Summer Science: Candy Chromatography!

Chromatography is a basic science skill.  Do all forms of  paper chromatography.  Coffee filters work; filter paper is fairly inexpensive.  Start with Marker Chromatography.  The dyes in markers or pens are a mixture.  Water draws out and separates the different dyes in the mixture of colors.  (Try Flinn’s Food Dye Chromatography.  I pull out a dozen different brands of black pens and use rubbing alcohol.  You might want to test Koolaid.). Now, you are ready for Candy Chromatography using either M&Ms or Skittles.  Take photos and save them for Fall.  Your teen can write the lab report later for class.

 

Summer Science: Marshmallow Experiments!

 Summer is a great time to locate marshmallows at the grocery store. 

1.  Let’s start with Color Changing Marshmallows.  Here is the underlying science.

2. Make Molecules with marshmallows and toothpicks.  Here are images.  

3.  Put a marshmallow in the microwave to make Monster Mallows.  If you have edible pens for cake decorating, draw faces on the marshmallows

4. The Expanding Marshmallow is a Gas Law lab, Boyle’s Law.  Here is the same lab with a diagram.  

5. Last one!  Here is the Marshmallow Spaghetti Tower Challenge.  

Biology: Candy Classification

When I teach Taxonomy, I include several dichotomous key labs, such as this pasta or Jelly Belly lab.  Candy labs are especially effective for teens.  Here is another classification lab with candy.  Scroll down the page for instructions.  The kids study the characteristics of a Hershey’s kiss vs. a Gummy Bear or Jolly Rancher.  Here is a simpler version of the same lab; the key is already created.  

What about grades?

I grade almost everything.  But, here’s the thing.  I won’t post a grade until a project is finished or a lab has been edited.  All of the tests are edited, too. (Usually, I want a more complete answer.). I like evidence.  The owl pellet lab must include a spreadsheet and food web for credit.   Kids demonstrate an understanding of dichotomous keys by showing me how they completed a key correctly.  I want results.  Show me you understand.  The result is that kids earn top grades; however I won’t post any grade until the project is complete, edited, or corrected.  What’s the point to a grade if the kids don’t understand the concept?

Biology: Ecology Introduction

This coming Fall I’m teaching Biology again.  The first unit is Ecology; the kids create lists of local organisms as their summer assignment.  Let me share some of the resources we use in addition to the textbook, Exploring Creation with Biology, from Apologia.  Below are the first few activities for Ecology.

1. The first day of class the kids do a lesson about Levels of Organization or Organization of Multicellular Organisms.  I use cups.  The styrofoam cups were my inspiration; I have sets of plastic cups I reuse each time I teach Biology.

 

2.  Another early lesson is the Owl Pellet Dissection.  Owl pellets are a terrific means to teach about food webs.   We make lists of the organisms from the owl pellets, such as moles, voles, and small birds.  The kids research these animals’ diets.  The kids create food webs.                                                                    

3. Taxonomy and dichotomous keys are part of Ecology.  I teach the two topics together.   Kids create their own mnemonic to remember  Kingdom Classification.  Mine is Katie poured Coke in Father’s Good Suit.  We do loads of dichotomous keys: Jelly Belly Dichotomous Key, Pamishan Creatures, Salamanders, Pine Trees and more, Pasta, and Buttons.  The kids make their own dichotomous keys from a random bag of buttons.  These instructions about Sorting Objects explain the process of making your own key.  

Make Toys!

 Yes, there is science or engineering when you make toys.  I like to use a commercial product, such as Play-doh, and try several recipes for comparison.  You can do the same experiments with bubbles, slime, and chalk.  When you make a catapult or CD hovercraft you can build different designs and try assorted modifications, all part of the engineering cycle.  Trial and error are inherent to science.  So let’s make a bunch of toys this summer!

