Science Fair Suggestions

Try these fun and Quirky Experiments!

2011-12-29T15:48:00.000-08:00

Roll a can with static electricity

Items you need: empty soda can, blown up balloon, head of hair

1. Place the can on its side on a flat smooth surface like a table or a smooth floor. 2. Rub the blown up balloon back and forth through your hair really fast.3. Now the fun part - Hold the balloon close to the can without actually touching the can. The can will start to roll towards the balloon without you even touching it!

Follow Up Experiments:
1. Does the size of the balloon change the power of the pull?
2. How much water can you put in the can until the balloon can't pull it anymore?
Source: Science Bob, http://www.sciencebob.com/

Make a bone bend

Items you need : large jar to fit a chicken bone, chicken bone (drumstick), vinegar

1. Have a nice chicken dinner and save a bone. Leg bones work best.
2. Rinse off the bone in running water to remove any meat from the bone.
3. Notice how hard the bone is - gently try bending it. Like our bones, chicken bones have a mineral called calcium in them to make them hard.4.Put the bone into the jar and cover the bone with vinegar. It might be a good idea to put the lid on the jar or cover it - let it sit for 3 days5. After 3 days remove the bone. It should feel different. Now can rinse it off and try bending it again. Is it really a rubber bone?

Follow Up Experiments:
1. Does the length of time the bone is in vinegar affect how much the bone bends?
2. Do smaller size bones become "bendy" sooner?

Science Fair is coming up soon: April 6 2012! If you would like to help us please contact Anca Stepan (ancastepan@gmail.com) or Amy Oliver (amyroliver@gmail.com). Thank you for being a volunteer!!!

More fun and quirky science!

2011-12-28T15:44:00.000-08:00

Looking for fun things to do while the weather is wet? Check some of these things out!

Visit Funology.com for some fun experiments http://www.funology.com/laboratory/ or ScienceBob http://www.sciencebob.com/index.php

Try your hand at some basic programming, visit MIT's page for Scratch, (using Scratch requires a download. You should check with adult before you download any programs)
http://scratch.mit.edu/

Visit Toys from Trash for experiments with things from around the house http://www.arvindguptatoys.com/toys.html

Other fun websites:

Disney's Family Fun http://familyfun.go.com/crafts/crafts-by-type/educational-craft-activities/science-projects/weird-science-701815/

New Zealand's Science for Kids http://www.sciencekids.co.nz/weird.html

Boy's Life http://boyslife.org/hobbies-projects/funstuff/2184/weird-science/

Weird Science Kids http://www.weirdsciencekids.com/

Visit your local library and check this out:

KCLS offers free museum passes -visit their website for more info http://www.kcls.org/programs/museumpasses.cfm

KCLS science page http://www.kcls.org/homework_help/science.cfm

Sno-Isle Libraries Science Page: http://www.sno-isle.org/index.cfm?ID=1246&cid=12

Books:
Weird science / by Mary Packard Call Number: J 502 PACKARD

Weird science : 40 strange-acting, bizarre-looking, and barely believable activities for kids/

Jim Wiese Call Number: J 507.8 WIESE

Black holes and other bizarre space objects / David Jefferis Call Number: J 523.8875 JEFFERI

Weird but true! : 300 outrageous facts Call Number: J 001.9 WEIRD B

Janice VanCleave's 201 awesome, magical, bizarre & incredible experiments J 507.8 VANCLEA

Mi primer libro de teatro / Mick Manning & Brita Granström INTL-SPA J 530.078 MANNING

Smart science tricks / Martin Gardner J 793.8 GARDNER

Ke xue you xi = Play sciences / Chen Zhongzhao zhu Call Number INTL-CHI J 793.8 CHEN

Making things change / Gary Gibson J 507.8 GIBSON

101 nollaun kwahak sirhŏm / Nil Adŭlli chiŭm INTL-KOR J 507.8 ARDLEY

Attend these events:

Mad Science at the Library:
Event Type: School-Age ProgramAge Group(s): Children and Families, All AgesDate: 12/29/2011Start Time: 2:00 PMDescription:Celebrate winter break with Mad Science. From foggy dry ice storms and gravity-defying beach balls to a Mad Science burp-flavored potion, audiences will be amazed by what they see, hear, and ugh … taste! Funded by the Sno-Isle Libraries Foundation. Library: Arlington Library

Pacific Science Center:

Design Zone through Jan. 2nd

Camp-In @ the Science Center (stay overnight for fun activities and sleeping amongst the exhibits) Fri, Feb 24 – Sat, Feb 25

Polar Sciences Weekend March 1-4, 2012

Burke Museum:

Artifact ID day Sat., Jan. 7, 2012 1 – 3:30 pm

Dino Day Sat. March 3rd, 2012/10-4pm

or take a walk and learn about the effects that glaciers had on this area

Sat. Jan. 7th 12-1:30 starting at Seward Park Environmental and Audubon Center

or build something like this model of the Large Hadron Collider at CERN made of Legos!

Check out the full story at Geek.com

Fun with Gelatin!

2011-11-18T21:33:00.000-08:00

With darkened days we tend to retreat to comfortable surroundings often spending more time in the kitchen creating delectable goodies to carry us through. It takes a hardened soul to turn away from the fruity flavor of jello salads and gumdrops. Ever play with the sweet stuff? Here are a couple of ideas to try (just promise you’ll help with clean-up when you’re done).

Gelatin Stalagmites
Who knew geology formations could be found using physics and a little kitchen wizardry?

What you need:
Balloon (inflated with any old air)
Gelatin (flavored or unflavored)
Bowl or baking dish
Something made of wool (or your own hair)

What to do:
Blow up your balloon and tie it off. Pour your gelatin into the dish—don’t be shy, layer it up to an inch deep. Rub your balloon against the wool, not too hard; is your hair standing up yet? Now touch the balloon to the gelatin and gently lift the balloon. See the gelatin clinging to the balloon and dish? You may even see the gelatin fly up the balloon, cool huh?! The structures sticking up from the bottom of the dish are called stalagmites. Those that cling from the balloon are called stalactites (they have to hold on tight, get it?). What do you call a structure that bridges both dish to balloon? A column!

Obviously, this is static electricity at work, but it also lets us see some cave formations in the warmth of our own homes. Couple that with edible science and we all win!

