Discovering Science Club Saturdays: Science Demo and Project of the Day

Each week students may need different materials to make the final project. Here is the list of supplies by week:

May 20, 2023: Pinwheel Fun: Learn about "catching" wind and using it to make power. 
Materials: A printable PDF will be posted prior to this class. Other materials include: Unsharpened pencil with and eraser attached on the end, markers, scissors, push or straight pin

May 27, 2023: Bubbles, Bubbles, Bubbles! Learn about surface tension and the "skin" of a bubble. 
Materials: bowl of 1.5 cups water, 0.5 cups dishwashing liquid soap or soap powder, 2 teaspoons sugar, 4 straws, paper cup (optional), empty plastic water bottle (optional), thin wire that bends and can be cut with scissors (optional), pipe-cleaners (optional), empty 2 L water bottle (optional), clean sock (optional)

June 3, 2023: Spinning Snakes: Learn about convection currents and and warm air
Materials:  Markers or colored Pencils, Scissors, string, paper clip (optional)

June 10, 2023: Blast off! Lean about thrust (force), pressure, and acceleration
Materials:  empty dishwashing liquid bottle with top, scotch tape, straw, full size sheet of paper, Play-doh or clay, glue (optional)

June 17, 2023: Up, Up, and Away! Learn about compressed air that moves a helicopter up
Materials: Sheet of card-stock, duct tape, wooden skewer

June 24, 2023: Make an electric circuit
*****THIS WEEK WILL NEED TO BE ORDERED IN ADVANCE.***** Cooper Tape Roll (adhesive back, 1/2 in wide), Colored LED light diodes (5 diodes), 3 V lithium Cell Battery (2 batteries), white paper, scotch tape. (These items can all be purchased online. They are quite inexpensive on Amazon. Most come in packs with far more materials than you need for this lesson, so you would have many more for future projects.)

July 1, 2023: Colorful Kaleidoscopes: Learn about how light reflects
Materials: mylar sheet / mirrored sheet/ or aluminum foil, empty toilet paper or paper towel roll, bendy straw, white card stock, scissors, markers, scotch tape  

July 8, 2023: What makes a shadow?
Materials: Cardboard box/ shoe box (one two opposite sides removed and saved), wax paper, remaining or cut off pieces of cardboard, duct or masking tape, cooking skewers (5-6) or extra pencils or sticks, pencils, markers, scissors, flashlight

July 15, 2023: Gears, gears, and gears. How do they work?
Materials: Medium cardboard box (Shoe box size) cut apart into manageable squares for each side (kids will be cutting it into different shapes), scissors, duct tape, 15 screwers (like ones for cooking), card stock paper (2-3 sheets)

July 22, 2023: Ever want to be an animator? How do our eyes see "moving" images?
Materials: Printable PDF (found posted in classroom),  cardboard cylindrical food container (Iike containers for oatmeal, grits, corn meal container), cooking skewer (2), pencil, black sharpie, scissors, duct tape

July 29, 2023: Ready for takeoff? Learn about the elements of flight.
Materials: multiple sheets construction paper or card stock paper, 7-8 plastic straws, scissors

August 5, 2023: How do swings work? What are pendulums?
Materials: 10 wooden skewers (like for grilling), yarn or string, clay/ play-dough, food coloring, plastic water bottle, large piece of cardboard, paper towels

August 12, 2023: What is potential and kinetic energy?
Materials: Multiple toilet paper tubes / paper towel rolls, marble or small ball, masking tape, large piece or cardboard or poster board. Plastic cup, scissors

August 19, 2023: Ready, Set, Launch! How do catapults work?
Materials:  10 popsicle sticks, 10 rubber bands, 3 empty plastic water bottles with lids

August 26, 2023: I scream, you scream, we all scream for ice cream! The science of ice cream.
Materials: 2 METAL round cans with a plastic lids (These can be like old coffee cans. They must be metal. One should be smaller than the other.) 1 pint half and half, 1/3 cup of granulated sugar, Rock Salt or Ice Cream Salt, toppings of your choice (oreo, nuts, fruit), vanilla extract, cubed ice, duct tape

September 2, 2023: Secret Codes: How does invisible ink work?
Materials: white paper, 1 lemon, small cup of water, bowl, spoon, paintbrush or Q-tip,  access to oven (PARENTAL GUIDANCE REQUIRED)

September 9, 2023: Under the dirt: seed germination
Materials: Zip-lock bag (sandwich size), paper towel, 5 DRY beans (lima, black, pinto, or red), sharpie

