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Below are 3 Hands On Science Activities with materials, procedures and explanations.


Earth Spinning

Hands –On Activity #1

Science Area: Physics-Weather and Air                     Concept# 2.49-Wind is moving air.

 

 

 

Materials:

  • Ping pong ball
  • Funnel

 

State Goals: 11.A.1a Describe an observed event.

                      12. D.1b Identify observable forces in nature (e.g. pushes, pulls, gravity. magnetism.)

 

Safety Considerations: After each student has blown through the tube, wash the funnel thoroughly with soap and water and alcohol, if possible.

 

Science Process Skills: Observing and Inferring

 

Procedures:

  1. Hold the Ping-Pong ball in the wide, larger opening of the funnel.
  2. Put your mouth on the end and blow with a long, steady breath.
  3. While blowing hard and steady through the tube end of the funnel, let go of the Ping-Pong ball.

 

Explanation: The ball will not fall out of the funnel even though it is inverted, as long as there is air moving between the ball and funnel wall. The air you blow fast underneath and around the ball has lower pressure. The air on top of the ball has more pressure and pushes the ball further into the funnel. 

 

Source: http://www.uleth.ca/edu/currlab/handouts/science_fun_magic.html

Hands-on Activity #2

Science Area: Physics-Weather and Air                       Concept# 2.49-Wind is moving air     

 

 

Materials:

  • A notecard
  • A pushpin
  • A thread spool

 

State Goals: 11.A.1a Describe an observed event.

                      12. D.1b Identify observable forces in nature (e.g. pushes, pulls, gravity. magnetism.)

 

Safety Considerations: Instruct students to never suck in on the spool.

 

Science Process Skills: Observing and Inferring

 

Procedures:

  1. Place the pin in the center of the index card so that the head is under the card.
  2. Put the thread spool over the pin.
  3. Hold the card with one hand and the spool with your other hand.
  4. While blowing let go of the card

 

Explanation: Most of the time when we blow towards a light object it takes off in the direction of the moving blast of air. In this demonstration that simple concept is turned inside out by the Bernoulli principle. When air is moving it does not cause as much pressure on the surfaces it’s moving past as it would if it were quiet. In addition, the faster the air moves the pressure on the surfaces it’s moving past is less and less.

 

Source: http://www.physics.umn.edu/outreach/pforce/circus/Bernoulli.html

 

Hands-on Activity #3

Science Area: Physics-Weather and Air                     Concept# 2.49 Wind is moving Air

 

Materials:

  • A Piece of paper

 

State Goals: 11.A.1a Describe an observed event.

                      12. D.1b Identify observable forces in nature (e.g. pushes, pulls, gravity. magnetism.)

 

Safety Considerations: None

 

Science Process Skills: Observing and Inferring

 

Procedures: 

  1. Hold the left lower corner of a piece of notebook paper with your left hand and the lower right corner with your right hand.
  2. Blow hard across the top of the paper.

 

 

Explanation: Air is a gas and as such is classified as a fluid. When the demonstrator holds the paper in front of his mouth and blows across the top, he is creating an area of faster-moving air. The slower-moving air under the paper now has higher pressure, thus pushing the paper up, towards the area of lower pressure.

 

Source:

Overhead Projector Demonstration

Science Area: Physics                                  Concept: Polarization and Optical Properties

 

Polarizing Sugar

Materials:

·         Karo syrup or sugar syrup

·         Two polarizing sheets

·         Overhead projector

·         Petri dish

Picture:http://www.arborsci.com/CoolStuff/cool28.htm

Procedure:

  1. Place a polarized sheet on the surface of the overhead projector.
  2. Set the Petri dish on top of the sheet.
  3. Pour the syrup into the dish
  4. Rotate the second polarizing sheet over the surface of the Petri dish

Questions:

  1. How does the syrup become polarized?
  2. What allows the sugar to have this polarization property?
  3. Does the amount of syrup in the Petri dish change how the light passes through?
  4. Can you explain what it means to polarize sugar?

Explanation:  When light passes through Karo syrup the optical properties of the sugar molecules allow the light rays to rotate.  The amount of the rays’ rotation depends upon the thickness of the syrup layer through which the light passes. 

 

Source: http://www.strangematterexhibit.com/demoworks_final.pdf

Science Fairs, Science Olympiads, and Invention Conventions

By: Brenda Knoll, Ashley Marie Flom,

and Pamela Jennings

SCIENCE FAIRS

What is a Science Fair?

    -An opportunity to explore a field of science

    -Held once-a-year

    -Students make displays

    -Awards are given for the best science investigations

    -Students learn from each other

Why have a Science Fair?

-Student Learning

-Public Relations

-Parent Involvement

-Personal Satisfaction

What are the Goals of a Science Fair?

