Southern Nevada Regional Professional Development Program Science Experience It A collection of science experiments for elementary students
Table of Contents Pag How do rocks react to Vinegar?... 1 How Can You Tell if Air is In Something?... 2 How can air help you drink?... 3 How can air be compressed?... 4 Is there another way air can be compressed?...5-6 How can you see air move?... 7 In which directions will air pressure push? (direction)... 8 How hard can air push?... 9 How can air pressure make things stronger?... 10 In which directions will air pressure push? (vacuum)... 11 How does air pressure affect water flow?... 12 What type of crystals do rocks have?... 13 How can you put a coin in a glass without touching it?... 14 What do bears know that many people don t?... 15 How can water make a coin appear?... 16 What color streak does a rock make?... 17 How can magnetism do work?... 18 How can you make a worm?... 19 How can you make rain?... 20 How do raisins swim?... 21 How can you show your school grounds on a sheet of paper?... 22 What color streak does a rock make?... 23 What is in Sea Water?... 24 How can you make a Soap Motorboat?... 25 What happens when water changes to a solid?... 26 In what order do materials settle in water?... 27 Persistent Vision... 28 How Can You See Through a Solid Object?... 29 Bouncing Eggs... 30 Bouncing Light... 31 i
Changing the Color of the World... 32 Cold vs. Hot... 33 Colored Light... 34 Crackles and Sparks... 35 On Your Head... 36 Glitter... 37 Making Sparks... 38 Pulleys... 39 Simple Machines... 40 High Sounds and Low Sounds... 41 Vanishing Water... 42 Water from Air... 43 Air and Air Pressure... 44 Balloon Rockets... 45 Boat Shapes... 46 Bottles and Balloons... 47 How is a soft drink similar to an astronaut in space?... 48 Changing Spots... 49 Nervousness Tester... 50 What is Condensation?... 51 Does It Float?... 52 The Egg and the Bottle... 53 Electron Orbital... 54 Floating Liquids... 55 Heated and Cooled Solids... 56 Inside the Atom... 57 Light and Shadows... 58 What happens when a magnet can turn freely?... 59 What happens when you burn a candle at both ends?... 60 How can you make a glass disappear?... 61 Oxygen in the Air... 62 Phases of the Moon... 63 How Can You See Your Pulse?... 64 ii
Why do shadows change in size?... 65 Sinking... 66 The Smell Box... 67 How can the energy of sound cause something to move?... 68 Spoon Chimes... 69 Upside-down Beans... 70 What is Sound?... 71 iii
Earth Science How do rocks react to Vinegar? Collection of rocks Vinegar Plastic cup for each rock Chalk 1. Place a very small sample of each rock into a separate cup. Put a small piece of chalk in a cup as one of the rock samples. 2. Pour a small amount of vinegar on each sample. 3. What happens? Group the rocks according to the way they reacted to the vinegar. This test is called an acid test and is normally performed with dilute hydrochloric acid (HCl). Vinegar is a weak acid and works just as well. The acid test is used to identify rocks that contain calcium carbonate. Any such rock will fizz when vinegar, or HCl, is applied. Limestone, marble, calcite, and chalk are made of calcium carbonate and will fizz also. 1
Earth Science How Can You Tell if Air is In Something? 8 oz. clear Plastic tumbler Facial tissue Deep bowl, filled with water 1. Look at the glass, look what is in it? 2. Crumple the tissue up and put it in the bottom of the glass. 3. Turn the glass over, being careful not to change the position of the tissue within the glass, and push it, upside down, into the bowl of water. 4. After thorough observation, remove glass without tipping it. 5. What happened to the tissue? What can you say about this? When the glass is lowered mouth first into the bowl of water, the air will be trapped inside and prevent water from entering the glass. Thus, the tissue will remain dry. 2
Earth Science How can air help you drink? Clear glass soda bottle filled with water Plastic or paper straw Modeling clay 1. Drink some water through the straw. 2. Use Clay or similar substance to seal the top of the bottle all around with the straw. Drink some more water through the straw. What happened? What can you saw about this? In order to drink through a straw, you must have air pushing on the surface of the water. When the top of the soda is sealed air cannot get inside to push, so drinking is impossible. Soda cans have either two holes or one hole that is shaped in such a way that air can get inside as the liquid pours out; narrow-necked bottles do not, which is why they make a gurgling sound when poured. 3
Earth Science How can air be compressed? Clear plastic 16-oz. Shampoo bottle, filled with water. Medicine dropper filled with a small amount of water. 1. Observe the medicine dropper once you place it into the larger bottle. 2. Gently squeeze the bottle. 3. What happened? How can this be explained? This is called a Cartesian Driver. Fill the plastic bottle with water. Put enough water in the medicine dropper so it will just barely float in the bottle and place the dropper in the bottle, bulb end up. Put the cap on the bottle. When pressure is applied to the bottle, the water inside, which will not compress, is forced into the medicine dropper, in turn compressing the air and making the dropper heavier. It will sink to the bottom of the bottle, eventually. When the pressure that is applied to the bottle is released, the compressed air in the dropper will force some of the water out and the dropper will float to the surface. If the pressure is varied, the dropper can be stopped in the middle or ate any point desired. 4
Earth Science Is there another way air can be compressed? 12 or 160oz. clear soda bottle Head from a wooden kitchen match Water 1. Float a head from a kitchen match in the soda bottle completely full of water. 2. Use your thumb to push down the water in the mouth of the bottle. Your thumb should completely cover the bottles mouth. 3. What happened? What can you say about this? This is another Cartesian Diver. The match head is porous- full of air spaces so it floats on top of water. When you use your thumb to push on the surface, water is forced into the air spaces in the match head and it will sink. When the pressure is released, the match head will float to the surface again, as the compressed air in the match head forces the water out. 5
