El Laboratorio de Ciencias: ¡Club de Ciencias Prácticas!

In this ongoing science club, students will complete a different hands on experiment or project each week. We will discuss the scientific method and share our results or completed project. Some of our experiments will be completed start to finish during class, others may need some time throughout the week to complete. This class will be very interactive. The students will participate in both structured learning and some socializing as well. At the beginning of each class, students will have an opportunity to share any science they did throughout the week! Materials needed for each class will be items easily found either at a grocery store or from amazon. A materials list will be provided one week in advance. Weekly themes are subject to change as we will be following suggestions and interests from the students in the class, at least one week's notice will be given for any changes!






Week of March 30th - April 5th: Bubbles
Store bought bubbles
1 cup water
2 tablespoons of corn syrup or corn startch
4 tablespoons of dish soap
Bowl
Large towel and a tray
Bubble wands
Spoon

Week of April 6th - April 12th: Sunscreen Paintings
Sunscreen
Small plate
Paintbrush
Several sheets of black paper
A few other colors of paper
*No Class April 10th*


Week of April 13th - April 19th: Candy Rainbow
Skittles
Water
Several white bowls or small plates

Week of April 20th - April 26th: What Dissolves in Water
4 clear cups of water
4 different powders of your choice: pepper, salt, gelatin powder, flour, sugar, etc.
4 spoons or stirrers
PDF
Pencil

Week of April 27th - May 3rd: Sea Turtle Life Cycle
White and Green playdough

Week of May 4th - May 10th: Fireworks in a Jar
A clear jar filled 3/4 way with water
A container or jar with 3 tablespoons of vegetable oil inside
4 liquid food colors ("free from artificial dyes" will not work in this experiment!)
A spoon  
Optional: extra oil

Week of May 11th - May 17th: Buoyancy
20 pennies
2 pieces of tin foil about the same size
Container with a wide opening filled with water
Additional small toys or objects 

Week of May 18th - May 24th: Walking Rainbow
4 clear cups or jars filled all the way with water
3 empty clear cups or jars
Red liquid artificial food coloring
Blue liquid artificial food coloring
Yellow liquid artificial food coloring
(Natural food dye and gel food dye will not work as well in this experiment!)
6 paper towels

Week of May 25th - May 31st: Ocean Layers 
¾ cup corn syrup dyed black
¾ cup blue dish soap
¾ cup water dyed purple
¾ cup vegetable oil
¾ cup rubbing alcohol
Large water bottle or mason jar with a lid (must be able to fit all the liquid inside)
Funnel

Week of June 1st - June 7th: Jellyfish in a Bottle
An empty disposable plastic bottle (soda, water, gatorade, etc) with the label removed
Enough water to fill the bottle you bring
Food coloring
Plastic grocery bag
Scissors 

Week of June 8th - June 14th: Compare and Contrast
Two items 
PDF

Week of June 15th - June 21st: Balloon Blow Up
Empty water or soda bottle filled ⅓ way with vinegar
(balloon must be able to fit over mouth of bottle)
Balloon
Small funnel
Baking soda

Week of June 22nd - June 28th: Magic Milk
A couple of shallow dishes with whole milk (just enough to cover the bottom)
Food coloring
Small bowl of dawn dish soap
Q tips

Week of June 29th - July 5th: Popcorn
Popcorn, puffcorn, or other snack
PDF

Week of July 6th - July 12th:  Animal Habitats
Small box
Colored paper
Markers
Scissors
Glue
Small animal toy

Week of July 13th  - July 19th: Catapult
8 - 10 large popsicle sticks/ tongue depressors
3 - 5 rubber bands
Small objects: pennies, mini marshmallows, legos, etc.
Tape measurer

Week of July 20th - July 26th: Ice Cream in a Bag
Gallon sized ziplock bag
Sandwich sized ziplock bag
1 cup half and half (or dairy free alternative)
2 tablespoons sugar
½ teaspoon vanilla extract
3 cups of ice
⅓  cup kosher salt
Toppings of your choice, bowl, spoon
Gloves

Week of July 27th - August 2nd: Robot Design
Supplies for creating a robot: boxes, toilet paper rolls, tin foil, tape, glue, pip cleaners, markers, etc. 
PDF
Pencil

Week of August 3rd - August 9th: Paleontologists
A large shallow container filled with sand, kinetic sand, or rice
Small dinosaurs, shells, rocks, or pasta noodles buried inside
Paintbrushes
Playdough

Week of August 10th - August 16th:Lava Lamp
A tray
Glass jar
Water
Vegetable oil
Food coloring
Alka seltzer tablet

Week of August 17th - August 23rd: Living vs. Non- Living
PDF
Markers or crayons

Week of August 24th -August 30th: Rock Cycle
4 starburst candies cut into fourths
Small plastic bag
Small microwave safe dish

