December Science Experiment submitted by Amy Oliver

Have you ever seen a picture in the newspaper that has inspired you? Here’s a way to use a little chemistry to explore the image.

1. Carefully cut out a small color picture (5cm by 5cm or so) from the comics or newspaper.
2. Dip a cotton swab in white vinegar. Lightly moisten the copy by wiping with the vinegar-soaked swab. Make sure to cover every part of the picture with vinegar.
3. Place the picture between two paper towels. Press hard for 5 to 10 seconds to dry off the excess vinegar.
4. Place the picture with the side to be copied face down on a piece of white paper.
5. Place another piece of white paper on top and rub hard with the bottom of a spoon. Make sure to rub over the entire picture.
6. Remove both the upper paper and the newspaper. There should be a transfer of the picture on the bottom white paper. If the transfer is too faint, try again with a different picture but use the edge of the spoon instead of the bottom.

Can you repeat these steps to create a collage? What happens if you transfer words instead of a picture? What happens to your white paper if you rub baby oil on it?

What’s going on: if you were to use plain water the picture would not transfer because the inks in newspaper do not dissolve in water—a good thing. However, the ink does dissolve in a solution of weak acid (vinegar is a dilute solution of acetic acid in water).

Post what you did with the experiment: Which variables did you change? (Did you use baby oil or another liquid?) What happened? Why do you think that happened?

Musical Science

There are many songs that can be both fun and help you remember scientific principles. The following are a list of just a few:

"Why does the Sun Shine?" by They Might Be Giants

"Parts of the Brain" by Animaniacs Pinky and the Brain

"Senses Song" by the Animaniacs

"The Elements" by Tom Lehrer

"School House Rock: Science" album

"Here Comes Science" album by They Might Be Giants

Album by Tickle Tune Typhoon "Singing Science"

Websites with fun songs:

The Matter Song http://www.havefunteaching.com/science-songs/matter-song

Molecules in Motion http://www.sciencekids.co.nz/videos/chemistry/molecularmovement.html

Many Science songs http://www.learninggamesforkids.com/science_songs.html

How to make a display board or poster

Here are some examples of how to make a display board or poster for the Science Fair.

Research Plan

Ask yourself some questions: What do you want to find out? What are you most interested in studying? Is it possible to do this in the time available? Are there resources? Would it be possible to find all the necessary tools?

Choose a topic and gather the tools.

Come up with a hypothesis.

Carry out the plan, make observations, maintain a journal and record everything.

Note what happened. Did you expect this? Why or why not?

Organize your thoughts. Label 5 sheets of paper with the following headings:
Problem (or question) and Hypothesis
Materials
Method
Results
Conclusion

Fill in the information for each of these sheets. Start designing and printing finished versions of these.

Record all results, numbers, and data that would work in a chart. Design charts or graphs to show your results.

Write a description that includes plan, procedure, observations, data, conclusion.


The Display

Make several models of the overall display on regular white paper. Place the title across the top of one poster (if you use tri-fold). Arrange your information in a logical order, left to right and top to bottom. Ideally you should place the introduction at the top left and your conclusions on the lower right.
Create short, factual explanations to display on white or pastel paper. Use a sensible font.

The display should include the description, hypothesis, the methods and procedures, the results, and conclusions.

Here are some websites to help with ideas:

http://www.makeitsolar.com/science-fair-information/02-science-fair-board-layout-1.htm

http://www.ag.ohio-state.edu/~breads/sfp7.htm

http://www.sciencebuddies.org/science-fair-projects/SciF_Project_Guide_Display_Board.pdf

Here are some great Websites to check out!

http://www.sciencebuddies.org/

http://www.cosi.org/educators/activities/ Center of Science and Industry, Columbus, Ohio

http://www.edheads.org/activities/simple-machines/

http://www.exploratorium.edu/ San Francisco's Exploratorium

http://school.discoveryeducation.com/sciencefaircentral/Getting-Started/Investigation.html

http://www.msichicago.org/online-science/activities/ Chicago's Museum of Science and Industry

http://www.amnh.org/ology/ New York City's American Museum of Natural History

http://www.sciencemadesimple.com/projects.html

http://pbskids.org/zoom/activities/sci/

http://www.ontariosciencecentre.ca/scizone/ Ontario Science Center

Some Book Suggestions

"Paper clip science : simple & fun experiments" by Steven Moje available at Fernwood Library.

"Exploratopia" by Pat Murphy, Ellen Macaulay, and the staff of the Exploratorium available at Sno-Isle and King County Libraries.

"Sports science : 40 goal-scoring, high-flying, medal-winning experiments for kids" by Jim Wiese available at Sno-Isle and King County Libraries.

"Simple kitchen experiments : learning science with everyday foods" by Muriel Mandell available at Sno-Isle and King County Libraries.

Making things float and sink / Gary Gibson

Hands-on science : forces and motion, matter and materials, sound and light, electricity and magnets / John Graham

How come? : in the neighborhood / by Kathy Wollard