Earth Science Ice cubes Clear 8 oz. glass tumbler Sheet of white paper Food coloring Water Is there another way air can be compressed? 1. Put several ice cubes in the tumbler. Fill the glass with water. 2. Add a drop of food coloring to the water, and stir. 3. Put the tumbler on a piece of white paper and let it stand for several minutes. 4. What happened? What can you say about this? When air is cooled, it gives up moisture. As the tumbler becomes cold, the air around it will be cooled and moisture will condense on it. Food coloring and the white paper are used to show that the water is not passing through the tumbler. The water formed on the outside will be clear. We often use coasters under our cold drinks because of condensation. 6
Earth Science How can you see air move? Deep 8-ounce plastic tumblers, marked A and B Deep bowl filled with water 1. Look at the containers marked A and B. What is inside of them? 2. Push the glass labeled A, mouth first, into the bowl of water. 3. Turn it onto its side. What happened? 4. Submerse glass B, mouth first, into the bowl right above A, then slowly tip B onto its side. 5. Put the mouth of glass A right above glass B and slowly tip glass B on its side. What happened? What can you say about this? When glass A is pushed into the bowl, it will contain air. When it is tipped on its side, the air will bubble out and the glass will fill with water. When glass B is pushed to the bottom and tipped on its side, and if the mouth of glass A is directly above it, the air will bubble from glass B into A, because air is lighter than water. Students will be able to see the air travel from glass B and force the water from glass A. 7
Earth Science In which directions will air pressure push? Deep tub or sink 8-ounce glass Water 1. Fill the glass with water until it is about 4/5 of the way full. 2. Put the index card over the mouth of the glass. 3. Gently hold the card in one hand, and the glass in the other. Turn the glass upside down and carefully remove your hand from the card. 4. Slowly turn the glass right side up, taking care not to touch the index card. 5. What happened? How do you explain this? When the glass full of water is turned upside down and the hand removed, the card will stay on the glass and the water won t come out. This is because the pressure of the air pushing on the card is great enough to hold the water in. When the glass is turned right-side up, the card will stay on the glass, showing that air pushes in all directions. 8
Earth Science Southern Nevada regional Professional Development Program How hard can air push? Clear glass soda bottle. Large, long balloon 1. Put the balloon into the soda bottle, holding onto the balloons open end and stretching the lip over the opening of the soda bottle. 2. Inflate the balloon inside the bottle 3. What happened? Can you explain why? When the child blows into the balloon, the increased air pressure inside the balloon will push against the trapped air in the bottle. The pressure of the air in the bottle will increase and push harder on the balloon. He child will discover sooner or later that the balloon can t be inflated whilst inside the bottle. 9
Earth Science How can air pressure make things stronger? Paper straws Potato 1. Hold a straw near one end and try to stick the other end in a potato. What happened? 2. Now try placing a finger over the top of the straw and push it into the potato (fast and hard for best results.) What happened? 3. What can you say about this? When you try to stick the straw with both ends open in the potato, the straw will bend. When you place your finger over the upper end of the straw the air is trapped inside and the column is strengthened. The straw will go into the potato. Be sure to stab rapidly and hold the straw near the top during all parts of the activity. 10
Earth Science In which directions will air pressure push? 2 suction cup plungers Water 1. Moisten the edges of the two plungers and find a partner to help you. 2. Push the ends of both plungers together, and then pull them apart. 3. What happened? What can you say about this? When the plungers are pushed together, much of the air between them is forced out, creating a partial vacuum. The outside air pressure keeps them together. Plungers will not work on the moon because there is practically no air pressure. 11
How does air pressure affect water flow? 1. Gallon- or quart-sized metal can, with tight fitting lid and a hole punched into the side near the bottom. 2. Masking tape 3. Water 4. Sink or bucket 1. Cover the hole near the bottom the can with a piece of masking tape. 2. Fill the can with water. 3. Remove the masking tape and observe the stream of water. 4. Put the lid on the can tightly. Now observe the stream of water. 5. What happened? How can you explain this? Be sure the lid seals so that the container is as airtight as possible. Without the lid, water will flow in a stream from the hole. When the lid is in on tight, though, the water flow will gradually stop, even if there is liquid left in the container. When the lid is removed, the sharp hissing and metallic sounds indicates that the sides of the container are being pushed back into place. Without a lid, air exerts pressure on the top of the water in the can. With the lid in place, air can no longer enter. As the volume of water decreases, so does the pressure inside the can, while the air expands to fill the space that the water left behind. Air pressure outside the can stays the same. When the pressure outside the can becomes greater than inside, the flow of water will stop. Note: A rigid plastic bottle can be used in place of the metal can. Enrichment Questions 1. Why is the hole in a pop-top can shaped the way it is? 2. Why do punch 2 holes in the solid lid of a juice can? 3. There are usually plumbing pipes sticking out of the roof in apartments or houses. Why? 12