Gelatin Gumdrops
Done with the balloon? Still want to have a little fun? Let’s try a little chemistry now.
What you need:
Gelatin (pick your favorite flavor!)
Baking dish
Medicine dropper
Fork
Water

What to do:
Pour the gelatin into the dish making sure it is about 1 inch deep. Using your medicine dropper filled with water add one drop of water to the gelatin. Once it is absorbed, add a second drop of water to the same spot making sure it gets absorbed. Continue until about 6 drops have been added. Using your fork, scoop under the spot and lift upward. You will find you’ve made a gumdrop. The gelatin mixed with sugar and flavoring has the unusual property of swelling and holding water in a network of protein fibers. The gumdrop you’ve made is actually a liquid suspended in a solid! Want a little more challenge? Use more or less water, what happens? Use unflavored gelatin, add coloring and your own flavorings to create a personalized treat.

These ideas come courtesy of Mr. Wizard, who definitely still has it! Want to be a wizard yourself? Help us plan this year’s science fair. Contact Amy Oliver (amyroliver@gmail.com) or Anca Stepan (ancastepan@gmail.com) who will teach you the spells. The science fair is coming quickly—6 April 2012!

More Science Fun!

2011-11-18T16:55:00.000-08:00

Books

Kitchen science experiments : how does your mold garden grow? by Sudipta Bardhan-Quallen

Kitchen science / Shar Levine & Leslie Johnstone

Chemistry science fair projects : using french fries, gumdrops, soap, and other organic stuff /

Caves : mysteries beneath our feet / by David L. Harrison

The creation of caves / J. Elizabeth Mills.

Websites

PBS Zoom webs http://pbskids.org/zoom/activities/sci/electricgelatin.html

Gelatin Volcano http://www.spacegrant.hawaii.edu/class_acts/GelVolTe.html

Carnagie Mellon Gelatin Gumdrops http://gelfand.web.cmu.edu/scimodules/2._Gelatin_gum_drops.html

Make your own stalactite from Science Kids http://www.sciencekids.co.nz/projects/stalactite.html

http://www.sciencekidsathome.com/science_experiments/growing_stalactites.html#more

More fun with gumdrops http://www.exploratorium.edu/science_explorer/geo_gumdrops.html

Kitchen Experiments http://www.accreditedonlinecolleges.com/blog/2010/kitchen-chemistry-100-cool-food-science-experiments-for-kids-and-cooks/

Videos

Mr. Wizard's World Volume 6 J DVD-ED 507.8 MRW

Caves of the national parks [videorecording] : the wonder beneath / Discovery Channel J DVD-ED 551.447 CAV66

Our Science Fair is coming up in April. Seattle will have its first Science Festival this summer. Check out their website to see what's coming up: http://seattlesciencefestival.org/2012-festival-highlights

Your Nose Knows!

2011-10-27T13:11:00.000-07:00

Can YOUR nose help YOU survive?

Materials: 4 clean jars
Milk

Method: Pour a quarter cup of milk in the first jar and date it. The next day do the same thing in the second jar. Date that one too. Do this the next day and the next. Leave the jars covered, at room temperature and exposed to some light.

Using your nose: On the fourth day get a willing friend to help you. Have your friend close her eyes and give her each of the jars to smell. Have him/ her rank the jars in order of how badly they smell. The old milk will smell bad and he/she will be repelled by it. The older it is the worse it will smell

Conclusion: This experiment helps you see why smell is important for human survival. Smells help us determine if food is safe to eat so before you take a bite out of your next meal let you nose test it first!
Source: http://www.essortment.com/science-experiments-kids-57143.html

Making Sense of Scents......

2011-10-26T18:42:00.000-07:00

Websites:

How Stuff Works: http://express.howstuffworks.com/smell-this.htm
NASA Space Place: http://spaceplace.nasa.gov/e-nose/redirected/

Neuroscience for Kids: http://faculty.washington.edu/chudler/nosek.html

Discovery Kids: http://yucky.discovery.com/noflash/body/pg000150.html

Kids Health: http://kidshealth.org/kid/htbw/nose.html

Zoom: http://pbskids.org/zoom/activities/sci/tastevsmell.html

Science News for Kids: http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/2010/12/making-snotty-scents/

Science Buddies: http://www.sciencebuddies.org/science-fair-projects/project_ideas/HumBio_p010.shtml

Books:

Smelling by Rebecca Rissman

Smelling and tasting by Alvin Silverstein J 612.86 SILVERS

The sense of smell by Mari Schuh J 612.86 SCHUH

What the nose knows : the science of scent in everyday life by Avery Gilbert 612.86 GILBERT

What is smell? by Jennifer Boothroyd E 612.86 BOOTHRO

A qué huele? : un libro sobre el olfato por Dana Meachen Rau INTL-SPA E 612.86 RAU

Science fair success with scents, aromas, and smells by Thomas R. Rybolt TEEN 612.8607 RYBOLT

How to make a mystery smell balloon by Lori Shores E 507.8 SHORES

Shocking, slimy, stinky, shiny science experiments by Steve Parker J 507.8 PARKER

Media:

All about the senses DVD J DVD-ED 612.8 ALL189

Smell my world J DVD-ED 612.86 SME884

Green Science

2011-09-28T13:05:00.000-07:00

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

2011-09-28T13:00:00.000-07:00

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

2011-09-06T22:27:00.000-07:00

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:

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.

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

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

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.

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

2011-09-06T16:59:00.000-07:00

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".

Summer Fun: Balloon Dragsters

2011-06-03T13:14:00.000-07:00

Who can build the fastest car? Use the directions below to build your vehicle, test it, then challenge your friends to a race. Just keep it on the track, okay?
Materials:
Piece of cardboard, 6 x 10 inches
4 straight pins
Colored markers or crayons (optional)
Flexible straw
Tape
Balloons (un-inflated)
What you Do:
Make dragster parts first. Cut 3x4 inch piece of cardboard. This will be the body of your dragster. Cut four circles, each with a 2 inch diameter, for wheels. Use a pin to poke a hole in the center of each wheel and then set the wheels aside. Decorate parts if you like.
Bend the flexible straw into an L-shape. Lay it lengthwise in the middle of the dragster’s body, with the straw’s mouth-end sticking up near the front of the car and the opposite end extending past the rear of the car. Tape the straw in place.
Put the mouth of the balloon over the mouth of the straw. Tape it in place. Just to test your tape job, blow into the open end of the straw to make sure you can inflate the balloon. If it fails, try re-taping the balloon to the straw.
Attach the wheels to the dragster body using a pin for each wheel. Test it to make sure it rolls. Make adjustments if you need to.
Blow into the straw until the balloon is half full of air. As you take your mouth off the straw, quickly block the end of the straw with your finger to keep the air in. Then let go of the straw and watch the dragster take off.
Try different sizes and shapes of balloons. Vary the amount of air in the balloons. What other modifications can you make and what effect do they have? (change the size of the wheels, or shape of body). What makes the fastest dragster?