1. Chalk: Here is the basic recipe using Plaster of Paris and tempera paint.  Argo has these instructions using cornstarch and paint.  This version uses crushed egg shells and flour.  I don’t use molds.  The kids just mix the chalk in tiny, plastic cups.  Chalk Paint is equal parts cornstarch and water.  Add paint for color.  Exploding Chalk has vinegar and baking soda mixed with cornstarch.  I didn’t find any variations for chalk paint.

2. Play dough: Here is the cooked play dough recipe—a classic!  My mom made homemade play dough when I was a child.  This similar version does NOT require any cooking.  Make Shaving Cream Play Dough.  Here is a science lesson for play dough.  Fun mom has 6 Play Dough Recipes.  Her Silky and Stretchy playdough is a combination of conditioner and cornstarch.

3. Bubbles has dish soap and sugar.  Red Ted Art’s recipe uses glycerine—pricey.  How to make Super Bubbles from HST offers corn syrup as an alternative to glycerine.  I use corn syrup because it’s cheaper.  I need to try sugar to see how long bubble last.

4.  Catapults lend themselves well to STEM.  See different ideas below.

5. Make Flyers: Paper Flyers, Copters, Balloon Copter, and Dragonfly Helicopters.  You can always make and test paper airplane designs.

6.  Slime is great for experiments.  Make a batch with borax and glue or Baking soda and lens cleaner.  Try these recipes with or without shaving cream.  Here are seven recipes.  Compare slime with Oobleck.  Try using the borax and glue to make bouncy balls.

7.  Pinhole Cameras: Here is Exploratorium’s Pringles Pinhole Camera.  Here is the Oatmeal box pin hole camera.  NASA has this Card stock pin hole camera.  Here is a shoebox pin hole camera.  Really.  I’ve had good luck with Pringles pin hole camera.  I plan to try the card stock cameras, too.

8.  Lava Lamps: Here is a lava lamp made with baking soda and vinegar.  This version uses Alka-seltzer tablets.  Here are five ways to make lava lamps.  Experiment with different oils.  Test tempera paint with food coloring.  Usually, I use food coloring, Alka-seltzer tablets, water, and canola oil in plastic bottles, NOT  glass jars.  Alka-seltzer tablets are citric acid and baking soda.  Compare any effervescent tablet with a mix of baking soda and citric acid.  I told you there was science in toys!

Summer STEM: LEGO

Our family has a LEGO super-fan.  Our family is familiar with many LEGO stem materials.  You might want to make your own LEGO Wall and add projects to it all summer.  Here is a round-up of different LEGO resources.  

1. Use the bin of bricks with these LEGO Challenge Cards.  I love the idea of writing your name with LEGO bricks.  Here is another set of challenge cards.

2. Try LEGOs and Morse Code. You could use small bricks and LEGO dots.  Here is the LEGO Secret Coding fun kit with bracelets.

4. This Brick Building Fun Pack has bingo, coding activities, I Spy, and more Challenge Cards.

5.Code a LEGO Maze.  Kids build a maze with bricks and then write the code instructions on paper.  It’s a genius idea to help kids understand the fundamentals of coding.

Make Your Own Ecosystem!

Are you looking for a summer project.  In another life, I taught AP classes.  One project we did was to create closed ecosystems to monitor.   Carolina Biological sells ecosystems, basically different aquatic environments in aquariums.  Let me share different DIY ecosystems to consider.  I’m thinking about adding bottle ecosystems to my Biology curriculum next Fall.  

1. Bottle Biosphere is one type of ecosystem I’ve done with kids.  This website has clear instructions.  Save 2-L bottles.  Here is the Bottle Biology website with three types of Bottle Columns.  The TerrAqua Column is a super simple model, similar to the ecosystem described here at Welcome to Nana’s website Investigating Ecosystems Through Eco-Bottles has a good description to establish the components of a bottle ecosystem.

2. Test the water quality.  You could limit your tests to water temperature and pH.  The pH test strips cost about $2 for a pack.  Aquarium test strips are useful to gauge water quality.  Be sure the strips test for nitrogen or ammonia levels.  