Earth Science What type of crystals do rocks have? Collection of rocks Hand lens 1. Examine each rock with the hand lens. 2. Can you see any crystal structure? 3. Are the crystals lined up or arranged randomly? 4. Do the crystals seem to be somewhat interlocking (fit together) or do they appear to be glued together by a cement-like material? 5. Group the rocks together according to your findings. Igneous and metamorphic rocks have undergone intense heat in their formation and their crystals will be interlocking, or melted together, with materials that settled to the bottom of a body of water where the rock was formed. Beautiful arrangements of quartz crystals are found in the centers of hollow rocks called geodes. Try to include at least one geode in the collection of rocks used. 13
How can you put a coin in a glass without touching it? Drinking glass Penny Index card cut into a square 1. Put the card on the top of the glass. 2. Place the coin in the middle of the card 3. Using your middle finger and a sharp snapping motion, flick the card so it flies horizontally off the cup. 4. What happened? What can you say about this? If the card is flipped horizontally with the middle finger, the coin will fall into the glass. This demonstrates the principle of inertia, which states that in order for an object that is at rest requires force in order to go into motion. As the card slips underneath the penny, the inertia of the penny causes it to stay still, and it falls into the glass, because not enough force is applied to make the coin move. You can also pull a thin sheet of paper out from under a glass of water if you have the paper about halfway off the table and pull with a sharp, downward motion. Be sure the bottom of the glass is dry. 14
Earth Science 8 oz. glass of water Pencil Water What do bears know that many people don t? 1. Use an 8 oz. glass about two-thirds full of water. 2. Put a pencil in the glass. Observe the pencil at above and below the water level. 3. What can you say about this? 4. Why do you think this might be called What do bears know that people don t? Think of a bear trying to catch a fish that it sees in the water. When the pencil is put in the glass of water, it appears to bend as it enters the water. This is because the light is bent as it travels through the water. Actually, the pencil is not anywhere near where it appears to be under the water. Bears seem to know this and use it when fishing. They know where the fish is even though it isn t exactly where it appears to be. Children may also notice that the pencil appears large under the water. This is because the curved surface of the glass and the water in it act like convex. 15
Earth Science Opaque bowl Coin Water How can water make a coin appear? 1. Put the coin in the bowl. Mark the spot so you re sure it doesn t move. 2. Put the bowl on the table and crouch down so you can no longer see the coin (but not far enough to lose sight of the surface of the bowl s contents completely.) 3. Have a friend slowly pour water into the bowl. 4. What happened? How can you explain this? Light travels in what appears to be a straight line, but when it goes through water, it slows down and is bent. As water is poured into the bowl, the light will bend and more of the bottom of the bowl will be exposed, until the coin is in plain view. 16
Earth Science What color streak does a rock make? Collection of rocks Magnet 1. Select one of the rocks and touch it to the magnet. 2. Is the rock attracted to the magnet? 3. Test each rock in the collection to see if any seem to contain magnetic material. 4. Make two groups of rocks- those that are attracted to the magnet, and those that are not. Try to include at least one rock that contains iron, such as galena, in the collection of rocks used for this activity. If no rocks are available that are attracted to the magnet, this activity should be omitted. If you have, or can acquire, a piece of magnetite, such as lodestone, it would make an excellent addition to the collection for this exercise. Magnetite is a natural magnet. It will be attracted or repelled, depending on its position, the same as any magnet behaves towards another magnet. 17
Magnet Steel ball How can magnetism do work? 1. Place the magnet on the table. 2. Place the steel ball on the table about 2-3 cm. from the end of the magnet. 3. Let go of the steel ball. 4. What happened? 5. What is work and how was work done in step 3? Work is defined as moving something (force acting through a distance). The magnet should cause the steel ball to roll toward it. If this did not happen, try putting the steel ball a bit closer to the magnet. 18
How can you make a worm? Soda straw with sealed paper wrapper intact Water Medicine dropper Small dish 1. Tear the top of a straw s paper wrapping so that the to the top of the straw is visible. 2. Put the bottom of the straw on a table and carefully slide the paper wrapper down the straw until it is wrinkled, but no more than 2 inches long. 3. Place the paper that now resembles a wrinkled worm on a small dish and use the dropper to put 3 or 4 drops of water along its back. 4. What happened? What can you say about this? When a few drops of water are put on the wrinkled paper, the worm will begin to grow and sometimes crawl. This is because the water spreads through the compressed paper and causes it to relax and expand. This is called Capillary action, and represents the attraction or repulsion of liquids to solids. The study of surface tension in physics and chemistry and the scientific study of Chromatics also involve this principle. This is an excellent take home and talk about activity. 19
Earth Science Southern Nevada regional Professional Development Program Quart-sized glass jar. Aluminum or iron pie tin Hot water Ice cubes How can you make rain? 1. Pour a cup of hot water in a quart-sized glass jar (lid is not necessary.) 2. Put some ice cubes in a pie tin and place it on top of the jar. 3. Observe for several minutes. What happened? The hot water will heat the air in the jar and add moisture to it. The moistureladen hot air will rise. As it nears the cold pie tin, the air will cool and condense. In time, it may actually begin raining outside the jar, as water drops form on, and fall from, the overhanging pan. 20
