Science Experiment Explorations! (Ages 8-10)

This is an ongoing science experiment exploration that meets once a week over the summer. Learners can join at any time as these carefully designed experiments are stand alone lessons. No prior knowledge about the topics is needed. Learners can look forward to a fun weekly science experiments while building their confidence with science vocabulary and acquiring important scientific skills (e.g., observing, making predictions, identifying what's happening). 

Here are the topics for 10 weeks of science experiments! Feel free to join at any time. 
(*Safety glasses are highly recommended).

Week of June 6: Rainbow Skittles - Diffusion (Materials needed: Skittles, plate, water)

Week June 13: Floating Eggs - Density of Water  (Materials needed: 2 glass jars or tall clear drinking glasses, salt, water, spoon, eggs)

Week of June 20: The Pencil Poke - Polymers  (Materials needed: Plastic ziplock gallon bag, pencils, water)

Week of June 27: Rainbow Crawl - Capillary Action  (Materials needed: Paper towels, 7 small plastic clear cups, water, food coloring)

Week of July 11: Lava Lamp - Density & Chemical Reaction  (Materials needed: Large glass jar or tall plastic bottle, vegetable oil, water, food coloring, Alka seltzer tablet - must be handled with adult supervision)

Week of July 18: Expanding Balloons - Chemical Reaction & Properties of Gasses  (Materials needed: Balloons, container with a small mouth - think Erlenmeryer flask or plastic bottle, funnel or paper to serve as a funnel, baking soda and vinegar - must be handled with adult supervision)

Week of July 25: Layering Liquids - Different Densities of Liquids  (Materials needed: Glass jar or tall clear drinking glass, vegetable oil, milk, dish soap, salt, water)

Week of August 1: Making Slime (a.k.a. Oobleck) - Physical Change & Properties of non-Newtonian Fluid  (Materials needed: Plastic or glass container, cornstarch, water, food coloring)

Week of August 8: Elephant Toothpaste - Chemical Reaction & Catalysts  (Materials needed: Hydrogen peroxide (6%) - must be handled with adult supervision, active dry yeast, warm water, plastic bottle or glass jar, dish detergent, food coloring)

Week of August 15: The Flying Egg - Inertia & Gravity  (Materials needed: Tall glass, eggs, cake pan, empty toilet paper roll)

*These experiments require adult supervision.  This means that an adult should be in the same room making sure their child is handling the materials appropriately. When a chemical reaction is involved (Expanding Balloons and Elephant Toothpaste), the adult should be measuring out the baking soda and vinegar, and the hydrogen peroxide, and should be monitoring their child's use of these substances at all times. Further, a parent should be available at all times to give reminders about not putting hands near eyes or mouth when working with these materials, and to remind children to keep on their safety goggles. To avoid damaging a table, we recommend putting a tray or cookie sheet underneath if there are substances that could spill. Also, be aware that food coloring can stain. We recommend having an old towel underneath when using food coloring to avoid staining a tablecloth or table. Further, children should wear old clothes when working with food coloring as it will likely stain, and consider wearing gloves if concerned about getting food coloring on skin.  

For each experiment, learners will receive a document that can be printed that encourages them to draw a picture of what they see happening and to record their ideas.