3. Try Ecosystem in a Jar or Ecosystem Lab both have clear instructions.  Please note that goldfish, snails, and Elodea are standard components.  I’m using plastic bottles because they’ll live in our classroom basement.  The Bottled Ecosystem has more detailed lesson tips with a worksheet and key.

4.  How to Create a Self-Sustaining Aquarium is a good place to start if you want a more complex ecosystem.  This Checklist has good suggestions for plants and animals to introduce to your ecosystem.  

5. API Fishcare has this Guide with a quiz, tips, and lessons.  The Biology Ecosystems Dynamics slide deck includes a number of biotic and abiotic factors to consider in any ecosystem.  Next year, I have at least one naturalist in my Biology class.  I plan to use this Pond Ecosystem Food Web activity with the bottle ecosystems.

Kitchen Chemistry: Younger Kids

 I love to include Kitchen Chemistry with Science Camp.  Food Chemistry makes a fun elective course, too!  This publication, from Utah State, 4H Edible Science clubs has sic interesting experiments to try.  Chemical and Physical Changes helps youngsters differentiate between chemical and physical change using ice, marshmallows, and chocolate.  (There is an answer me.)  Mombrite has an excellent assortment: Edible Science Experiments for Kids.  The photo is from a previous Science Camp.  I think we were testing The pH of Soda.  Below are a few ideas for your class, camp, or summer fun.

1.  Kitchen Science is from the Florida Museum of Natural History.  This guide has recipes for playdough,  ice cream, bread, and color mixing.

2. The ACS has this collection, Chemistry Education Resources on Food.  There are labs for younger elementary and middle-school aged students.  Look at The Secret Science of Popcorn to sample the material.  

3. 4H Cooking 201 has a substantial introduction about Food Safety followed by recipes and tidbits about nutrition.  Interspersed are definitions, such as baking powder, baking soda, and leavening agents.

 4. ScienceOxford has The Science of Popcorn and Jelly.

5. How about Meringue Cookies and Mayo?

Teach Kitchen Chemistry!

 Did you know Kitchen Chemistry is a popular science elective?  Below is a screenshot of the huge variety of textbooks to give you an idea how popular this elective is.  Do you want to design your own class for High School?  Start with BYJU’s article, What is Food Chemistry?  Next look at this Collection of food articles from Chemmatters, by ACS.  ACS also has Education Resources on Food.  AACT has a load of ideas under ChemClub: Cooking.  (AACT allows a few free articles; otherwise there is a membership fee.  I do join AACT and subscribe to Chemmatters when I teach Chemistry.)  There are loads of free textbooks; each program seems to follow a different thread.  Below are some course outlines with labs.  You may want to pick a lane, such as Exploratorium’s Bread Science 101.  Try National Agriculture’s Food Science: Bread Dough Challenge.  Select several experiments to try over a period of two weeks.  Is your teen interested?  Is this more of a mini-course or a semester program?  Let your kid lead the way.  Have a blast!

1. Purdue has an ePub: Food Chemistry: Experiments for Lab and Kitchens, 123 pages of labs.

2.  Mississippi State published Experiments in Food Science.

3. Here are IFT’s Food Chemistry Experiments.

Small-scale or Micro-scale Chemistry

 I’m always looking for ways to do more chemistry experiments at home.  Many families are hesitant to do more labs owing to the cost of chemicals or concerns about safety.  Small-Scale or micro-scale chemistry uses Q-tips, transparency sheets, hole-punch, straws, etc as materials.  This introduction has sample equipment used for labs.  Micro-scale experiments use drops; small-scale labs are a bit larger, using a few grams or milliliters.  Below are a few examples.  Take a look!

1. Here is a small-scale Specific Heat lab.  I use an electric hot plate and a glass beaker to heat the test tubes with metal samples.  

2.  Here is a small-scale acid-base titration which uses, cream of tartar, borax, turmeric, and lemon or lime concentrate.

3. Here is a micro-scale Activity Series.

4. Flinn’s Micro Rocket Lab is a gas generator.

5.  Finally, here is Microscale Chemistry for Schools, with five more labs.