balloon pop?
No. As long as you don't overfill the bottle or use too much baking soda and vinegar, the balloon should slowly inflate as Jack wakes up. Children usually enjoy watching Jack slowly wake up far more than seeing the balloon pop.
What kind of balloon works best?
Standard orange latex balloons are perfect because they're easy to draw on and stretch well as Jack begins to wake up.
Can we make more than one Magic Jack?
Absolutely. In fact, most children do. Once the first Jack wakes up, it's hard to stop at just one. Before long, every Jack has a different face, a different personality, and, of course, a friend.
What age is this activity best for?
Magic Jack is wonderful for preschoolers and elementary-aged children. Younger children especially enjoy decorating Jack and watching him slowly come to life, while an adult helps with measuring and setting up the reaction.
Can we use different pumpkin faces?
Definitely. Silly smiles, sleepy eyes, surprised expressions, funny eyebrows, and even one crooked tooth all give Jack a personality of his own. Many children spend just as much time creating the faces as they do watching Jack wake up.
The Next Balloon
A few days later, someone finds another orange balloon, turns it over in their hands, and smiles.
"Do you think this one could be Jack?"
Someone reaches for the marker before anyone even says another word.
"He needs a silly smile."
"No... bigger eyebrows."
"Can we wake him up too?"
Save This Magic Jack Idea for Later
The next orange balloon has a funny way of bringing this activity right back to mind.
Save this Magic Jack idea to Pinterest so it's ready the next time someone smiles and asks,
"Can we wake him up too?"
MORE SCIENCE ADVENTURES
When your family is ready for even more unforgettable discoveries, explore our Science Activities for Kids collection. You'll find hundreds of playful experiments, sensory invitations, and hands-on adventures that keep curiosity growing long after today's Magic Jack has gone back to sleep.
