While some schools are beginning to open, many others remain closed. It is still necessary for us all to continue physical distancing during this time, now more than ever. For kids, it's equally as important to keep their minds engaged. What better way to accomplish this, and to also ease them back into their school habits, than with safe and engaging hands-on science experiments they can do at home. Below are some of our favorites, covering a variety of topics in Earth Science, Life Science and Physical Science.
Earth Science: Cloud in a Jar
For this experiment, you will be able to create a cloud inside of a jar in order to show how cloud formation works. You will need a glass container, chalk dust, a balloon, and an elastic. Put a cm of warm water in the jar to cover up the bottom. Add your chalk dust. Stretch a balloon over the mouth of the bar and secure it with an elastic. Gently punch the balloon and watch clouds appear when you take your hand away. For more detailed instructions, check out our Cloud in a Jar experiment at our FREE CONTENT page.
Life Science: Lung Capacity Measurement
For this experiment, you will measure how much air is in your lungs. You will need a partner for this experiment, either a brother, sister or parent. Fill a 2-gallon pop bottle with water so there is no air inside. Your partner will hold this over a large tub for the water to fall in. Place a flexible tube inside the bottle. Now, take a deep breath and blow into the other end of the tube. The air in your lungs will push water out of the bottle. The air that you now see inside the bottle is the air that was in your lungs. For more detailed instructions, check out our How Much Air? experiment at our FREE CONTENT page.
Physical Science: Rube Goldberg Machine
A Rube Goldberg Machine uses a series of steps in order to complete a simple task. Each step starts the next one. For an example, watch this video. For this experiment, kids will become young engineers and develop their own Rube Goldberg Machine using things they have around the house. First, they must decide on the "simple task" they want to complete. Then, working backwards, create a series of complicated steps to follow in order to complete that task. For more detailed instructions, check out our Rube Goldberg Machine project at our FREE CONTENT page.
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