Weird Wacky Science Required: It s weird wacky science day. Children love to explore! Set up hands-on activities and experiments for your little scientists to discover, play and learn. Snack Suggestions: Crazy Cupcake Creation Center- decorate your own cupcake with crazy toppings. Crazy Snack Concoctions- make your own snack mix. Worms in Dirt- traditional pudding, Oreos and gummy worms. Veggie and Dip Skeleton- perfect for your little mad scientists to munch on! Getting Started: Hang a sign CAUTION: Mad Scientists KidsPark Lab Purchase lab coats and goggles for dress up props Send an email reminder Post the event on Facebook Purchase needed materials Prepare materials ahead of time *Refer to older resources in the library: Hourly program events: Weird Science and preschool science resources.
Bottle Magic Pipe cleaners Empty 2 liter bottles Magnetic wands Scissors Peel all labels off and clean the two liter bottles Cut a supply of different color pipe cleaners Drop the pipe cleaner pieces into each bottle Close the bottles Use a magnet wand to attract and move the pieces around the bottle Try adding other small magnetic objects into the bottles to explore if there is a different reaction
Bottle Fountain Empty water bottle Tray and small cup ½ cup Hydrogen peroxide 1 Tbsp. Dry yeast 3 Tbsp. Warm water Liquid dish soap Food coloring Measuring cup and spoons Peel all labels off and clean the water bottle Pour the hydrogen peroxide into the bottle Add eight drops of food coloring Add about one tablespoon of dish soap Swish the bottle around a little bit In the separate small cup combine the water and yeast and let sit for about thirty seconds Pour the yeast mixture into the bottle
Penny Science Clear cups Lemon juice, water, soy sauce, dish soap, vinegar, ginger ale, ketchup Pennies Marker Gather all materials Pour some of each liquid into separate cups Label each cup Discuss which liquids get your pennies the cleanest Graph your predictions Drop a penny in each cup Leave the pennies submerged for five to ten minutes Take the pennies out and wipe them off Pennies are made of copper so over time the oxygen in it corrodes. The acid in the lemon juice and soy sauce chemically break down the oxide and leave the penny shiny! If you have any Taco Bell hot sauce handy use it as one of your liquids. It also gets your penny clean and shiny like new.
Inflation Water bottle Vinegar Baking soda Balloon Measuring spoons Funnel Peel all labels off and clean the water bottle Pour about an inch of vinegar into the bottle Using a funnel pour one tablespoon of baking soda into the balloon Attach the balloon around the mouth of the bottle dumping the baking soda into the bottle Watch the balloon self inflate Discuss the results The gas from combining the two causes the balloon to inflate!
What Dissolves Clear cups Baking soda, oil, sugar and salt Spoons Water Stop watch Gather all materials Pour some water into the four separate cups Pour some baking soda into one cup and mix, timing how long it takes to dissolve Pour some brown sugar into one cup and mix, timing how long it takes to dissolve Pour some salt into a cup and mix, timing how long it takes to dissolve Pour some oil into one cup and mix, timing how long it takes to dissolve (of course it won t) Discuss results
Soap in the Microwave Bar of Ivory soap Bowl Microwave Purchase soap Discuss what you think happens to the bar of soap when you put it into the microwave Graph your predictions Place the bar of soap into the bowl Nuke it in the microwave for sixty seconds or so Watch what happens! As the soap heats up it softens the water and air inside. The air expands inside the soap pushing it out and making it foamy turning the soap brittle and flakey.
Balloon Rocket Balloon Straw Tape Clothespin String Scissors Cut a long piece of string that reaches from one wall to another Tape one end of the string to a wall Thread the straw onto the string Place two pieces of tape on top of the straw (see image) Tape the other end of the string to another wall, making sure the string is tight creating a straight line Blow up a balloon and secure it closed with a clothespin Carefully attach the balloon to the tape on the straw Remove the clothespin Try using a balloon with more and less air. Discuss the different results you get and why.
Pepper Dance Pepper Bowl Water Liquid dish soap Cup Pour some liquid dish soap into a cup Fill the bowl with water Sprinkle some pepper into the water Dip your finger into the bowl and discuss what happens (nothing special happens) Dip your finger into the liquid dish soap Then dip your finger into the bowl of water and discuss what happens (the pepper magically pulls away from your finger!) The soap breaks down the surface tension of the water like popping a balloon. It is the water that moves not the peeper that is floating on top.
Cool Sensory Scented Snow 1/2 cup of white hair conditioner 3 cups of baking soda Measuring cups Large shallow bowl Purchase white hair conditioner Measure and mix ingredients Play! This is the coolest recipe it feels like real snow! It is cool, damp and soft. Try adding snow themed toys to this snow or measuring tools.
Lava Lamps Water Vegetable oil Food coloring Plastic bottle with lid None Needed Process Fill bottle ¾ way with oil Fill the remainder with colored water Seal tightly Geared for Blue Crew age Turn the bottle on its side to watch the color move thru the oil in funny shapes and blobs The water and oil do not mix because the water has more density than the oil KidsPark May 2013 Weird Science
Surprising Senses Variety of foods and liquids: sweet, salty, bitter, sour, granules, solids, liquids, smooth and rough Blindfold Spoons and small dishes Small straws None Needed Process With a blindfold on, place one item on your tongue Can you guess what it is? For an added challenge, pinch your nose and see if you can determine the food Questions to ask: Did any flavor taste better or worse with the blindfold on? Did you notice that your tongue discovered the different textures more? Did you lose your sense of taste when you pinched your nose? How does your tongue taste? Sweet- tip of tongue Salty- front sides of the tongue Sour- rear sides of your tongue Bitter- back of your tongue KidsPark May 2013 Weird Science
Undercover Fingerprinting Paper Pencil Tape None Needed Process Trace your right and left hand on a sheet of paper Take a pencil and scribble on a piece of paper until you have a black mark Rub your finger tip on the pencil mark Take a piece of tape, put it over your finger tip, press down and pull it off Place the tape on the corresponding finger tip on your paper hand Repeat with all fingers KidsPark May 2013 Weird Science