What’s going on? Dragsters are a special kind of race car. They use the principles of rocket science to move in a straight line as fast as possible. Rocket engines and balloon dragsters work according to Newton’s Third Law of Motion. That law says that for every action (force) there is an equal and opposite reaction (force). In your dragster, the balloon pushes air through the straw—action—so the dragster moves forward—opposite reaction.

We’ll put out more fun ideas through the summer. Hey, and keep your eyes peeled for other cool stuff. We’d love to hear your ideas! You can contact Amy Oliver at AmyROliver@gmail.com.

More Sport Science!

2011-04-28T13:16:00.000-07:00

Bazemore, Suzanne. Soccer : how it works. Mankato, Minn. : Capstone Press, c2010
Biskup, Agnieszka. Football : how it works. Mankato, Minn. : Capstone Press, c2010
Biskup, Agnieszka. Hockey : how it works. Mankato, Minn. : Capstone Press, c2010
Bonnet, Robert L. Home run! : science projects with baseball and softball. Berkeley Heights, NJ : Enslow Publishers, Inc., c2010
Dreier, David Louis. Baseball : how it works. Mankato, Minn. : Capstone Press, c2010
Gardner, Robert, 1929-. Health science projects about sports performance. Berkeley Heights, NJ : Enslow Publishers, c2002
Gardner, Robert, 1929-. Science projects about the physics of sports. Springfield, NJ : Enslow Publishers, c2000
Gardner, Robert, 1929-. Slam dunk! : science projects with basketball. Berkeley Heights, NJ : Enslow Publishers, c2010
Goff, John Eric, 1970-. Gold medal physics : the science of sports. Baltimore, Md. : Johns Hopkins University Press, 2010
Goodstein, Madeline P. Goal! : science projects with soccer. Berkeley Heights, NJ : Enslow Publishers, c2010
Goodstein, Madeline P. Wheels! : science projects with bicycles, skateboards, and skates. Berkeley Heights, NJ : Enslow Publishers, c2010
Levine, Shar, 1953-. Sports science. New York : Sterling Pub., c2006
Mercer, Bobby, 1961-. The leaping, sliding, sprinting, riding science book : 50 super sports science activities. New York : Lark Books, c2006
Rowe, Julian. Sports. Crystal Lake, Ill. : Rigby Interactive Library, 1997
Slade, Suzanne. Basketball : how it works. Mankato, Minn. : Capstone Press, c2010
Sohn, Emily. Skateboarding : how it works. Mankato, Minn. : Capstone Press, c2010
Why a curveball curves : the incredible science of sports. New York : Hearst Books, c2008
Wiese, Jim, 1948-. Sports science : 40 goal-scoring, high-flying, medal-winning experiments for kids. New York : J. Wiley, c2002

Don't Blink or You'll Miss It!

2011-04-25T16:25:00.000-07:00

You didn’t think we were done with science did you? Think science and sports are worlds apart? Think again!
Some sports require fast reaction times: baseball, sprinting, tennis, volleyball and fencing to name a few. How fast is your reaction time? Below is a way to measure it.

Materials:
Ruler
Friend to help you

What to do:
Have your helper hold the ruler by the 12 inch (30 cm) end so that it hangs down vertically toward the ground.
Place your thumb and index finger on either side of the ruler at the 0-inch mark. Don’t squeeze the ruler—it should be able to move freely through your fingers.
Tell your friend to let go of the ruler when s/he is ready and pinch your fingers together to catch it.
Read on the ruler the distance it fell. Use the table below to determine your reaction time.

DISTANCE – REACTION TIME CONVERSION TABLE
Distance Time
2 in (~5 cm) 0.10 sec (100 ms)
4 in (~10 cm) 0.14 sec (140 ms)
6 in (~15 cm) 0.17 sec (170 ms)
8 in (~20 cm) 0.20 sec (200 ms)
10 in (~25.5 cm) 0.23 sec (230 ms)
12 in (~30.5 cm) 0.25 sec (250 ms)***

This one is all about realizing how amazing your body is. Your senses have to realize what is happening, communicate with your brain and tell your hand to grab the ruler.

Want some more science? Introduce a few variables: which of your hands is fastest, which person in your family is fastest? Try it blindfolded and have the helper make a noise as s/he drops the ruler. Collect these results. What things do you notice about your data? Keep practicing and see if you can improve your time!

***Remember milliseconds are one thousandths of a second so 1000 milliseconds (ms) = 1 second. That means 250 ms = 0.25 seconds; 100 ms = 0.100 seconds. See you’re a lot faster than you thought!

Another Great Science Fair!

2011-04-16T22:04:00.000-07:00

Wow, 2011 held another great Science Fair for Fernwood Elementary!

Great job all of you Fernwood Students, what a wonderful group of experiments were performed, recorded and shared!

Thanks to Amy Oliver for all her hard work in making this happen!

What did you learn from your experiment? Leave a comment to share with others about what you learned.

Need a Little Help for the Science Fair?

2011-03-19T20:36:00.000-07:00

*****Want a little more personal help? Come to the science workshops Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays in the Fernwood library during lunch recess starting March 21st.

We’d love to see you!*****

2011 Science Fair Documents are here!

2011-03-06T22:33:00.000-08:00

Have you thought of what question you want to try to answer for the Science Fair this year?

Our Science Fair is coming on Friday, April 15th!

Read about our Science Fair Guidelines, get your registration document, and check out some good questions to get you started thinking about what you are interested in doing for the Science Fair.

Science Fair Registration document: (These will be due back to school by Tuesday 29 March 2011)

https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&pid=explorer&chrome=true&srcid=0B5rlgHJl1FKtOTJhNWQwYjEtZWU3MC00ZjY0LWFlMDgtMjgzZjI4ZWYxMjA3&hl=en&authkey=CJOEmtEL com/viewer?

