Green Science

Local:
See how we can impact our environment by going to Salmon Days in Issaquah this weekend, Oct. 1st and 2nd to visit the hatchery.

http://www.salmondays.org/

If you can't go yourself, check out the Salmon Cam! http://wdfw.wa.gov/wildwatch/salmoncam/video.html

Department of Fish and Wildlife site for kids on conservation: http://www.fws.gov/educators/students.html

City of Vancouver Salmon Page: http://www.cityofvancouver.us/watercenter.asp?waterid=24980&watersubid=27445

Best local places to watch salmon run: http://www.waterhavens.com/blog/attachments/king-county-salmon-runs-viewing-locations-seattle-area.pdf

Seattle Aquarium's Conservation page: http://www.seattleaquarium.org/page.aspx?pid=216

Global:

Audubon Society's Kids Web Page: http://web4.audubon.org/educate/kids/

Children of the Earth United: http://www.childrenoftheearth.org/

Energy Star Kids: http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=kids.kids_index

http://www.conservationfund.org/children_nature

http://www.kidsplanet.org/

http://www.smokeybear.com/kids/default.asp?js=1

http://www.worldwildlife.org/home-full.html

http://thinkgreen.com/classroom

Evironmental Science Page from How Stuff Works: http://science.howstuffworks.com/environmental/green-science

http://www.epa.gov/students/index.html

Books about being green:

My First Green book by Angela Wilkes

Team Green Science Series by Robert Gardner

Environmental science & protection : keeping our planet green / by Cordelia Strange

Save the Earth science experiments : science fair projects for eco-kids / Elizabeth Snoke Harris
Hoot / Carl Hiaasen - Teen Fiction

Last child in the woods : saving our children from nature-deficit disorder / Richard Louv

Reducing your carbon footprint in the kitchen / Linley Erin Hall

Not your typical book about the environment / Elin Kelsey ; illustrated by Clayton Hanmer.

Making good choices about renewable resources / Jeanne Nagle.

Natural resources : using and protecting earth's supplies / by Darlene R. Stille.

Websites for Green Science Fair ideas:

http://ezinearticles.com/?Green-Science-Fair-Projects---Creative-Ideas-For-Environmentally-Oriented-Projects&id=1755148

http://chemistry.about.com/od/sciencefairprojectideas/a/pollution-green-chemistry-projects.htm

http://www.discoversolarenergy.com/DIY/sci-fair-proj.htm

http://discovermagazine.com/2008/may/a-science-fair-for-a-better-planet

What can I do?

Trick or Treat for Unicef : http://youth.unicefusa.org/trickortreat/

Tips for a green home: http://www.squidoo.com/go-green-in-your-home-today

PBS list of things kids can do to help the environment: http://pbskids.org/zoom/activities/action/way04.html

10 more things to do: http://www.seql.org/kids.cfm

Check out kidServe Seattle to see if there is a volunteer opportunity that's right for you: http://www.kidserveseattle.org/volunteer-kids.aspx

Help clean a trail or join a preservation society:

Washington Trails Association work party schedule (kids are welcome!) :

http://www.wta.org/kids/volunteer/trail-work-parties

http://www.trailvolunteers.org/

http://www.cedarriver.org/

Visit a Seattle Environmental Learning Center to see what else you can do: http://www.seattle.gov/parks/environment/elc.htm

Detergents: Science Brings Good and Bad

We use detergents to clean many things, clothes, dishes, even cars. Dishwashing liquid is the most common detergent in the home. You might be surprised to learn that in the wrong places this great cleaner has a downside.

Materials:
Water
Large bowl
Waxed paper
Self-sealing plastic sandwich bag
Dishwashing liquid

What to Do:
Fill the bowl with water.
Crumple a large piece of waxed paper and stuff it into the sandwich bag. Seal the bag.
Float the bag on top of the water. Add several big squirts of dishwashing liquid to the water and observe. Does the bag begin to sink?

Action, Reaction, Results:
One reason that the bag floats on the surface of the water is that it has an oily coating that makes it water repellent. Detergent in the dishwashing liquid breaks up the oily coating and the bag begins to sink. Do all detergents work the same? Does it take the same amount of time for the bag to sink with different detergents?

From our experiment we can see that detergents can cause problems. Detergents in a natural water supply can cause harm to wildlife, too. For example, detergents can make water birds’ feathers less repellent to water. When hiking or camping it is important not to use detergents in or near lakes, rivers, ponds or streams.

Have a love for exploring the world around you? Sign up to help with the science fair. Contact Amy Oliver (amyroliver@gmail.com) or Anca Stepan ( ) to join the fun.

Spinning Fountain

So the sun finally came out, but the sprinkler has lost its luster and you still want water fun. What’s a kid to do? Try this on for size and see what you think.

Materials:

Empty half-gallon paper milk carton

Nail

2-foot long string

Tree branch

Directions:

1. Get an empty half-gallon paper milk carton. Use a nail to punch a hole in each left-hand corner of the carton, close to the bottom. Punch another hole in the top flap of the carton. An adult may have to help you punch the holes.



2. Tie one end of a 2-foot-long string through the hole in the top of the carton.



3. Tie the free end of the string around a tree branch so that the carton is dangling in the air.



4. Ask two friends to cover the holes in the bottom of the carton with their fingers. Use a hose or pitcher to fill the carton with water.



5. Ask your friends to remove their fingers from the carton. What happens when water squirts out of the holes?

Action, Reaction, Results:

When water squirted out the carton spun around. This happened because of Newton’s third law of motion (every action has an equal and opposite reaction). As water spurted out of the holes, it pushed back on the carton. This made the carton twirl in the opposite direction. What happens if you change the placement of the holes? Does the size of the hole matter?

More Science Fun

Looking for more fun ways to learn and do science? Check these out!

Mama Joules Science Blog http://www.mamajoules.blogspot.com/

Any of the books by Dan Green and Simon Basher:

Astronomy: Out of this World

Biology: Life as We Know It

Chemistry: Getting a Big Reaction

Periodic Table: Elements with Style

Physics: Why Matter Matters

Rocks and Minerals: A Gem of a Read

Science News for Kids Website http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/

Facts on File Science Website http://www.fofweb.com/activelink2.asp?ItemID=WE40

Science Monster Website http://www.sciencemonster.com/

Sci Channels games website http://science.discovery.com/games/games.html or watch one of their many shows like "How It's Made" or "Morgan Freeman's Through the Wormhole".