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SCIENCE ACTIVITIES: The Armadillo Indicator | Construction Challenge Activity | Exploratory Walk | More Science Activities
MATH ACTIVITIES: The Outline of Things | Fractional Parts the "Tan" Way | Building Viewpoints | More Math Activities
These science activities are from the Science
Simply Amazing parent awareness kit. Understanding science and
exploring, investigating, and talking about science ideas are important
for your child's growth. With these activities, you'll have fun while
tapping your child's natural curiosity by encouraging them to ask
questions.
 |   Find two
disposable cups and some string. Cut the string into two -1 foot long
pieces. Using tape, attach the end of one piece of string to the bottom
of one of the cups, and attach the other end to the edge of a table.
Repeat this with the other cup. Position the cups so they hang off the
table two inches apart and at the same height. You might need to adjust
the spacing between the cups. Blow between the two cups. What happens?
 Why
are the cups drawn together? Bernoulli's principle states that in areas
where air moves rapidly, pressure is low. Blowing between the cups drops
the pressure so the higher air pressure of the surrounding air pushes the
cups together. (From NEWTON'S APPLE Educational Materials Packet)
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 | | Cut a piece of
tissue paper into a 6 cm (about 2") diameter spiral (use the diagram).
 Cut a piece of
thread 15 cm (6") long and tape one end to the paper spiral. Position a
desk lamp so that the light points upward. Hold the paper spiral by the
thread about 10 cm (4") above the light. (Caution: Do not allow the paper
to touch the light bulb.) What happens?
Why
does the paper spiral twirl? The energy from the light heats the air
above it. Warm air is lighter than cool air, so as the air heats up, it
rises above the lamp. Cool air moves in to replace the warmer, lighter
air. This "convection current" causes the spiral to twirl. (From
NEWTON'S APPLE Educational Materials Packet)
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 |  Seals
rely on extra layers of fat to keep warm while swimming in icy water. To
demonstrate this, have one child fill a large ziplock bag about half full
with vegetable shortening. Next, another child slips on a ziplock bag
like a glove and slides it into the shortening-filled bag, mushing the
fat around until it surrounds the hand. Have the first child plunge her
ungloved hand into a bucket of ice water and hold it there for twenty to
thirty seconds. The second child then plunges her blubber glove into the
ice water. What happens?
Why
does one's child's hand stay warm and the other's gets cold? The
shortening acts as a layer of fat. So, she will find she can keep it
there for any length of time, as warm and comfortable as a seal in the
winter. (Adapted from the Ann Arbor Hands-On Museum)
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 | | While you cook
supper, your kids can be learning more about science. You will need
pepper, dish soap, toothpicks, and a glass of water. Sprinkle pepper on
the top of a glass of water. Dip a toothpick in the center of the pepper.
What Happens? Put a drop of dish soap on a toothpick and dip in the
center of the pepper. What happens?
Why
does the pepper "run away"? The pepper moves quickly to the sides of the
glass because the soap breaks the surface tension. Surface tension occurs
when the hydrogen in water molecules bond or stick to one another as well
as the water below. At the surface, this holds the substance together and
makes it behave as though it is coated by an invisible
film. |  |
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