Science Fair Questions:

https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&pid=explorer&chrome=true&srcid=0B5rlgHJl1FKtZjZmZDQ3NzgtMDgwNi00NmI1LThlNTUtMWZlMzNhZTYxNGMz&hl=en

Science Fair Guidelines:

https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&pid=explorer&chrome=true&srcid=0B5rlgHJl1FKtOWM0YmNiNmYtZjc1Yi00MTA1LTliYTctZjUxNTkyOGNiNGVl&hl=en&authkey=CNbvlu8L

Remember, the most important thing to do is have fun!

Here are some websites to help you see what fun ways you can explore your world through science:

Fun experiments http://scifun.chem.wisc.edu/homeexpts/homeexpts.html

Fun facts http://www.hightechscience.org/funfacts.htm

Fun with Bill Nye http://www.billnye.com/

Fun science games http://www.gamequarium.com/science.htm

Fun science song "Put it to the Test" by They Might Be Giants http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9kf51FpBuXQ

Fun Science video: YouTube video Mythbuster's Mentos + Diet Coke experiment

(10 second ad before video) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LjbJELjLgZg&feature=related

Other fun ways to experience science

2011-03-04T14:16:00.000-08:00

Visit the Burke Museum for one of their fun hands on learning days:

Dino Days March 5th 9-4 http://www.washington.edu/burkemuseum/events/index.php http://vimeo.com/10292552 and several other events throughout the year.

Watch the Robotics Competition at QWest Field on March 18th and 19th
http://www.firstwa.org/

Visit the UW Engineering Department's Discovery Days in April
http://www.engr.washington.edu/alumcomm/openhouse.html

Plant some Sunflowers and help scientists track the bee population http://www.greatsunflower.org/

Play a game or let your home computer help science:

Fold It, a game that helps scientists analyze the structure of protiens

http://fold.it/portal/info/science#whygame or use your computer to help when you aren't using it with Rosetta@Home http://boinc.bakerlab.org/rosetta/

Free Rice, fun quizzes on science, math, geography and vocabulary that also help donate food to World Food Programme to help fight hunger.

http://www.freerice.com/category

Have your computer help with the search for Extraterrestrial life when you aren't using it with

Seti@Home http://setiathome.berkeley.edu/

Learn about Watson, the IBM computer that won on Jeopardy!

http://www-03.ibm.com/innovation/us/watson/what-is-watson/index.html

The Key Drop

2011-02-27T14:48:00.000-08:00

Gravity pulls all things together, but do they always make impact? Try this and amaze your friends.
Materials:
Key ring full of keys
Long shoelace
Pencil

What You Do:
Remove one key from the key ring. Tie it to one end of the shoelace, and tie the key ring (with the other keys still on it) to the other end.
Drape the string over the pencil—held parallel to the floor. The key ring should hang down about 1 inch below the pencil. Hold the key in your other hand.
Let go of the key. What happens? Do it again, watching the path of the key very carefully. Wow!

What’s going on? The key to this trick is energy. There are two different types of energy at work. Energy of motion is kinetic energy. Stored energy is called potential energy. When both the key ring and the key are stationary, they have potential energy. The key ring has more potential energy than the key because it has more mass. When you let go of the single key, it falls a long distance, building up momentum and speed as it travels, so it has a lot of kinetic energy. The key actually has more kinetic energy than the key ring and winds itself around the pencil. After a couple of turns around the pencil, the friction is so great that the key ring stops falling.

The science fair is quickly approaching! Look for registration slips to come home mid-March. Workshops begin on 21 March during lunch recesses Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. Want to help? We’d love to have you; contact Amy Oliver at amyroliver@gmail.com.

More on Energy.....

2011-02-27T12:51:00.000-08:00

Books:

Physics: Why Matter Matters! by Dan Greenburg and Simon Basher 530 Greenburg Fernwood SnoIsle

Energy by Kay Manolis 531 Manolis Fernwood

Energy by Christine Webster 621.042 Web Fernwood

Kinetic and potential energy : understanding changes within physical systems by Jennifer Viegas Y531.6 VIE KCLS

Heat and Energy by Steven Parker J536 PARKER KCLS

Toying around with science : the physics behind toys and gags by Robert Friedhoffer Y688.728 FRI KCLS

Raceways : having fun with balls and tracks by Bernie Zubrikowski J796.3 KCLS

Making things move : DIY mechanisms for inventors, hobbyists, and artists by Dustyn Roberts 621.8 ROBERTS SnoIsle KCLS

Bite-sized science : activities for children in 15 minutes or less by John H. Falk and Kristi S. Rosenberg 372.3504 FALK SnoIsle

Awesome experiments in force & motion by Michael DiSpezio J 531.6 DISPEZI SnoIsle

Gizmos & gadgets : creating science contraptions that work (& knowing why) by Jill Frankel Hauser J 500 HAUSER SnoIsle

DVDs and video links:

Energy with Bill Nye JDVD 531.6 ENE KCLS

Energy: potential & kinetic Videocassette J531.6 ENERGY KCLS

Energy by Asa Kalam JDVD 530 ENE KCLS SnoIsle

Roller coaster physics [videorecording] / Discovery Channel School J DVD-ED 531 ROL4 SnoIsle

YouTube: Eureka! Episode 9 Kinetic Energy http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zhX01toLjZs

YouTube: Eureka! Episode 10 Potential Energy http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rn470XtSYK0&feature=related

YouTube: Wiley E Coyote and RoadRunner demonstrate Potential Energy http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jnj8mc04r9E&feature=related

YouTube: Student video on Potential and Kinetic Engergy http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8abzpXCjyjA&NR=1

YouTube: Bill Nye on Energy http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ASLLiuejAo

Websites and links:

Class Zone on Energy http://www.classzone.com/books/ml_science_share/vis_sim/mem05_pg69_potential/mem05_pg69_potential.html

Physics 4 Kids

http://www.physics4kids.com/files/motion_energy.html

PowerPoint presentations on Energy and Matter

http://science.pppst.com/energy.html

Need some help with your Science Fair project? There will be workshops available for help starting March 21st during lunch recesses. Also, both SnoIsle and King County Library Systems have online resources available from your home computer.

KCLS Homework Help page http://www.kcls.org/homework_help/

SnoIsle Homework Help page http://www.sno-isle.org/?ID=2777

Getting Centered

2011-02-04T21:03:00.000-08:00

Balance is key to all things in life. How far can you lean before you fall over? Does it help to really concentrate? How about extending your arms and legs, does this help? Let’s explore your balance a little bit.