-Involve as many students as possible

-Build an interest in science

-Allow for individual exploration of self-selected projects

-Build skills of research, experimentation, and organization

-Develop knowledge in a chosen field of science

-Build a sense of pride at having completed something significant

What is a Science Project?

-Experiment (biological or physical sciences)

-Demonstration or model

-Collection

Help students select a project

-Select general area of science

-Narrow focus to one question

-Have books and other resources available

SCIENCE OLYMPIAD

What is a Science Olympiad?

-The Elementary Science Olympiad is a nonprofit organization.

-It was created to spark interest in the subject matter and gives recognition to students.

-Encourages teachers to teach in a more hands-on approach.

How does the Science Olympiad work?

-Students do research, perform activities and participate in workshops in order to prepare.

-They participate in regional, district and intramural tournaments, the same as a sports team would.

-Students usually compete as a team although some events are individual.

How does the competition function?

-First, second and third place ribbons are awarded to students. Teams receive trophies.

-Students learn teamwork, group planning, cooperation and key science concepts.

-Up to twelve students make up a team in a district or regional competition.

-A coach/teacher is not allowed to coach more than one team at a time.

Where did the Science Olympiad come from?

-Elementary Science Olympiad is modeled after successful programs in Michigan, California and Delaware.

-It was introduced by Dr. Jerad J. Putz, Macomb Intermediate School District in Michigan, John C. Cairns and Dr. Robert Dean.

How do students benefit?

-Participants are encouraged to have fun.

-They are engaging in skill processes, team cooperation and learning science and math concepts along the way.

-Research has shown competing in extracurricular activities affects children positively.

 

Teachers/Coaches Role

-The Teacher/Coach must know their science concepts and be able to explain.

-It is their job to supervise and coordinate.

-They need to get signed permission slips from parents.

-Teachers facilitate activities, research and training workshops to prepare competitors.

Elementary Science Olympiad is composed of 3 science areas:

-Science processes and thinking skills

-Science concepts and knowledge

-Science application and technology

-Schools chose from about 10-16 events for tournament participation.

What are some of the elementary events?

-A IS FOR ANATOMY - Each team will view models, slides, and pictures of organs and tissues from the human body. They will identify and explain the function of each.

-HOT AIR BALLOONS - This event requires a team to build and fly a paper hot air balloon. 


-AERODYNAMICS - Each team will build one paper airplane to be flown a distance of at least five meters toward a predetermined target.

Divisions

-Each state has their own set of rules and events.

-States have set dates for registration, regional, and state tournaments.

INVENTION CONVENTIONS

What is an Invention Convention?

-An event that gives students an opportunity to demonstrate skills independently as they invent a new product or process.

-Skills used/developed:

-Solve Problems

-Think Creatively

-Work with data

-Experiment

Five Basic Steps

One- Learning About Inventors

Two- Finding an Idea

Three- Research and Planning

Four- Developing and Testing

Five- The Invention Convention

Step One: Learning About Inventors

-Students will learn about inventors and their inventions. The knowledge gained in this step will help students develop an appreciation for inventors and will help establish in them a positive attitude about the invention process.

Step Two: Finding an Idea

-Finding a need to fulfill or a problem to solve is the second step in the invention process. The invention may be a new product or it may be a new process for doing something.

Step Three: Research and Planning

-Students should create detailed plans for their invention or process:

- Developmental plans

- Preliminary drawings

- Time limits

- Materials

- Small model or full size prototype

- Outline (for new processes)

 

Step Four: Developing, Testing, and Marketing

-Students build their invention or develop their process

-Trial and error

-Testing and recording necessary data

-Plan a strategy to market their invention

-Completion of application for patent

Step Five: The Invention Convention

The Big Day!

- Students display inventions

- Officially judged

- Awards presented

- Open to the public

- Answer Questions

Role of the Teacher

-Facilitator

-The teacher is responsible for

- motivating and encouraging

- advising students

- signing and distributing appropriate forms

- directing the discussion about inventors & inventions

- making arrangements for the actual convention

Safety and
Environmental Considerations

-chemical substances, tools, and heat sources

-Adult permission and supervision

-Intent to Invent form

Resources

Some states have Invention Conventions with local or regional competitions leading to a statewide convention.

For examples of statewide invention conventions see:

www.ctinventionconvention.org

www.just-think-inc.com

Patents:

http://www.uspto.gov/main/patents.htm

References

Blair, B & Smith, B (1991). Science Fair. San Luis Obispo, CA: Dandy Lion Publications.

This website provides links to the individual state science Olympiads. http://www.soinc.org/contact/links.htm

http://soinc.org/elementary/esoevent.htm#orientee

This is the home address for the Science Olympiad http://www.soinc.org/index.htm

 

 

 

 

 

 

10 links are provided that are related to each of the hands on activities.