Springtime fun with variables

Peeps, a traditional springtime treat are everywhere in stores now. These marshmellow chicks can be fun to test variables on. How does a Peep react to cold? to heat? to being immersed in boiling water?

Below is a website where these variables were tested in a somewhat scientific manner. You can make science a lot of fun by using creativity and pursuing questions that interest you.

http://www.peepresearch.org/

Miscellaneous Science Fun

Here are some science fun suggestions that don't fit into the other categories.

Movie Science by Jim Wiese J778.53

Sandbox scientist : real science activities for little kids by Michael E. Ross 372.3504 ROSS

Bubble monster and other science fun by John H. Falk 507.8 BUBBLE

How to fossilize your hamster : and other amazing experiments for the armchair scientist by Mick O'Hare 507.8 OHARE

365 simple science experiments with everyday materials by E. Richard Churchill J 507.8 CHURCHI

Rocket science : 50 flying, floating, flipping, spinning gadgets kids create themselves by Jim Wiese J 507.8 WIESE

Balloons : building and experimenting with inflatable toys by Bernie Zubrowski J 507.8 ZUBROWS

While you're waiting for the food to come : a tabletop science activity book : experiments and tricks that can be done at a restaurant, the dining room table, or wherever food is served by Eric

Muller J 507.8 MULLER

You gotta try this! : absolutely irresistible science by Vicki Cobb and Kathy Darling J 507.8 COBB

Football and Science

Hey, so the SuperBowl is over and it will be a while before the Seahawks take the field, but that's no reason to stop thinking about football. A statistics class at the University of Washington wanted to know if a football travels farther or stays in the air longer when it is filled with something other than air. Check out the link to the Seattle Times report for some good science.

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2011238040_heliumfootballs03m.html

Doesn't it make you wonder how to make a baseball travel farther, or a soccer ball go faster or how to get the volleyball just over the net?

The Sweetest Rainbow!

With spring approaching, we can all look forward to seeing a few rainbows. How would you feel about drinking one? Try this at home and let us know how it goes.
Line up five glasses. Add 1 tablespoon (15 g) of sugar to the first glass, 2 tablespoons (30 g) of sugar to the second glass, 3 tablespoons of sugar (45 g) to the third glass, and 4 tablespoons of sugar (60 g) to the fourth glass. The fifth glass remains empty.
Add 3 tablespoons (45 ml) of water to each of the first 4 glasses. Stir each solution. If the sugar does not dissolve in any of the four glasses, then add one more tablespoon (15 ml) of water to each of the four glasses.
Add 2-3 drops of red food coloring to the first glass, yellow food coloring to the second glass, green food coloring to the third glass, and blue food coloring to the fourth glass. Stir each solution.
Now let's make a rainbow using the different density solutions. Fill the last glass about one-fourth full of the blue sugar solution.
Carefully layer some green sugar solution above the blue liquid. Do this by putting a spoon in the glass, just above the blue layer touching the side of the glass, and pouring the green solution slowly over the spoon. If you do this right, you won't disturb the blue solution much at all. Add green solution until the glass is about half full.
Now layer the yellow solution above the green liquid, using the spoon. Fill the glass to three-quarters full.
Finally, layer the red solution above the yellow liquid. Fill the glass the rest of the way.
Tips and science stuff: With this demonstration you are exploring density. The liquids you have layered are all miscible or mixable and will eventually bleed into one another. If you stir up your solution what happens? Try not to add extra water to dissolve the sugar, instead warm the water in the microwave (30 seconds should work) or start with warm water. Want more fun? Use sweetened juice mix instead of sugar for a tasty treat.

The science fair is coming! Check out the questions around campus or on the science fair blog (http://schoolsciencefair.blogspot.com/). Come visit with a mentor after school Monday through Thursday or during lunch recess Tuesday through Thursday starting 23 March. We want your help and participation. Sign up to mentor kids, set up or clean up for the 16 April event or bring your own idea. Contact Amy Oliver amyroliver@gmail.com.