You need:
Lipstick tube or chapstick tube
A helper

What to do:
1. Kneel on the floor with your behind touching your feet and place your arms in front of you with your elbows bent. Slide your elbows back until they just touch your knees and extend your fingers out in front of you.
2. Have a helper place a tube of lipstick (chapstick) on the ground so that it is standing upright just at the end of your index fingers.
3. Straighten up so that you are kneeling but upright. Place both your hands behind your back. Carefully lean forward and try to knock the lipstick over using your nose.

What happened?
Some people can knock over the tube and other people can’t. It has to do with how high the center of gravity is in your body. Your center of gravity is the point in your body where half your weight is above and half is below. Some athletes such as cyclists who build up more muscle mass in their legs have a lower center of gravity. Athletes who develop their upper bodies may have a hard time with this and topple over. Wrestlers crouch to keep their center of gravity as low as possible so that they aren’t as easy to knock over.

Volunteers are central to our science fair. We’d love to have you join us. Have some spare time at lunch? Come hang out in the Fernwood library to encourage the students in their explorations. No science experience necessary. Contact Amy Oliver to join the fun (amyroliver@gmail.com).

More about Center of Gravity and Balance....

2011-02-04T20:52:00.000-08:00

Balancing magic and other tricks by Ormond McGill 793.8 McG
Paperclip science: Simple & fun experiments by Steve Moje 503 Moj
Make it balance by David Evans and Claudette Williams 531.14 Eva
All about motion & balance [videorecording]. J DVD-ED 531.11 ALL856
Gold medal physics : the science of sports / John Eric Goff. 796.0153 GOFF
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
Awesome experiments in force & motion / Michael DiSpezio J 531.6 DISPEZI

Websites:
San Francisco Exploratorium http://www.exploratorium.edu/snacks/center_of_gravity/index.html
Fun Center of Gravity activities
http://www.escapadedirect.com/plwigr.html
NASA Website
http://spaceplace.nasa.gov/en/kids/barycntr.shtml
Jan Van Cleave’s Website
http://scienceprojectideasforkids.com/2010/center-of-gravity-vs-center-of-mass/
Fun experiment
http://www.brighthub.com/education/k-12/articles/30142.aspx
YouTube balancing fork and spoon
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8wsNZgRbXss

Looking for more fun ways to experiment with science? Check out your local library’s programs and events.
Sno-Isle Library System’s Sounds Like Science program is taking place at Mukilteo Library on Wednesday, February 23rd at 2pm and Mountlake Terrace on Saturday, February 19th at 1pm. They also are offering a Mad Science program called Up, Up and Away on Friday, February 25th at 2pm at the Mukilteo Library.

Science Connects the World!

2011-01-11T17:05:00.000-08:00

The Fernwood Elementary Science Fair is coming! Our Science Fair will be held on April 15th.

Another Science Fair to check out is the Google Science Fair.

Here is a link to a fun YouTube video using Rube Goldberg device advertising the upcoming Google Science Fair:

http://www.google.com/events/sciencefair/

"The most exciting phrase to hear in science, the one that heralds new discoveries, is not 'Eureka!' but 'That's funny...' "

Isaac Asimov

More on Aerodynamics

2011-01-06T12:53:00.000-08:00

The Magic school bus space adventures [videorecording] J DVD MAG163
Kids' paper airplane book / written by by Ken Blackburn J 745.592 BLACKBU
Dime, por qué tienen alas los aviones / Shirley Willis INTL-SPA J 629.1323 WILLIS
Air and flight / Jon Richards J 629.1323 RICHARD
Flying things / Michael DiSpezio J 629.13 DISPEZI
The Wright brothers [videorecording] J DVD-ED 629.13 WRI649
Model aircraft aerodynamics / Martin Simons 629.1331 SIMONS
Air & flight / Jon Richards J 629.1323 RICHARD
Fei qi lia yao! : fei xing de mi mi / yuan zhu Qiao'anna Ke'er, Bulusi Digen ; yi Wu Meiying. INTL-CHI J 629.13 COLE
Paper Airplanes: Models to build and Fly by Emery Kelly 745.592 Kel
Book of Flight by Judith Rinard 629.13 Rin
Flight by Robert Burleigh 629.13 Bur
The science of air : projects and experiments with air and flight Author: Parker, Steve. J533.62 PAR
From boxfish to aerodynamic cars Author: Allman, Toney. J629.231 ALL
How do aircraft fly? Author: Meredith, Susan J629.1323 MER
The magnificent book of kites : explorations in design, construction, enjoyment & flight / Maxwell Eden 629.1333 EDEN
Rockets and other spacecraft / John Farndon J 629.47 FARNDON

Websites:
Fact Monster website http://www.factmonster.com/ce6/sci/A0802621.html
NASA sites http://www.grc.nasa.gov/WWW/K-12/airplane/bga.html
http://exploration.grc.nasa.gov/education/rocket/rktaero.html
Forces of Flight http://www.fi.edu/flights/own2/forces.html
Website on Bernoulli’s Principle http://home.earthlink.net/~mmc1919/venturi.html
Bernoulli’s Brainteasers http://www.nasm.si.edu/exhibitions/gal109/LESSONS/TEXT/TEASERS.HTM
Boeing site on Flight for Kids http://www.boeing.com/companyoffices/aboutus/wonder_of_flight/index.html

YouTube Videos on Aerodynamics:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ftj6A2P7lmw&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ltjFEei3AI&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bv3m57u6ViE&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=olVJzVadiFs&feature=related

Flying Hoops

2011-01-06T07:25:00.000-08:00

This is one crazy looking flyer. Give it a try for a little fun.

Materials:
2 index cards
Tape
2 straws
Optional items for added excitement: friend, clay, manila file folder.

What You Do:
For each hoopster, cut a 1 inch strip from the short side of an index card. Roll the strip into a circle and tape it to one end of your straw. Cut a 1 inch strip form the long side of the other index card. Roll it into a larger circle and tape to the other end of your straw.
Hold the hoopster in the middle and toss it gently. Experiment with which end flies better.
If you like, challenge a friend to build one and see whose hoopster will stay in the air longer.
Try putting two straws together end to end and making larger loops from a manila file folder. Try adding weight to your hoopster by sticking a piece of clay somewhere along its body. Where does the weight work best?