Clear carbonated pop, like 7-Up. Pint-sized fruit or mason jar 20 raisins How do raisins swim? 1. Add clear, carbonated soda to the jar until it is about 2/3 of the way full. 2. Put about 20 raisins into the jar with the soda. Observe for several minutes. 3. What happened? How can you explain this? When the raisins are put into the soda, they will sink to the bottom of the jar. Gradually, small bubbles of carbon dioxide gas from the soda will collect on the skins of the raisins. As more bubbles of gas collect on the raisins, they will become buoyant and rise to the surface. When they reach the top, the bubbles pop and the raisins will sink to the bottom, and begin to collect pop-bubbles again. 21
Earth Science How can you show your school grounds on a sheet of paper? Standard notebook paper Ruler Pencil 1. In activity 81, you drew a map of your classroom and furniture. If you followed the instructions carefully, you included a way for your map to show the real size of objects on it. 2. Draw a map of your school grounds, including the schoolhouse, ball field, playground, etc. Before you begin, review what you did for activity 81. Use the same idea for showing the real size of things on your school grounds map that you used in your classroom map. 3. Compare your school grounds map with your classroom map. What is the same and what is different? 4. On your map of the school grounds, draw your classroom in the school building, showing it in its actual location in the building 5. Could you draw all the furniture in your classroom on this map just as you did on your first map? What is different and why? 6. What changes does a mapmaker have to make in order to show large areas on a map? The purpose of this activity is to cause students to expand the amount of area they include as they draw a map on paper. They should begin to get the idea that any area can be represented on a small sheet of paper. As the area increases size, the scale must change in order to fit more actual area in a given amount of space on the map. In discussion of steps 5 and 6, be sure students realize that the mapmaker must decrease detail as greater areas are represented. 22
Earth Science What color streak does a rock make? Collection of rocks Porcelain Sheets of various colored paper Colored pencils 1. Select one of the rocks from the collection. 2. Try to make a streak on the porcelain with the rock 3. Does it make a streak, if so what color does it make? 4. Try to make a streak with each of the other rocks in that collection. 5. Does the color of the streak usually match the color of the rock that made it? 6. Put the rocks in groups according to the color of their streaks 7. Will any of the rocks write on paper? If so, try drawing a picture. Try different colors of paper as well as different colors of rocks One of the most common tests made in classifying rocks in the streak test, A porcelain plate, called a streak plate, is used by rubbing the rock against it to determine the color of powder that the rock produces. The color of the streak is frequently different from the actual color of the rock that made it. If the rock collection includes talc, anthracite (coal), or gypsum, students should be able to write on paper with them. 23
1. Salt water (or sea water) 2. Pan What is in Sea Water? 1. Pour some of the liquid into a pan. 2. Let the water evaporate. 3. Observe what is left over in the bottom of the pan. Try tasting it. 4. What do you think is in seawater? Sea water contains salt, which will be left as a light colored residue in the bottom of the pan after the water has all evaporated. A sprinkle of salt into tap water is a good substitute when seawater is not available. 24
How can you make a Soap Motorboat? One tongue depressor, cut into 4 pieces (long ways and across the middle) Medicine dropper filled with liquid detergent. Large bowl or pan of clean fresh water Knife (Older students only) 1. Carve one end of the tongue depressor to a point so it looks like a boat. Make a small notch at the opposite end. 2. Float your boat near the center of the pan of water. 3. Use the medicine dropper to put a small amount of detergent in the notch. 4. What happened? The drop of detergent will gradually dissolve, breaking the surface tension of the water behind the boat. Water molecules tug on the boat at the front, pulling it through the water. Note: If liquid detergent is not available, scrape some shavings off a bar of soap into the notched area for similar results. Before attempting to repeat any activity involving soap or detergent, rinse everything thoroughly in clean water. 25
Earth Science What happens when water changes to a solid? Two pint sized glass jars One jar lid that seals Plastic ice tray Medicine or spice jar with pop-off (not safety) cap Water Freezer compartment Heavy cloth of dish towel 1. Completely fill the ice tray, all jars, and the small bottle with water 2. Screw the cap tightly on one jar 3. Wrap the jar with the lid in cloth 4. Place all four containers upright in the freezer. Leave for 24 hours 5. Carefully unwrap the cloth jar and examine and compare the four containers. 6. What has happened to the water? Can you explain the reason for the condition of each container? Unlike other material, water expands as it approaches the freezing point. The water in the open jar will be frozen, but the jar will be intact since the top was left open to permit expansion. The surface of the ice tray may be rippled showing a pattern first of expansion, then of contraction as the water became frozen. The jar wrapped in cloth will be cracked and broken or the lid will be bulged or forced off due to the expansion of the freezing water. Because of this expansion, water-cooled engines require an anti-freeze, which lowers the freezing point of the engine coolant. Most engines also have freeze plugs which are designed to pop out, just like the top of the small bottle, to prevent serious damage to the engine. Outside water pipes are usually turned off and drained during winter months in cold climates. 26
