If your students love science, Lego, and Star Wars, they are going to go bananas for the Rescue Han science experiment! Be sure to add this to your list of science activities for preschoolers and kindergarten kids.
Rescue Han Solo is a simple Lego science idea that involves chemical reactions, cause and effect, and more. It’s perfect for curious young children ready to ask questions, experiment, and find answers to their questions.
And kids don’t need to have seen the movies to enjoy this Star Wars science activity. In fact, they can use any small toys they like in place of Han Solo. They’ll still explore the scientific method and engage in some sensory play along the way.
Related: Star Wars Activities
My son has been very interested in Star Wars for years, ever since his aunt took him to the Jedi Academy. He’s always been into Lego, so imagine his reaction when he discovered Lego Star Wars!
I originally created this Lego Star Wars science experiment for his 7th birthday party. Â He and his buds absolutely loved it, and we’ve recreated it many (many!) times over the years. I can attest that preschool and elementary aged kids really enjoy it.
The Scientific Method with Lego Star Wars
I keep referring to this as a science experiment rather than a science activity. What’s the difference, you ask? Yes . . . the scientific method!
And yes, even young children can be taught the scientific method. If you want to include it in your Rescue Han science experiment activity like we did, here’s what to do:
- First, ask a question. Perhaps something like, “How do you think we’ll be able to free Han Solo from the carbonite?”
- Then record each hypothesis from the kids.
- Next, it’s time to test.
- While the children are doing the experiment, ask them what they observe. You can record these observations as desired.
- Analyze what’s happened.
- Finally, discuss the data and observations from the Lego Star Wars science fun.
It sounds super fancy, but it’s really pretty easy to integrate the scientific method into ideas like this one! You can make it as formal or informal as you and the kids prefer.
Rescue Han Science Experiment
Engineer’s friends requested an “activity” for his birthday party, as they love the random experiments we do.  As I was striving to come up with something, I remembered Han Solo being encased in carbonite. That, coupled with how much I loved our exploding treasure chests pirate experiment, inspired this science activity.
Rescue Han Solo Science Materials
Here’s what we used for our Star Wars science experiment (I may get commissions for purchases made through links in this post):
As I mentioned earlier, though, you don’t just have to use Star Wars themed items. Any small toys you have should be fine, as long as they’re waterproof.
How to Rescue Han Solo with Science
The Rescue Han science experiment is pretty straightforward. To prep it:
- First, mix 3 parts baking soda with 1 part water. You can add Jell-O powder to scent and color the mixture as desired.
- Then pour a small amount of this mixture into the bottom of the ice cube tray.
- Place one Star Wars minifigure into each section.
- Next, cover each toy with more of the baking soda and water mixture.
- Finally, place the ice cube tray into the freezer overnight, or at least for a few hours.
The first time we did this, we made one tray using the basic mixture and one tray with blue Jell-O added to it. It’s all down to personal preference, but it’s fun with the added scents, in my opinion.
Once the “carbonite” is completely frozen, now comes the science fun! And there’s not much to it:
- Remove the frozen figurines and place them in small containers.
- Use vinegar to save Han Solo and his Star Wars buddies!
I’ve found the best way to do this with multiple kids is by placing individual frozen minifigs into small containers. Then place those containers in a larger plastic bin (preferably one with short sides so the kids can access everything).
Then have small bowls of vinegar, spoons, and kid-friendly droppers inside the large bin, too. This way, all the children can access the items they need. And any possible bubbly mess is somewhat contained.
What Happened with Our Rescue Han Science Experiment
Despite the fact that we’ve done a variety of baking soda and vinegar experiments in the past, they never seem to get old! Â To begin with, I placed one figurine in small glass dishes for each of the boys. Â They happily spooned vinegar to rescue the Star Wars characters. Â Once they’d saved all of the Lego figures from the basic white “carbonite”, they moved onto the Jell-O mixture.
As they rescued more Star Wars characters, they became even more excited about the experiment. Â This meant we had to move everything into a much larger tub. Â I probably should have done that to begin with! Â The boys used the vinegar bottles to pour vinegar over the remaining cubes. Â Once all of them were melted, they began having fun with the vinegar and baking soda.
There were mini “explosions” from the vinegar bottles as they added more baking soda. They dissolved into giggles when they realized shaking the bottles created funny fizzes. Needless to say, I needed a couple of towels at this point! The Lego Star Wars figures had fun in the “blue swamp” as they battled each other amid volcanic eruptions.
At this point, we have recreated the Rescue Han science experiment so many times I’ve lost count. It’s always been a hit with the kids, even if they have no idea what Star Wars is!
More Star Wars Day Activities
If the rescue Han Solo science idea was a hit with your kids, here are some more Star Wars ideas to try:
- Star Wars Sensory Bin
- Handprint Yoda Card
- Death Star Art Project
- Star Wars Yoda Shape Craft
- Death Star Crafts and Activities
Be sure to save the Rescue Han science experiment for future reference! If you have a Star Wars Activities Pinterest board, that’s a good place to start.