Week of August 31st - September 6th: Rubber Egg
Clear cup filled ¾ with vinegar
Egg

Week of September 7th - September 13th: Pumpkin Exploration
A small/medium sized pumpkin with the lid cut off and the insides scooped out into a separate bowl (we will use all of these parts during class).
1 part baking soda to 2 parts white vinegar ( the amounts will depend on the size of your pumpkin, you will need enough vinegar to fill your pumpkin for the explosion to overflow!)
A tray to put the pumpkin on to catch the messy explosion
Food coloring (optional)

Week of September 14th - September 20th: Rain and Clouds
Jar filled halfway with water
Shaving cream
Small dish of blue water
Small dish of yellow water
Dropper

Week of September 21st - September 27th:  Leaf Exploration
PDF
Crayons 
Extra sheet of paper
One or two leaves 

Week of September 28th - October 4th: Melting Ice
Muffin tin with several ice cubes in each spot
Salt
Baking soda
Water
Vinegar

Week of October 5th - October 11th: Apple Exploration
Baking soda
Vinegar
Two apples:
One cut in half to explore inside
Other should have core removed leaving a hole in center
Tray to catch any mess

Week of October 12th - October 18th: Earthquakes
Tray
Two types of blocks

Week of October 19th - October 25th: Constellations
Toothpicks or pretzel sticks
Mini marshmallows

Week of October 26th - November 1st:  Plants
3 or 4 cups filled halfway with water
3 or 4 different colors of liquid food coloring
3 or 4 stalks of celery with leaves, romaine lettuce, or white flowers

Week of November 2nd - November 8th: Tornadoes
Jar with tight fitting lid
Water
Small beads, rocks, glitter, and/or sand
Dish soap

Week of November 9th - November 15th: Teeth
DAY BEFORE CLASS: Place a hard boiled egg in water, a hard boiled egg in coffee or dark soda, and a hard boiled egg into a liquid of your choice.
Bring your cups with egg still inside to class
Toothbrush
Toothpaste
Spoon
Tray

Week of November 16th - November 22nd: Slime
½ cup of clear or white glue
1/4 cup of water 
¼ - ½ cup liquid starch (must be store bought!)
Food coloring
OR
Elmer’s slime kit
           OR
Supplies for Slime recipe of your choice

Week of November 23rd - November 29th: Snow
2 lb box of baking soda 
1 can of shaving cream (foam works best, but gel will also work!)
Large bowl or container for mixing
Spoon
OPTIONAL: Extra baking soda and shaving cream for more snow making!

Week of November 30th - December 6th: Color Mixing Chemical Reactions
1 cup of vinegar dyed red
1 cup of vinegar dyed yellow
1 cup of vinegar dyed blue
3 bowls with 5 tablespoons of baking soda in each
Tray
Extra vinegar, food coloring, and baking soda

Week of December 7th - December 13th: Sink or Float
Bucket or container filled with water
Large towel
3 - 5 household items

Week of December 14th - December 20th: Static Electricity
A blown up latex balloon
Tissue paper cut into various shapes and sizes

Week of December 21st - December 27th: Magnets
A magnet
3 - 5 household items
*No Class December 25th*

Week of December 28th - January 3rd: Non - Newtonian Fluid
1 ½  cups cornstarch
½ cup water
Food coloring
Spoon
Container 
Small toys, shovels, scoops, funnels, etc. 
Extra water and cornstarch

Week of January 4th - January 10th: Volcanoes
Small cup
Tin foil
Baking soda
Vinegar
Food color
Tray

Week of January 11th - January 17th: Growing Gummy Bears
Gummy bears (at least 5)
3 small cups of water
1 small cup of vinegar 
2- 3 teaspoons of salt 
2 - 3 teaspoons of baking soda 
PDF or paper and markers 
Labels for your cups

Week of January 18th - January 24th: How Does a Butterfly Eat?
4 different liquids in covered cups with straws (keep these a mystery from your little scientist!)
OPTIONAL: PDF 

Week of January 25th - January 31st: Force and Motion
A few different balls or cars
Ramp supplies: piece of cardboard, books, cutting board, baking sheet, etc.
Towel or bubble wrap

Week of February 1st - February 7th: Salt Water Density
4 clear cups filled with water
Small items such as beads or plastic gems that sink in plain water
2 tablespoons of salt
2 tablespoons of sugar
2 tablespoons of baking soda
spoon

This class will continue with at least 44 weeks of experiments, scientific concepts, and projects and then the content will recycle! 
(This schedule is subject to changes!)

*Some of these experiments are repeats of my one time classes, but repeating experiments is great for little scientists and gives them the opportunity to try different variables!*