Earth Science In what order do materials settle in water? 1-quart or larger glass jar with lid gravel or small rocks of various sizes water soil sand 1. Add equal amounts of soil, gravel, and sand until the jar is about 1/3 of the way full. 2. Add enough water so that the jar is nearly full 3. Place the lid on the jar and shake it to thoroughly stir the mixture. 4. Which of the materials inside the jar do you think will settle to the bottom? Which will be on top? 5. Stop shaking the jar and let it stand until all materials are settles and the water is somewhat clear. 6. Examine the materials in the jar and record the order in which they settled. 7. How accurate were your predictions? 8. Shake the mixture again and determine the order that the materials settle in the same order as the first time 9. Try to explain why the materials settled out of the water in the order that they did. Do you think materials would settle in the same order at the bottom of the sea? What factors do you think would control the rate at which sediment settles to the ocean floor? If pieces of seashells or snail shells are available, add them to the materials in the bottle at step 1. Students will find that sediment will be rather consistent in the order that they settle, with the largest rocks on the bottom and the fine sand and silt at the top. Some of the factors students should consider in step 9 are: size of the particle, density of the particle, shape of the particle, and water currents. 27
Persistent Vision Pencil with erasers Prepared index cards Pin and/or glue. 1. Hold the pencil between open palms of your hands. 2. Move your hands back and forth so the pencil spins around. 3. Observe what happens. Fold and cut an index card so you have a two-inch square on two sides. Draw a fish on one side of the card and on the other side draw a glass fishbowl. Glue the card together with the pin in the middle. Stick the pin in the eraser of a pencil. When the pencil is rotated in the palms of the hands, the fish will appear to be in the bowl. This demonstrates the idea of persistent vision. When we see an image, it persists for about 1/16 of a second. If another image appears, within that time, both will be seen. Other objects such as a lion and a cage, basketballs and baskets, or bright stars on a dark backdrop can also be pictured on the cards, with similar effects. Because of this phenomenon, if you were seeing up to or over 24 images per second, they would blend together well enough to make a seamless motion picture. 28
Basic Cardboard tube How Can You See Through a Solid Object? 1. Look through the cardboard tube at an object across the room. Keep your other eye open also. 2. While staring at the object with both eyes, lift your right palm to your face against the tube and on top of your right eye (remember to keep both eyes open.) 3. What happened? Your hand or the book, when brought against the side of the tube, will appear to have a hole in it. You will see the object that you stare at. As your eyes house separate and self-reliable picture-taking devices, and your brain puts the pictures together, and leaves out what is not in both pictures thus, it seems that you have a hole in a very solid part of your hand. 29
Materials Drinking glass Vinegar 1 raw egg Bouncing Eggs Procedures 1. Gently place the egg at the bottom of the glass. 2. Fill the rest of the glass with vinegar. 3. Predict what will happen to the egg, and how long it will take. 4. Remove the egg after fifteen hours and try dropping it in the sink. 5. Record results. Teacher Information The egg should feel rubbery because the acid in the vinegar breaks down the calcium carbonate that makes the shell hard. 30
Two cardboard tubes (paper towel tubes) A flashlight Mirror Two people Bouncing Light Procedures 1. Hold a mirror up near the edge of a table. 2. Ask a friend to hold one tube at an angle to the mirror. 3. Shine the flashlight down it. 4. Hold your tube next to the first one. 5. Look through it and move it around until you see the light shining straight at you. Teacher Information Reflections are caused by light bouncing off things. An alternative experiment would be to direct a beam of sunlight along a wall by reflecting it off a mirror. 31
Construction paper Cellophane in different colors Scotch tape Changing the Color of the World Procedures 1. Fold the pieces of construction paper in half. 2. Cut out the center of the construction paper so it looks like an empty frame. 3. Cut out squares of the cellophane to put on the frames. 4. Tape the cellophane to the frame. 5. Look at various objects through the viewers. 6. Record the results from these questions: 7. What happens to the colors you look at? Which colors change the most? What happens if you overlap the viewers? Do certain viewers make the biggest difference? Teacher Information The viewers are a type of color filter. They only let through light the same color as themselves, so they stop you from seeing some of the same colors. Alternative experiment: Tape all of the viewers together, place in a window that has direct sunlight. This makes a stained glass window. Stained glass windows act as color filters. They filter the light shining through them, as you can see from the patterns that it will cast on the floor. 32
Materials Small jar Water 5 drops of food coloring Quart size jar Cold vs. Hot Procedures 1. Ask the question, What happens when you put a jar of warm water into a glass of cold water? 2. Fill the bigger jar three quarters of the way with cold water. 3. Fill the little jar with warm water and food coloring. 4. Quickly lower the small jar in to the bigger jar. Teacher Information The molecules in the warm water are less dense than the molecules in the cold water. This causes the food coloring to rise to the surface of the cold water, this process is called convection. 33
One shallow dish Water Window in the sun Piece of paper Colored Light Procedures 1. Fill a shallow dish with water. 2. Put it by a window in the sun. 3. Slant a small mirror in it facing the sun. 4. Hold a piece of paper above it and move the mirror until the sun is shining through the water until reflected on the paper. 5. What is happening and why? 6. Record results, with illustrations. Teacher Information The colors you see in the rainbow are always in the same order. Additional questions. What are the colors in the rainbow? What are they? What other colors do you see in the rainbow colors? 34
Materials Clean comb Water Crackles and Sparks Procedures 1. Charge a clean plastic comb with electricity by combing your hair hard when it is clean. 2. Hold the comb over your head. 3. Turn on the faucet until there is a steady trickle of water. 4. Hold the charged comb near water and watch what happens. Teacher Information No additional information needed. 35
