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Choose a Science Activity

By Barbara Bannister   Posted in Language Arts Connections Science at Home Science Suggestions
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hand pointing with water droplet


Are you looking for science activities to try at home or in school?

A drawing of a skull with a striped background Something with simple materials that will fascinate children?

I collected several activities for your consideration, thanks to the Exploratorium Museum and Steve Spangler Science, two sources that clearly describe the activity, often with videos, and no outside ads.

Make sure to check out the poetry suggestions at the bottom of the page.

I redesigned many products so you can easily experiment with cohesion, a fascinating property of water. Choose worksheets only or worksheets with other resources like audio recordings of text and videos that let you preview the activity.

From the Exploratorium Snacks:

  • Condiment Diver – make a packet of ketchup drop to the bottom of a bottle of water without touching it!
  • Out of Sink – squeeze a bottle and watch as a packet of ketchup rises.
  • Klutz-Proof Density Column – combine oil, salt, and alcohol to make beautiful layers
 A drawing of a skull with a striped background

 

From SteveSpanglerScience:

A drawing of a skull with a striped background
  • Color Changing Milk -  touch soap to food coloring dripped into milk to see gorgeous results
  • Dancing Raisins – watch as raisins in a glass of soda dance!
  • Sugar Rainbow – create a beautiful rainbow in a plastic straw with sugar, water, and a bit of food coloring

What are other great simple activities to share?

Here are a few poems from familiar poets you might consider sharing with your students that feature chemistry topics:

Something Big has Been Here, Jack Prelutsky

  • physical properties/change: “My Mother Made a Meat Loaf”
  • chemical change: “Mold, Mold”

Falling Up, Shel Silverstein

  • states of matter: “SNOWBALL”

Runny Babbit, Shel Silverstein

  • properties: “RUNNY’S HAND-NEW BRAT”
  • change of state, evaporation: “RUNNY MEETS GUDDY”
  • physical change (cut hair): “RUNNY HUTS HIS OWN CAIR”
  • change: “RUNNY’S BRIG BEAKFAST”
  • chemical change (burning tail): “RUNNY’S JIG BUMP”
  • physical property – adhesion: “THE AND-BAID PROBLEM”

Where the Sidewalk Ends, Shel Silverstein

  • adhesion: “PEANUT BUTTER SANDWICH”
  • change: “SMART”
  • chemical change: “SARAH CYNTHIA SYLVIA STOUT WOULD NOT TAKE THE GARBAGE OUT”
  • physical change: “SNOWMAN”

Do you have other poems to suggest?