Science with a Straw...What's Happening and more on vacuums

What’s happening?
When you put both straws in your mouth but keep one out of the drink, the vacuum your mouth creates to sip your drink is broken by the straw hanging out in the air. The only way to get the vacuum in your mouth is to either remove the air only straw or cover it with your tongue.

More on Vacuums....

Websites:

http://www.light-science.com/airpumpcleaner.html

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2_weXaUGIh4

http://www.reekoscience.com/Experiments/EggInABottle.aspx

http://www.ehow.com/list_6566227_science-projects-vacuums.html

http://www.instructables.com/id/Expanding-Easter-Peeps/

Check out this year's Google Science Fair!

Google is sponsoring a Science Fair again in 2012! Check out this link for more information:
http://www.google.com/events/sciencefair/enter.html

The Google Science Fair is open to students from ages 13-18, but even if you aren't yet old enough to participate, there are lots of fun ideas and recaps from last year's Google Science Fair to look at. Start with this article from PC World about "Nine Google Science Fair Projects that Could Change the World" http://www.pcmag.com/slideshow/story/264613/nine-google-science-fair-projects-that-could-change-the-worl

This year's competition closes on April 1st. Check out this video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=LWiuUC9RDhY

Remember the Fernwood Science Fair is coming April 6th! Have you thought of your question?

This year's Fernwood Science Fair documents will be posted soon. Check back for the registration form and rules.

Science Through a Straw

Straws are so much fun. I love to drink through them. Next time you’re out at a restaurant try this, and I promise it’s not embarrassing (or you can try it at home, too).

What you need:
2 drinking straws
One beverage of your choosing (just remember to ask with a please!)

What you do:
Put one straw in your drink—take a sip to make sure it works. Keep this straw in the right side of your mouth. Hold the second straw with the left side of your mouth making sure it is NOT in your drink. Take another sip. What happened? Okay, switch the straws around. Sip again. Hey! Did you break those straws? To find out what’s going on you’ll have to visit this blog again at the beginning of March.

The science fair is quickly approaching and we Need volunteers for our 6 April extravaganza. Moms and Dads, Uncles and Aunts, Grandparents and even your older siblings are wanted to make this an evening of excellent exploration, and delightful discovery. We’ve got jobs for every comer—setting-up, cleaning-up, licorice dispensing, demonstration monitoring, and speaker timing. Contact Amy Oliver (amyroliver@gmail.com) or Anca Stepan ([ancastepan@gmail. com]) to volunteer—Thank You!

Science Fair Workshops

Did you hear the science fair is coming up soon?
I want to do a project, but I’m not sure what kind of question would be
good. Really, I’m kind of not sure where I should even start. Maybe I’m just not
ready yet, sigh. Have you thought this? Not to worry, All Scientists feel this way sometimes. We’ve got just the thing for you—science workshops! Come on in to the Fernwood library during lunch recess starting 5 March and we’ll get you on the road to a truly cool science discovery. No registration required, just bring your curious self. We can’t wait to see you!

More on Temperature and Seattle Science Fun!

Temperature

Websites:

http://www.neok12.com/Heat-Temperature.htm

http://www.explorit.org/science/temperature.html

http://www.energyquest.ca.gov/projects/thermometer.html
http://www.weatherwizkids.com/weather-temperature.htm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Galileo_thermometer

http://www.whyzz.com/how-do-thermometers-work

Books:


Really hot science projects with temperature : how hot is it? how cold is it?
by Robert Gardner. 536 GAR

Weather and climate by David Flint 551.6 FLI

Temperature by Kay Manolis E 536.5 MANOLIS

Hot and Cold by Melinda Lilly J 536.5028 LILLY

Easy genius science projects with temperature and heat :great experiments and ideas by Robert Gardner and Eric Kemer J 536.078 GARDNER

Experiments with heat and energy / by Lisa Magloff J 536 MAGLOFF

What is touch? / Jennifer Boothroyd E 612.88 BOOTHRO

Experiments with heat / Trevor Cook J 536.078 COOK

What is a thermometer? / by Lisa Trumbauer E 681.2 TRUMBAU

Super simple things to do with temperature : fun and easy science for kids /by Kelly Doudna J536.5078 DOU

The science book of hot & cold /by Neil Ardley J536.078

Speaking of the temperature in Seattle, it is still cold outside...so here are some fun things to do with science in our area:

Enter the Seattle Science Festival Contest to design a Martian Habitat. Entries are due by April 6th, Seattle Science Festival Expo Day will be Saturday, June 2nd! http://seattlesciencefestival.org/Science-Festival/martian-habitat-contest

Check out Dino Day at the Burke Museum on Saturday, March 3rd http://www.burkemuseum.org/events/category/family_event

Explore the Polar Science Weekend at the Pacfic Science Center March 1st-4th http://pacificsciencecenter.org/Research-Weekends/polar-science-weekend.html or attend one of their Scientist Spotlights on the first Saturday of each month http://pacificsciencecenter.org/scientist-spotlight or if you really eat, sleep and breathe science try one of their camp-ins, many are open to family groups http://pacificsciencecenter.org/Camp-In/camp-in#camp-in-dates-and-groups

Attend an STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) event:

Northwest Regional Science Olympiad held at Highline Community College on Saturday, March 17th http://www.washingtonscienceolympiad.com/tournaments.html#regional

Seattle FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) Robotics Competition on Saturday, March 24th

http://www.firstwa.org/Events/tabid/321/ModuleID/992/ItemID/213/mctl/EventDetails/Default.aspx

BioExpo at Meydenbauer Center on May 24th http://nwabr.org/teachers/student-bio-expo-teachers/about-expo

Sign up for the UW Engineering Discovery Days on April 20th and 21st, family groups are welcome http://www.engr.washington.edu/alumcomm/openhouse.html

or curl up with a science fiction book or watch a science program (parents, please check for age appropriate themes)

Science programs: Magic Schoolbus, Sid the Science Kid, CyberChase, Nova (PG) , How It's Made, Wild Kratts, DragonFly TV, Through the Wormhole (PG), The Universe (PG), MythBusters (PG)

Science Fiction: (various ages and themes)

One Beetle Too Many: The Extraordinary Life of Charles Darwin by Kathryn Lasky

Eager by Helen Fox

Aliens Stole My Body by Bruce Colville

Simon Bloom, the Gravity Keeper by Michael Reisman

Flight of the Phoenix (Nathaniel Fludd, Beastologist bk. 1) by R. L. LaFevers

Wrinkle in Time by Madeline L'Engle

Sir Cumference and the Dragon of Pi by Cindy Neuschwander

George's Secret Key to the Universe by Stephen and Lucy Hawking

Neo Leo: the Ageless Ideas of Leonardo Da Vinci by Gene Barretta

Of Numbers and Stars: the Story of Hypatia by D. Anne Love

Ortega by Maureen Fergus

Science Fair: a story of mystery, danger, international suspense and a very nervous frog by Dave Barry

11 Experiments that Failed by Jenny Offill

Science Fair Bunnies by Kathryn Lasky

Ready, Set, Oops! by Fran Manushkin

No Fair Science Fair by Nancy Poydar

Amelia's Science Fair Disaster by Marissa Moss

Big Science Fair by Dan Yaccarino

Science Fair from the Black Lagoon by Mike Thaler