Materials Partner Straw that bends Glass of water On Your Head Procedures 1. Ask the question, What happens when you drink a glass of water upsidedown? 2. Stand on your head. If needed lean up against the wall. 3. Have your friend put the glass of water with a straw in front of you. 4. Ask your friend to help you drink the water from the straw. Teacher Information The tube that connects your throat to your stomach has muscles that force the water to go against gravity. The movement of these muscles is called peristalsis. 36
Materials Bowl of water Glitter Dishwashing Liquid Glitter Procedures 1. Ask the question, What happens when you put dishwashing soap in a bowl of water and glitter? 2. Fill a bowl half full of water. 3. Add three shakes or pinches of glitter to the middle of the bowl. 4. Dip the end of a toothpick in the dishwashing liquid. 5. Touch it to the center of the water in the bowl. Teacher Information When you put the glitter in the water, it clumps together. When dishwashing soap is added the glitter spreads to the edges of the bowl. The soap breaks the surface tension of the water. 37
Materials Play-doh Cooking tray Plastic bag Metal object (Lid) Ability to darken a room Making Sparks Procedures 1. Press a lump of clay firmly on a tin baking tray. 2. Hold the play-doh lump and rub the tray around and around on a big thick plastic bag. 3. Lift the tray up and hold a metal object, like a can lid, close to one corner. 4. Turn of the light and repeat step three and watch the spark jump from the lid. Teacher Information By rubbing the tray on the bag, you make electricity and when there is enough electricity it will make a spark. It is very similar how electricity builds up in the storm clouds. 38
Materials Two brooms Long rope Pulleys Procedures 1. Tie one end of a rope to a broom. 2. Loop it from one broom to the other broom, using a zigzag or w formation. 3. Put two kids on each broom while one is off to the side holding the remaining rope. 4. What is happening? 5. Why is it happening? Record results. Teacher Information The brooms act like pulleys. The more times the rope goes around the brooms, the stronger your pulling power. The trick works even better if you dust the broom with baby powder, so the rope can slip easily. 39
Materials A short plank (2x4) One can Simple Machines Procedures 1. Balance the plank over the can so that has a short end and a long end. 2. Now try lifting the bricks or other heavy objects at your disposal. 3. Put them on the long end, record what is happening. 4. Switch it to the short end, record what is happening. 5. What are the similarities and differences and why? 6. What end is easier to lift something? Teacher Information Alternative experiments: Find some bottles the same size. Pour different amounts of water into them tap them. How can you give a bottle a higher note? Watch a guitar and violin is tuned by tightening the strings. 40
Materials Plastic box Eight thick rubber bands High Sounds and Low Sounds Procedures 1. Stretch the rubber bands around the box. 2. Tighten them by catching them on the edge of the box, to give each one a different note. 3. The tighter the rubber band, the higher the note makes. 4. Try tuning the rubber bands so you can play to scale. Teacher Information Alternative experiments: Find some bottles the same size. Pour different amounts of water into them tap them. How can you give a bottle a higher note? Watch a guitar and violin is tuned by tightening the strings. 41
Materials Two jars with lids Strip of paper Marker Two rubber bands Window with sunlight Water Vanishing Water Procedures 1. Fill jar up with the same amount of water. 2. Place the strip of paper going vertically on the side of the jar attach with rubber bands. 3. Mark on the strip of paper where the water line begins. 4. Repeat steps 1 3 with second jar. It is important that the jars and the contents are as similar as possible. 5. Place lids on both jars. 6. Place in a window with sunlight. 7. Leave them for a few days & mark the water line daily. 8. Ask the question, Where is the water going? Teacher Information Water does not really disappear when it dries up. Tiny droplets of water rise into the air, but they are so small that they cannot be seen, so it looks like it has vanished. It turns out that water has turned into vapor. It is also called evaporation. The air is full of water vapor because water evaporates from the oceans, rivers and lakes. 42
Materials Mirror Person Paper towel Water from Air Procedures 1. Hold a mirror in front of you. 2. Blow onto the mirror. 3. Look at the misty patch. 4. Have students record in science journal what they see. 5. What is happening and why? 6. Explain that tiny water droplets made the patch. 7. Compare it to on a cold winter day your breath looks like smoke because water vapor condenses in the air. Teacher Information There is vapor in your breath. As your warm, damp breath hits the cold mirror, the water vapor in it condenses. 43
Empty two-liter bottle Small balloon Container of hot water Air and Air Pressure 1. Fill a container with hot water. 2. Put a balloon over the top of the bottle. 3. Place the bottle in the container filled with hot water. 4. Record in science journal what is happening. 5. Ask the students how the balloon can be filled with an empty bottle. This experiment shows how air can occupy space. When the air is inside the bottle is heated, it takes up more space. The air is then forced into the balloon, filling it up. When the bottle is cooled the balloon will deflate because cool air takes up less space. 44
Balloon Rockets Different sizes and shapes of balloons. Straws Strips of material or paper String 1. Blow up various balloons and release. 2. Students are to record what is what they see when the balloon is released. 3. The balloons are now to simulate rockets. Posing the question, How hard is it to control a rocket? 4. Using the material or strips of paper students are to make additions and modifications to the balloon rocket recording all findings. A few suggestions for the pupil investigations: Attaching one or more straws to the mouth of the balloon. Attaching one or more strings. Attaching a tail to the end of the balloon. 45