What’s going on? Your hoopster is an experiment in aerodynamics. Aerodynamics comes from the Greek words for air and power. It’s the study of how gases move. Air, which is a gas, lifts the hoopster as it passes over and under the loops. Bernoulli’s Principle states that fast moving air has a lower pressure than slow moving air. The loops of the hoopster are airfoils. The air has to move faster over the top of the loops than it does beneath the loops. This creates a low-pressure zone above the hoopster that lifts it into the air. Helicopters and airplanes use this principle to fly.

Seesawing Candle

2010-11-22T21:20:00.000-08:00

Seesawing candle

Maybe you celebrate Hanukah, Christmas or Kwanza. Maybe you just like to stay up late to welcome the New Year. These winter holidays have a commonality--they often inspire us to light a candle to ward off the dark. Alas, short tapers are often cast aside. Before you get rid of them, try this.
You need:
knife
candle (used taper at least 3 inches long is best)
needle (long enough to fit through the width of the candle)
wax paper
two drinking glasses
matches

With adult supervision, carve away the tallow or wax at the bottom end of the candle to expose the wick. Carefully push the needle through the center of the candle. Leave enough needle sticking out each end to serve as a rod to hold up the candle.

Place a piece of wax paper on the tabletop, set the drinking glasses on the wax paper, and rest the needle across the rims of the each glass so the candle is between the glasses.

Light both ends of the candle, and give one end a slight push so the candle teeters like a seesaw. What happens?

Why it works: As Newton’s third law states, “For every action there is an opposite and equal reaction.” When the tallow or wax drips off each end of the candle, it delivers a slight upward recoil.

The Mad Scientist Handbook Joey Green

More on Newton's Third Law

2010-11-21T15:01:00.000-08:00

The manga guide to physics / Hideo Nitta, Keita Takatsu TEEN 530 NITTA
The flying circus of physics / Jearl Walker 530 Walker
The cartoon guide to physics / Larry Gonick and Arthur Huffman 530 GONICK
Newton's 3 laws of motion DVD-ED 531 NEW88
All about motion & balance J DVD-ED 531.11 ALL856
Ace your forces and motion science project : great science fair ideas / Robert Gardner and Madeline Goodstein J 531.6078 GARDNER
Experiments with force and motion / by Colin Uttley J 531.6 UTTLEY
Forces and motion science fair projects : using water balloons, pulleys, and other stuff / Robert Gardner
TEEN 531.6078 GARDNER
Awesome experiments in force & motion / Michael DiSpezio J 531.6 DISPEZI
Force & motion / written by Peter Lafferty J 531 LAFFERT
Motion / [Ben Morgan J531.6 MORGAN
Newton and me / by Lynne Mayer E MAYER
Roller coaster physics J DVD-ED 531 ROL4
Lục và chuyên đông / Peter Lafferty INTL-VIE J 531 LAFFERT

Website:

http://teachertech.rice.edu/Participants/louviere/Newton from Rice University
http://www.grc.nasa.gov/WWW/K-12/airplane/newton.html NASA website
http://science.discovery.com/interactives/literacy/newton/newton.html Science Channel Website (lots of ads)
http://www.physics4kids.com/files/motion_laws.html Physics for Kids Website
http://www.crazyvector.com/newtons-laws-of-motion-illustrated-with-3d-animations-and-motion-graphics/

Fun with Polymers!

2010-10-30T23:12:00.000-07:00

Do you like goop, or putty? Did you check out the pink goop at the ice cream social? Fun stuff to play with right? Here’s how you can make some of your own.
Materials:
2 paper cups
4 tablespoons white wood glue, such as Elmer’s
Warm water
Food coloring (optional)
1 tablespoon and 2 teaspoons borax powder (found in laundry section at the store)
1 tablespoon cornstarch
Procedure:
1. In a paper cup, mix the glue, 4 tablespoons water, and a few drops of food coloring. Add 1 tablespoon borax and the cornstarch and mix well.
2. In another cup, mix 2/3 cup water and 2 teaspoons borax until the borax dissolves. Pour 2 tablespoons of the borax and water solution into the glue mixture and stir until it’s stiff.
3. Let the mixture set for a minute, then take it out of the cup and rinse with water. Blot the extra water with a paper towel and knead the mixture until it’s smooth. If you want it to be stiffer, add more of the borax and water solution.
What does your goop do? Try bouncing it, breaking it, stretching it. Does it keep its shape? Is it hard, soft or both?

Polymer is a funny word. A polymer is a chemical made up of many repeated parts (poly=many; mer=unit). The glue contains a polymer, polyvinyl acetate (PVA), which is made from many monomers (individual chemicals) of vinyl acetate. So the glue is a polymer to start with but when the borax is added, the chains cross-link to make even bigger—and stiffer—polymer chains. Cross links are like chemical bridges between polymer chains, linking them together. Knowing this what do you think would happen when you vary the amount of borax you add? Try it!

More Polymers

2010-10-30T17:35:00.000-07:00

Here are some more places and books to investigate polymers:

Oobleck, slime & dancing spaghetti: twenty terrific at-home science experiments inspired by favorite children's books by Jennifer Williams J 507.8 WILLIAM

Plastics and polymers science fair projects: using hair gel, soda bottles, and slimy stuff / Madeline Goodstein TEEN 507.8 GOODSTE

The Earth's resources / Richard and Louise Spilsbury J 333.7 SPILSBU

The way toys work : the science behind the magic 8 ball, etch a sketch, boomerang, and more / Ed Sobey and Woody Sobey. 688.728 SOBEY

Plastics and polymers science fair projects, revised and expanded using the scientific method
Author: Goodstein, Madeline P. Y540.78 GOO 2010

Title: Materials science
Author: Ward, D. J. (David John) J620.11 WAR

Plastics & polymers
Author: Mebane, Robert C. J547.7 MEB

Investigating Solids, Liquids, And Gases With Toys by Jerry Sarquis

Lucky Science: Accidental Discoveries From Gravity to Velcro, with Experiments by Royston M. Roberts

Mistakes that worked by Charlotte Foltz Jones 609 Jones
Toys! : amazing stories behind some great inventions by Don Wulffson 688.7 Wulf

Polymer Websites:
http://pslc.ws/macrog/kidsmac/index.htm website for the University of Mississippi’s Polymer Science Learning Center

http://www.nationalgeographic.com/resources/ngo/education/plastics National Geographic’s website about Polymers

http://scienceprojectideasforkids.com/2010/polymer-slime-facts Website by science author Jan VanCleave

http://web.mit.edu/Invent/iow/sillyputty.html MIT’s website on the invention of Silly Putty

http://www.sciencekidsathome.com/science_topics/amazing-polymers.html

http://www.sciencebob.com/experiments/videos/index.php Three videos from Science Bob on making slime.

