Science activities can be fun, easy, and inexpensive. Here are three simple activites that are appropriate for children ages 5-10 with adult assistance. Why take time to conduct science experiments? These activities increase your child's observation, analytical, and creative skills. If you conduct the experiments with a group of children, they also learn to share ideas and cooperate with others. You can find many more experiments through Internet research or a trip to your local library.Lifting an Ice Cube with a String
1.) Gather a salt shaker, kite string, and ice cubes.
2.) Ask your children if they think an ice cube can be lifted with a string.
3.) Sprinkle salt on one side of the cube and lay the string over the salted area. The salt with “glue” the string to the ice cube.
4.) Pick up the cube using the string.
Making Old-Fashioned Earphones
1.) Gather 2 empty yoghurt cups or plastic cups, 3 yards of string, and 2 paper clips per pair of children
2.) Poke a small hole carefully in the bottom of the cups. (Adults can do this in advance)
3.) Thread one end of the string through the hole of one of the cups from the bottom up so that the string end comes up in the cup. Tie the end of the string to a paper clip to prevent the string slipping through the hole. Repeat with other cup.
4.) Ask the children to hold onto their cup and walk away from each other until the string is taut.
5.) Take it in turns to speak quietly into the cup and listen with the pot/cup held against the ear. What happens if the string is not taut? Explain how the cup vibrates when you speak into it which makes the string vibrate and then the cup next to the ear which all makes the sound travel.
Which Way Does the Wind Blow?
1.) Gather doweling sticks, thin cotton fabric, and fabric (sometimes called tacky glue) glue
2.) Adults, cut the fabric into rectangles and long triangles.
3.) Glue the material onto one end of the stick, rolling it so that there is a complete turn of material, leave until dry.
1.) Gather a salt shaker, kite string, and ice cubes.
2.) Ask your children if they think an ice cube can be lifted with a string.
3.) Sprinkle salt on one side of the cube and lay the string over the salted area. The salt with “glue” the string to the ice cube.
4.) Pick up the cube using the string.
Making Old-Fashioned Earphones
1.) Gather 2 empty yoghurt cups or plastic cups, 3 yards of string, and 2 paper clips per pair of children
2.) Poke a small hole carefully in the bottom of the cups. (Adults can do this in advance)
3.) Thread one end of the string through the hole of one of the cups from the bottom up so that the string end comes up in the cup. Tie the end of the string to a paper clip to prevent the string slipping through the hole. Repeat with other cup.
4.) Ask the children to hold onto their cup and walk away from each other until the string is taut.
5.) Take it in turns to speak quietly into the cup and listen with the pot/cup held against the ear. What happens if the string is not taut? Explain how the cup vibrates when you speak into it which makes the string vibrate and then the cup next to the ear which all makes the sound travel.
Which Way Does the Wind Blow?
1.) Gather doweling sticks, thin cotton fabric, and fabric (sometimes called tacky glue) glue
2.) Adults, cut the fabric into rectangles and long triangles.
3.) Glue the material onto one end of the stick, rolling it so that there is a complete turn of material, leave until dry.
4.) Take the flags outside to see if there is enough wind to make the flags fly. If the flags fly look at which material flew the easiest. Hold the flags low down to the ground and then up high to see if there is any change. Leave the flags outside in the ground and record each day if the flags are flying and in which direction they are flying. This opens discussions about wind and weather.
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