The Naked Egg
Experiment: Carefully place an egg in to a cup of vinegar making sire the egg is completely covered. Let it sit for 12-24 hours. You can watch as the shell starts to dissolve. When the shell is mostly dissolved, take the egg out and all that remains is the membrane around the inside of the egg (There may be some remains of the shell which can be wiped off- it will be chalky). Try some experiments with it (these can get a bit messy). See how high it can bounce from a table without popping. Watch the process of osmosis by placing it in a cup filled with water, food coloring, or corn syrup for 1-2 days each. Water will make it's way in and out of the membrane depending on the concentration of water in the liquid it is placed in. Check out the website for more details on why and how everything works.
(Courtesy of http://www.imaginationstationtoledo.org/content/2011/04/how-to-make-a-naked-egg/)
Color Changing Milk
Check this experiment out with milk.
Materials: Milk, dinner plate, food coloring, dish soap (dawn works great), cotton swabs
Experiment:
- Pour 1/4 inch milk into dinner plate and allow to settle
- Near center, add one drop of each color food coloring
- Touch the tip of the cotton swab to center of milk-in between all colors (DO NOT STIR OR MIX)
- Place a drop of dish soap on the other end of the swab (end that was not used)
- Touch soapy end of the swab to the middle of the milk and hold in place for 10-15 seconds
- Wait and watch what happens. Try again with another drop of soap and a different placement in in the milk.(Courtesy of http://www.stevespanglerscience.com/experiment/milk-color-explosion#review)
Moon Phases
Here is a fun and yummy way for kids to learn the phases of the moon.
(Courtesy of https://plus.google.com/u/0/hot)
Magnets
Some magnets are stronger than others. Play with different strengths and items. Here is an example of a 40 lb. weight magnet. Way cool!
Plants
Start plants in your classroom for the kids to take home and finish growing. Place them in a toilet paper tube. It is biodegradable and you don't have to take the plants out of it when you plants them.
(Courtesy of http://saidosdaconcha.blogspot.com/2010/12/2010.html)
From under a microscope
This website has some amazing things that have been looked at with microscopes. The possibilities are endless: snowflakes, ants, strawberries, and so much more! Check it out.
http://www.staplenews.com/home/tag/microscope
Flubber
Mixture 1:
1 ½ cups warm water
2 cups Elmer’s Glue
Food coloring
Mixture 2:
3 tsp. Borax
1 cup Warm Water
Stir mixture 1 together in 1 bowl.
Mixture 2 in another bowl.
Make sure both are mixed well.
Pour mixture 1 into mixture 2.
There is no need to stir the mixture but you can if you want because it is the chemical reaction that actually makes the flubber. When it is in a glob work it for 2-3 minutes. Initially it feels wet but it eventually dries up to the final product.
Paint with a shine
Pour condensed milk into ice cube trays and add a few drop of food color. Mix together and enjoy. You can make them as pastel or as bold as you like. When it dries, the shine stays.
Expanding foam
1- Place a soda bottle in the middle of a pan
2- In a separate container, mix together 2 tablespoons warm water and 2 teaspoon yeast. Swirl in container for one minute.
3-Pour 1/2 cup 6% hydrogen peroxide (3% from the grocery store will NOT work), 4-5 drops food coloring, and a squirt of dish soap.
4- Add yeast mixture from step 2
5- Stand back
*This works because hydrogen peroxide naturally breaks down into water and oxygen. The reason it is stored in opaque containers is to slow down this process. Yeast speeds up this change in the peroxide. The dish soap traps the oxygen and creates bigger bubbles creating an exothermic reaction. Therefore, the bottle will feel warm when felt.
(Courtesy of http://preschoolpowolpackets.blogspot.com/2012/01/science-experiment-elephant-toothpaste.html)
Volcano in a cup
1- Place wax in the bottom of a fireproof glass mug or cup
2- Place sand on top of the wax
3- Fill cup with cold water
4- Slowly and carefully heat bottom of cup
As the wax heats up, it will begin to push through the weaker parts of the sand simulating a volcanic eruption. All the reasoning behind this is the same as an actual eruption.
(Courtesy of http://1-art.eu/storm_in_a_tea_cup.htm)
Walking water
1-You will need 2 clear cups and a paper towel.
2- Place cups on different height surfaces: one a few inches higher than the other.
3- Fill the upper cup with water. Try colored water to make the experiment easier to see.
4- Place one end of the paper towel in the upper cup and the other end in the lower cup ensuring it touches the bottom of each cup.
5- Watch as the water "walks" from one cup to the other through the paper towel.
**Do not use yellow water as was used in the example-kids will not think good things about it.
Expanding Ivory soap
1- Cut a bar of Ivory soap into 4 pieces
2- Place one piece on a paper towel in the microwave
3- Set timer on microwave for 3 minutes and hit start. You may not need this long depending on the specific microwave.
4- Have students make hypothesis as to what they think will happen. Many will think it will turn into liquid- not expand.
5- Soap will not be too hot when it is removed form the microwave so the kids can touch it. It will slightly shrink when the microwave turns off.
Sparkle Play Dough
Ingredients:
2 cups of plain flour
2 cups of water with black and blue food coloring
1 Tbsp. of cooking oil
1 Tbsp. cream of tartar
1 cup of salt
Directions:
Mix all liquid ingredients in a large pan (including food coloring)
Mix dry ingredients in a separate bowl
Add to the heating liquids on the stove
Stir until dough thickens
Cook until it gets a sheen look to it
Cool slightly and kneed together
Store in a plastic container