Fine Motor Lego Alphabet Resource
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Originally published May 2014.
katepickle says
ah this is such a fun idea! My Lego mad and Star Wars mad kids will love this!!!
Mary Catherine says
Thank you so much, Kate!! 🙂 Let me know if you get the chance to try it out.
Angela @CreatifulKids says
How fun!
Mary Catherine says
Thank you, Angela! It really was a blast for all of us!
Sheila says
This is really neat. We are going to have to give it a try soon. We are also LEGO and Star Wars fans :). Thanks for the great idea. ~Sheila
Mary Catherine says
Thank you, Sheila! Let me know how it goes if you get the chance to try it out. 🙂
Lisette says
Thanks for the idea. I also have a Star Wars Lego fan!
Just curious does the vinegar (chemical reaction) affect the Lego in any way? The painted faces or Lego colours or even the Lego plastic quality?
Sarah says
Oh!! Good question! I’d like to know this too!
Mary Catherine says
I just gave poor Lisette my long-winded answer! I hope it helps you out too. 🙂
Mary Catherine says
Thanks for stopping by! 🙂 We tried this out last weekend with a variety of the Lego Star Wars characters. They played with it for about an hour, with some of the minifigs staying in the containers (with the vinegar and baking soda) and some outside it. When we were done, I rinsed the figures with water and left them to dry on a paper towel. None of the decorations (faces, clothes, etc.) changed or come off, and I didn’t see anything happen with the quality of the plastic. I just ran off to double-check that now, to be sure! That was our experience.
lisa says
Have to buy the ice trays! My 2 boys will love this thanks so much!!!
Mary Catherine says
Yay, I’m so glad to hear that Lisa! We have tons of ice trays around here . . . and they rarely seem to get used for ice! 🙂
Anissa Roberts says
I cannot imagine the vinegar having any effect on the plastic as vinegar is sold in large plastic bottles to begin with. It is an acid but a minimal acid.
One great benefit is that they will be clean and sanitized when done as well. 🙂
Mary Catherine says
Thanks, Anissa! 🙂 Great way to look at it!
Glen says
We did the carbonite freeze and free today at our Jedi Scouts meeting. We used action figures and froze them in disposable plastic containers. The kids thought it was cool. Then we used some vinegar and baking soda in a plastic rocket to show them how collecting the bubbles of CO2 could fire off a rocket
Mary Catherine says
Glen, that is awesome! I love the extension idea of firing a rocket. My son would adore trying that!
Kelly says
Hi Mary Catherine. I found your photo and blog post pinned to a science Pinterest board recently. I love this idea! I just finished writing about some of my favorite pins from this week and I gave you a quick shout out. Have a great rest of your week!
Mary Catherine says
Thanks so much, Kelly – for both the kind words and the awesome shout out! 🙂
Alicia says
I didn’t have flavored gelatin so I tried adding a grape Kool-Aid packet instead…worked out great!
Becca says
We’ve also made light sabers by using the long, thin ice cube trays intended for water bottles. With vinegar in an empty condiment bottle the light sabers explode :).
Emma says
Thank you so much for this activity idea! we did this today on a 40 degree day in Australia, just perfect and so much fun melting the ice. We didn’t have star wars Lego but we sure did have fun mixing and matching all the heads, bodies and legs of all the Lego people we do have. My little boy even froze an accessory in with each figurine (pick axe, scarecrow hat etc). Thanks again 🙂
Joy says
LOVE this idea! I can imagine though my son wrinkling his nose up at the smell of vinegar! Did you encounter any challenges with the smell? Vinegar over here (the Philippines) has a pretty strong smell!
Linnea says
Thank you for the great idea. I host a weekly “Kindergarten Science Friday” and one of the students LOVES Star Wars. So, we’re doing “Star Wars Science” this week.
Mary Catherine says
Love that! Thanks 🙂
Isabelle says
We’re celebrating May the 4th today with our kids and thought we’d try your experiment. It looks awesome! I’ve also added your link to my blog to share with others. Thank you for the great idea. I’m sure the kids will love it.
Amy O'Connell says
How much vinegar did it take to unfreeze the characters?
Mary Catherine says
We didn’t keep track of how much vinegar we used, although that would be a great addition to the next experiment! 🙂
Johann says
I just tried the experiment and the baking soda reacted instantly with the water. The mixture began to sparkle instantly.
And I took 100ml of baking soda (3 parts) and 33ml of water (1 part) – and the result was not fluid but solid. There was no way of “pouring” this stuff. But when I added more water it startet bubbling again.
This did not look like your result at all. The minifigures are in the freezer now, but I do not think this will work. Did I do anything wrong?
I should add that I am from Germany and translated “Baking Soda” to “Backpulver” in which sodium hydrogen carbonate is the main ingredient (apart from maize starch and diphosate).
Mary Catherine says
Hi Johann, I have only ever used the U.S. version of baking soda. It sounds like what you used isn’t just straight-up baking soda. Are you able to get your hands on it, perhaps via Amazon? That’s my biggest suggestion.