The Spider and the Web

2010-09-30T23:50:00.000-07:00

Ever watched a spider catch its prey? How do they know the difference between food and debris blown into the web? Try this and see if you can figure it out.
Materials:
An occupied garden spiderweb
Tuning fork (or fork with long tines)
Small block of wood
Directions:
Explore your garden or nearby park until you find a web with a spider in it.
Hold the tuning fork by the handle and tap it against the wood block. The fork should hum.
Place one prong of the fork against a strand of the web. What does the spider do?

So did you get any stray webs on your hands, or face? Would you like to inspect the web closely? Try this.
Materials:
Can of clear spray lacquer (available in hardware stores)
8-inch square sheet of stiff black paper
Directions:
Look around your yard or nearby park for a spider web. Touch the center of the web lightly with a leaf to be sure that the weaver is no longer around. Find a web with no spider.
Spray the web with lacquer several times, allowing it to dry between applications.
Spray the web once again. While the web is still wet, hold the black paper up against it and lift the web onto the paper. Gently pull away any support strands.
Spray the web and paper with one more layer of lacquer and allow it to dry.
Follow the same procedure with other webs. Look for different sizes and shapes.

For more science information and ideas see the science fair website: http://www.schoolsciencefair.blogspot.com/. The science fair will be this spring. Anyone interested in helping please contact Amy Oliver via email (amyroliver@gmail.com). No science experience necessary; curiosity and a sense of adventure are preferred

Books about spiders and other bugs

2010-09-30T21:47:00.000-07:00

Want to find out more about bugs and spiders? Here are a few resources to help you find out more available at Fernwood, SnoIsle or King County Libraries:

Scholastic's the Magic school bus creepy, crawly fun! J DVD-ED 781.23 MAG164

Bug zoo by Nick Baker J 595.7 BAKER

Science fair winners. : bug science : 20 projects and experiments about arthropods: insects, arachnids, algae, worms, and other small creatures by Karen Romano Young

J 595.7078 YOUNG

Spiders : learning to love them by Lynne Kelly 595.44 KELLY

Up, up, and away by Ginger Wadsworth E 595.44 WADSWOR

Amazing insects and spiders by George C. McGavin J 595.7 MCGAVIN

Spiders up close = Las arañas / Katie Franks ; traducción al español, Ma. Pilar Sanz.
Spanish & English INTL-SPA E 595.44 FRANKS

Reader's Digest Insects and spiders by Matthew Robertson 595.7 ROB Fernwood Library

Spiders! by the editors of Time for Kids with Nicole Iorio J 595.44 SPIDERS

Spiderology by Michael Elsohn Ross J 595.44 ROSS

Spiders spin webs Yvonne Winer E 595.44 WINER

Everything bug : what kids really want to know about insects and spiders by Cherie Winner J 595.7 WINNER

Someone saw a spider : spider facts and folktales by Shirley Climo 398.2 CLI Fernwood Library

Simon & Schuster children's guide to insects and spiders by Jinny Johnson 595.7 JOHN Fernwood Library

Spider Websites

http://www.backyardnature.net/spiders.htm

http://www.zoo.org/Page.aspx?pid=1252

http://www.kidzone.ws/lw/spiders/index.htm

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

http://www.biokids.umich.edu/critters/Arachnida/

Opportunity to visit Mars!

2010-09-09T15:16:00.000-07:00

Did you know we are set to launch another rover to Mars in 2011? How would you like to be a part of history and include your name on this rover? Use the link below to check out the website and add your name if you like (parent permission required). Then check out the map to see what states and countries have the greatest participation. Do a little more poking around and play a few games. Cool stuff!

http://mars.jpl.nasa.gov/msl/index.cfm

Grapes, good golly!

2010-07-22T16:37:00.000-07:00

Hey guys!
We hope you've been enjoying the summer. We figure you might have hit a lull in activity, so thought we'd see if we could help. We found a couple of things to try at home, just ask an adult for permission first, and have a "grape" time!

Sparking Grapes

You need:
White grapes
Knife
Microwave-safe plate
Microwave oven

Slice the grape down the center toward the stem, but not all the way through. The two halves should just be attached by a tiny piece of grape skin.
Place the two grape halves face down on the plate.
Set the microwave for 20 seconds. Turn it on and watch the sparks fly.

What happened? The oven produces microwaves, which are a type of electromagnetic radiation. All electromagnetic waves create a changing electric field, which will cause electrons to move. (Electrons are negatively charged particles located around the nucleus of the atom and everything in the world is made up of atoms, so everything has electrons.) Moving electrons through a thin conductor will give you light just like a filament in a light bulb. In this activity the thin flap of grape left is a conductor, and the microwaves make electrons move through it.

It's Not a Shoe Box! It's a Catapult!

You Need:
Duct or packing tape
Long plastic spoon
Shoebox
Rubber bands
Grapes (or any small item)
Outdoor area

Tape the bottom of the spoon to the end of a shoebox. The concave part of the spoon should face along the side of the box.
Loop one end of the rubber band around the spoon and tape the rubber band to the middle of the spoon. Tape the other end of the rubber band to the side of the shoebox. Make sure you've got a good stretch on your rubber band, so there's tension. (To increase tension, use a smaller rubber band, or loop it around the spoon a couple of times.)
Use one hand to hold the shoebox. Use the other hand to load the grape on the spoon and pull back on the spoon. Let it go and launch the grape. How far did it go?
Adjust the position of the rubber band so it stretches farther, creating greater tension. How does this change the launch? What happens if you use more than one rubber band?

What's going on? Whether they're built to launch grapes at targets or boulders at castle walls, all catapults work because of elastic materials. Here you're using the elasticity of the rubber band to store energy in your catapult. You put the energy in your catapult. You put the energy in the rubber band by pulling the spoon back with your hand. That energy goes into the grape and becomes kinetic energy. So the grape flies!

ideas from Smash It! Crash It! Launch It! 50 Mind-Blowing Eye-Popping Science Experiments

Watch for the date of our next Science Fair!

2010-04-15T18:27:00.000-07:00

Stay tuned for the date for the 2011 Science Fair!

Springtime fun with variables

2010-03-25T20:25:00.000-07:00

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

2010-03-08T16:14:00.000-08:00

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

2010-03-08T15:13:00.000-08:00

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!