September 16, 2023:  How to plants respond to water and light?
Materials: shoebox, duct tape, plastic wrap, dry beans (lima, black, pinto, or red), plastic cup, potting soil / dirt

September 23, 2023: What is an ecosystem?
Materials: 2 Liter Soda Bottles (2 bottles needed), 3x 3 in piece of fabric, string / yarn, potting soil/ dirt, dry beans (lima, black, pinto, red).   ********Optional: earthworms, lady bugs, crickets, 1 very, very small fish, small aquarium water plant (pet stores)*******

September 30, 2023: Water refraction magic: Watch images disappear before your eyes
Materials: Ziplock bag (sandwich size), white paper, markers, black sharpie, baking dish or large bowl filled with water

October 7, 2023: The power of air: Learn about air pressure
Materials: 2 L empty soda bottle (cleaned), bowl of ice water, 1/2 cup very hot/ almost boiling water ****Parents Must Help!

October 14, 2023: Magnetic dancing and floating coins: How to magnets work?
Materials: 6-7 thick books (for stacking), wooden or plastic ruler (without metal), 6-7 pennies, 3-4 strong magnets (any shape), empty soda can 

October 21, 2023: Metamorphic, Igneous and Sedimentary Rock: The Rock Cycle
Materials: 1 package starburst candy (12-15 pieces), aluminum foil, pencil, white paper, (access to microwave)

October 28, 2023: What is the difference between weathering and erosion?
Materials: clay / thick mud, potting soil, sand, small rocks, baking dish or pan, 1 large cup water, sugar cubes, vinegar

November 4, 2023: What are conductors?
Materials: ****THIS NEEDS TO BE COLLECTED ? ORDERED IN ADVANCE, SEE LINKS BELOW*****multiple LED diodes, at least 3 alligator clips, AA battery pack and batteries, 8-10 items of various materials (wood, metal, plastic, rubber) Think of things like a nail, golf tee, bracelets, wood chips etc. 

 (Alligator clip leads must have alligator clip ends with the wire between them. Here is an example:
https://www.harborfreight.com/18-inch-low-voltage-multi-colored-test-leads-66717.html?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=12169054043&campaignid=12169054043&utm_content=125548916868&adsetid=125548916868&product=66717&store=207&gclid=Cj0KCQiA2NaNBhDvARIsAEw55hh4EWmhypzDoId6wh72bSjul17JfQPYNRrSxMkeIBo2hxs_JT-5y5AaAj8KEALw_wcB 

(Battery Pack Example here: 
https://www.hobbylobby.com/Crafts-Hobbies/Kids-Crafts-Activities/Science-Educational/Wired-Battery-Box---AA/p/25575?gclid=Cj0KCQiA2NaNBhDvARIsAEw55hh9K56Bhnt1o4Y2pp1Tu9o5IErbRKUM3nn7srEUYs2YLrCwY0_umzgaAmt1EALw_wcB 

November 11, 2023: STEM  Building Activity
Materials: multiple toilet paper and paper towels rolls, 3-4 wood skewers (like those for cooking), 1 yard string, duct tape, Elmers glue, cardboard 

November 18, 2023: Understanding Sound: What is pitch?
Materials: 5-6 drinking glasses (MUST BE GLASS), water, food coloring, metal spoon

November 25, 2023: Your voice looks funny! 
Materials: 2 paper towels rolls, 1 large round cardboard container (oatmeal or ice cream size), 1 large balloon, 1 large rubber band (large enough to go over the top of the container tightly, duct or masking tape, scissors, pencil, 1 cup sugar or salt

December 2, 2023: Exploring your senses: Which part of your arm is the most sensitive?
Materials:   masking tape, straight pins (or pointy metal probe/ pointer), pencil, white paper 

December 9, 2023: How does the skin sense temperature changes?
Materials:  3 large bowls, cold water, warm water, ice cubes, thermometer, room temperature water, pencil, white paper

December 16, 2023: Do our eyes always see the same colors?
Materials: white paper, pencil 

December 23, 2023: NO CLASSES / Holiday

December 30: How does blood flow through the human heart?
Materials: Construction paper, markers 

January 6, 2024: STEM Challenge: Straw Rollercoaster 
Materials: Full box of plastic straws, masking tape, large piece of cardboard

January 13, 2024: Fingerprints Forensics 
Materials: Clear tape, baby powder, Play-Dough, black construction paper 

Learners will not need to use any apps or websites beyond the standard Outschool tools.

At times, your child may need help cutting or putting their project together. These are designed for the student to build, but occasionally they need adult help. It is suggested that parents are available to assist quickly if needed. Sometimes, cardboard boxes will need to be cut in advance for students.