Boat Shapes Empty plastic bottle Two blocks of wood (one larger than the other) Thick rubber bands 1. Put the bottle into a bowl of water and try tipping it over. You will find that it rolls over quite easily. 2. Use the rubber bands to fix the blocks of wood under the bottle. 3. Float the bottle on the water and try tipping it over again. What happens this time? This activity may be used at any grade level. The keel keeps the weight in the center of the boat and helps it balance in a level position on the water. 46
Bottles and Balloons Tank of water Plastic mug, bottle, a bowl, a pot, or an empty soda can 1. Put the hollow objects into the tank of water. 2. You will find that they all float. Can you make any of them sink? 3. Try pushing them under the water. Look at the bubbles of air rising to the surface. Even though hollow things look empty, they are really full of air. This activity is appropriate for all grade levels. 47
How is a soft drink similar to an astronaut in space? Clear carbonated soft drink in a bottle One that fizzes when poured. 1. Remove the cap from the clear carbonated soft drink slowly. 2. Observe closely to see the bubbles form inside the liquid. 3. If pour results, shake the bottle gently once or twice after opening, not before. Caution: It could be dangerous to shake closed bottles of carbonated liquid because the pressure could explode. 4. Why do you think it is bubbling and what is happening? The comparisons to the bubble formation and to an astronaut in space is the potential problems in the blood of the astronaut. In space there are things that are dangerous to human life, the things that are there (radiation & meteors), and things that are not there (oxygen & air pressure). When humans go into space we begin to lose oxygen and air pressure. At 6000 meters high people can lose consciousness. At 9000 meters we lose air pressure. This can be a problem because our body fluids and blood begin to fill with bubbles from dissolved gas. These bubbles form where pressure is lowered (similar to removing a carbonated drink cap). As astronauts go higher into space the hazards of low pressure get greater. At 19,000 meters the extreme low pressure causes body fluids to boil. They are protected by pressurized capsules and space suits. The suits are filled with air to give more pressure. 48
Paper Oil Changing Spots 1. Rub oil on to a piece of paper. 2. Hold it up to a light. 3. Does the spot appear light or dark? 4. Now hold it down to the floor. 5. Does the spot look the same or has it changed? 6. What do you observe? 7. What could we use this information for? This activity could be used when studying colonial times. Instead of oil & paper the pioneers used nuts or butter, as they took longer to become rancid. The brightness of the light depends on two major factors: first, the brightness of the light source and itself and second, the observer. The farther the object is away it appears dimmer. The paper with oil on is called a photometer. A photometer is a device used to measure the brightness of light. When the paper is help up to the light, the grease spot appears brighter on the surrounding paper. This means the light is brighter behind the spot. When the paper is held down, the spot appears dark indicating the light is brighter in front of the spot. The spot will almost disappear when the light is equally bright on both sides. 49
1 eyebolt Primary wire Eveready 6 volt hd Flashlight bulb 6 volt 1 shoebox Nervousness Tester 1. Using the primary wire connect the eye screw to the light bulb. 2. Next, connect the light bulb to the dry Eveready. 3. Finally connect the Eveready to the screw. 4. Cut a hole in the side of the box. 5. Put everything into the box, except the screw. 6. Now place the probe inside the hole without the touching the side. 7. Why does the light go on when you touch the probe to the screw? (Completing the Circuit.) Using the steadiest hand the students will be able to complete the circuit. 50
Metal pan Water Sheet of glass or hand mirror Heat source What is Condensation? 1. Put about 1 cm of water in the pan. 2. Heat the water until it boils. 3. Hold the sheet of glass over the boiling water. 4. Observe the glass carefully. What do you see forming on the bottom of the glass? Explain why you think this happens. This activity may be used at any grade level. 51
Large bowl Spoon Apple Sponge Penny Paperclip Does It Float? 1. Fill a large bowl with water. 2. Before you put each object into the water, see if you can guess whether it will sink or float. 3. Put your collection of objects into the water one at a time. 4. What do all the floaters have in common? Which materials are they made from? This activity may be used at any grade level. 52
One glass bottle (opening smaller than egg) Hard-boiled eggs without the shell Paper Matches The Egg and the Bottle 1. Light a small strip of paper on fire. 2. Drop it in the bottle. 3. Quickly place the egg on top of the bottle. 4. Watch the egg appear to be sucked into the bottle. 5. What happened to the egg? 6. Why do you think this happened? When air is heated it expand past the egg and out of the bottle. This is the reason the egg will bounce a little bit in the beginning. When the fire goes out the air inside the bottle begins to cool and the air that had escaped tries to get back in. The egg is now in the way so the air pushes the egg into the bottle. Also, heating the bottle with water will get the egg to go in. To get the egg out turn the bottle upside down so the egg is resting in the neck of the bottle and run hot water over the base. The hot air wanting to escape will push the egg through. 53
One clear balloon Two or three pennies Electron Orbital 1. Place the pennies inside the balloon. 2. Blow up the balloon. 3. Tie the inflated balloon. 4. Place one hand on the tied end of the balloon and the other hand on the opposite side. 5. Using a circular motion of your arms and hands watch the pennies move in orbits inside the balloon. None Needed 54
Floating Liquids Two clear containers of salt water (half filled) One container of fresh water Two eggs 1. Put the eggs in the salt water. (One in each container.) 2. Does the egg sink or float? Now pour some fresh water into one of the containers. The fresh water is lighter than the salty water, so it floats on top. The egg sinks down through the ordinary water but floats on top of the salty water. It looks as if it is floating in the middle of the jar. This activity is appropriate for all grade levels. To make salt water fill a pan with warm tap water and add some salt. Stir with a spoon and keep adding salt until you feel a gritty layer building up on the bottom of the pan. Leave the salty water for several hours until it is no longer cloudy. 55
Wire about 1 yard long Large nail Candle Match Heated and Cooled Solids 1. Wrap one end of the wire around the nail and anchor the other end to a support. Adjust the wire so the nail swings freely but barely misses the table or floor. 2. Light the candle and heat the wire. Observe the nail. What happened? 3. Remove the candle and allow the wire to cool. 4. Observe the nail. What happened? What can you say about the effect of heat on solids? This activity uses open flame, necessitating close supervision. As the candle heats the wire, it will expand the nail, which was swinging freely above the surface, will drag. 56
Play Dough or clay Small objects to embed in clay Toothpicks Inside the Atom 1. Divide students into small groups. 2. Give each group a ball of clay that a small object has been embedded in. 3. Pass out the toothpicks. 4. The students are to push the toothpicks into the object until the hit the object. 5. After inserting all of the toothpicks they are to predict what is in the clay and record results. Students will be experiencing what a scientist must do to determine what an atom is like when they cannot see the inside of it. Guide the students with questions such as; how resistant is the object to the toothpicks? How far will the toothpick go in? What position are the toothpicks in? Make sure that all predictions are recorded. 57
Light and Shadows Dark room Flashlight Book, spoon, pencil, jar, marbles, ruler, paper, rock 1. In a dark room shine a light onto each object. Which objects let the light through? Which objects do not let the light through? 2. Some things let the light through. You can see clearly through theses things. 3. Some things let light through but they scatter the light. If you look through these things everything looks blurred. 4. Many things do not let any light pass through them. You cannot see through these things. They are said to be opaque. This activity is appropriate for all grade levels. 58
What happens when a magnet can turn freely? Bar magnet Thread 1. Hold the bar magnet by the thread. 2. Spin the magnet slightly, then give it time to slow down and completely stop. 3. Observe the position in which it stops. 4. Do this several times. 5. What happened? 6. What can you say about this? If the bar magnet is correctly magnetized, it should stop each time with the N end pointing toward magnetic north. 59
The Middle Years Candle or long taper Match Toothpicks Water glasses What happens when you burn a candle at both ends? 1. Prepare a candle so the wick may be lighted at both ends. 2. Stick round toothpicks into the candle and balance it in between the water glasses. 3. Light both ends of the candle. Observe for several minutes. What happened? What can you say about this? Activities with fire should only be done under close supervision. When the candle is lighted at both ends, the end tilting downward will burn more wax away and become lighter. After it tilts up, the angle of the lower candle end will be such that it will burn more wax away. As the process continues to reverse, the candle will begin rocking, often quite vigorously. 60
The Middle Years Two large glass jars Two small jars Water Cooking oil How can you make a glass disappear? 1. Place the two small jars inside the large jars 2. Fill one pair of jars with water. 3. Can you see the small jar? 4. Fill the other pairs of jars with cooking oil. 5. Can you see the small jars? 6. Explain your observations. As light passes through one transparent material to another (such as air, water, and glass), the light is bent at the boundary between the two materials. 61
Oxygen in the Air Glass or plastic tray (clear enough to see through) Water At least three candles Coffee jar or a bottle with a wide opening at the top Matches 1. Set up an arrangement of candles at he bottom of the tray. 2. The tray is then filled up with about five centimeters of water. 3. Light the first candle and then place the inverted bottle over it. 4. Observe and record the results. 5. Predict what will happen when additional candles are lit. 6. Repeat the activity with the remaining candles and record the results. The flame inside the bottle will go out after a short while because the oxygen inside the bottle will be used to support the flame. The more candles that are lit the faster the flame will go out because the oxygen has to support the flames. The water level will rise to replace the oxygen. It will continue to rise higher when more candles are lit due to the lack of oxygen. 62
Projector or other strong light source Tetherball Globe Phases of the Moon 1. Students are to monitor the moon and record observations in a journal. 2. Teacher and students are to simulate the moon and its rotation. 3. Students are to answer the question, Do we see the dark side of the moon? This activity may be used at any grade level. 63
Large thumbnails Used wooden match How Can You See Your Pulse? 1. Carefully push the point of the tack into the end of the matchstick, so the match extends vertically from the tack. 2. Rest your hand, palm up, on a flat surface. 3. Using the matchstick as a base, place the match in an upright position on your wrist. 4. Move the match to different positions on your wrist and arm while you observe. 5. What is happening? Why? 6. Run in place for 1 minute solid, and then repeat the activity. 7. Observe any differences that may be apparent after only a minute of running in place. Most students had their pulse taken at some time. Often they don t understand what the nurse or doctor is doing. A wooden matchstick on the wrist should rock back and forth as your blood works underneath it. Try keeping the matchstick aligned with your index finger as you move it across your wrist. For some, it is difficult to find a pulse on their arm, so medical personnel must find it along the throat. Pulse rate varies from person to person, and varies within an individual at different times. 64