2010-03-02T16:20:00.000-08:00

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.

Kitchen Science Experiments Suggestions

2010-02-25T12:51:00.000-08:00

Here are a few suggestions for science experiments in the kitchen!

Kitchen science by Shar Levine & Leslie Johnstone J 507.8 LEVINE

Reading Rainbow: How to make an apple pie and see the world J DVD HOW118
Based on a book of the same title by Marjorie Priceman

Kitchen science by Chris Maynard J 507.8 MAYNARD

Science projects about kitchen chemistry by Robert Gardner J 540.78 GARDNER

Simple kitchen experiments : learning science with everyday foods by Muriel Mandell J 641.3 MANDELL

Science experiments you can eat by Vicki Cobb J 507 COBB

Lotions, potions, and slime : mudpies and more! by Nancy Blakey J 790.1922 BLAKEY

The science chef : 100 fun food experiments and recipes for kids by Joan D'Amico and Karen Eich Drummond J 641.3 DAMICO

Liquids in action by Peter Mellett, Jane Rossiter J 532.0078 MELLETT

Magic School Bus: Gets Baked in a Cake by Linda Beech J 540 BEECH

Science Fair Ideas

2010-02-25T12:44:00.000-08:00

Do you remember a spectacular sunset? Have you ever wondered what makes the sun and sky seem to change color, or why some sunsets are more colorful than others? Here is a way to use the science of light, called optics, to make your own sunset at home.
1. Fill a small, clear plastic or glass container with water.
2. Place the container about 6 inches from a white wall or background.
3. Shine a flashlight through the water toward the background. Is the light you see on the background the color of the sun in the middle of the day?
4. Now, add a few drops of milk to the water. What color is the light now? Add a few more drops of milk.
5. Experiment with different amounts of milk. Which is your favorite sunset color?

What’s going on: Light is made of waves. White light, from the sun or a flashlight, is made up of different colors, each color having a different wave length. The particles of milk solids scatter the blue and green light, the shortest wave lengths, and only the yellow, orange and reds, the longer wavelengths, pass through. When the sun is low in the sky, the light passes through more atmosphere (and particles) before it reaches us, so more of the blue and green light is scattered, and we see the familiar reddish sunset.

Post what you did with the experiment. Which variables did you change – the amount of milk, the type of light, the shape of container? Can you use what you have learned to explain why the sky looks blue?
Fernwood’s science fair is on the horizon! Projects will be presented 16 April 2010. If you’re interested in helping with the event contact Amy Oliver at AmyROliver@gmail.com.

Science Fair Documents and Information

2010-02-24T20:10:00.000-08:00

Our Science Fair is coming soon! Are you ready to do an experiment and prepare a poster for the Science Fair?

SAVE THE DATE - FRIDAY, APRIL 16th from 6:30 to 8:30pm in the Fernwood Gym!

Registration form for entry in the Fernwood Science Fair: Due to the Fernwood School Office by Friday, March 26th.

http://docs.google.com/fileview?id=0B5rlgHJl1FKtNmIwYjRkNTYtMzA5NS00ZjgwLWE0YTgtOTdmOGQ3OGJmMDc2&hl=en

Poster Guidelines: Here's how to do it!

http://docs.google.com/fileview?id=0B5rlgHJl1FKtYjFjY2RmOWEtZDUwYi00YzFmLWE2NDctN2JjOWE0YzM0YzU4&hl=en

Questions for the Science Fair:

http://docs.google.com/fileview?id=0B5rlgHJl1FKtZjZmZDQ3NzgtMDgwNi00NmI1LThlNTUtMWZlMzNhZTYxNGMz&hl=en

More Websites to Check Out

2010-01-27T15:18:00.000-08:00

Hey, looking for a little more inspiration? Want some new ideas? Check out these websites and let us know what you think!

http://www.pbs.org/parents/sid/activitiesIndex.html

http://chemistry.about.com/od/foodcookingchemistry/tp/kitchenscienceexperiments.htm

http://spaceplace.nasa.gov/en/kids/

This one is really cool. So many different kinds of science represented with lots of ideas of things to do. Highly recommended.

http://www.nationallabday.org/resources

Have 2 minutes? Check out this local girl's video that won her $1000 in the "I am what I learn" contest sponsored by the dept. of education. Jordan is an eighth grader from Sammamish who raises chickens. What can you learn from a chicken? Watch and see.

http://www2.ed.gov/iamwhatilearn/index.html

Cold Weather Science

2010-01-17T22:04:00.000-08:00

Well, the weather outside is cold and damp, so you are stuck inside and wishing you could be doing something more interesting. Maybe you are looking outside at the cold and ice, and you wonder to yourself…

Start with a Question: I wonder how fast I can cool my cocoa if I put it outside?

Investigate: Put some warm water (why waste cocoa?) outside and see how quickly it cools. Try a variety of samples with various containers, locations, and other variables you can think of (sun or shade, stirring or blowing, etc.).

Observe and Collect Data: Use a thermometer, watch, notepad and pencil to record how cold the water gets, and how long it takes, and what variables you changed for each of your samples (size of container, location, weather conditions, etc.).

Analyze: Did the water cool? How quickly? Did all the samples behave the same way? Were any of the variables important?

Interpret the data and draw conclusions: Do you think your cocoa would cool down if you put it outside? How long do you think it would take? Are there things you can do to speed it up?

Test it: Use the results to figure out the fastest way to cool your cocoa and see if it works. Challenge someone to a cocoa cooling contest and apply what you have learned to see who can cool their cocoa the fastest.

If you decide to do this experiment, share it with us! Post as a comment what you did, what your variables were and what results you got, or what you observed.

January Nights Can Dazzle

2010-01-12T15:10:00.000-08:00

by Rodney Ash / Special to The Seattle Times

January is one of the coldest months and thus not the kind of weather that encourages you to linger outside. However, if there is no wind and you bundle up, you can enjoy some truly spectacular sights.

Mars reaches opposition on Jan. 29, shining at just a little brighter than magnitude -1 (the smaller the number the brighter the object), making it the third brightest starlike object in the night sky. Look for it in the east just after sunset, reaching zenith about midnight. You will quickly recongnize it by its orange hue. It makes an excellent target for the next three months.

Jupiter is sinking low into the west, and Sirius, the brightest star in the night sky, shines in the southeast. Also in the southeast, soon after dark, look for the constellation Orion the hunter. He is recongnized most readily by his three belt stars. Of the 20 or so brightest stars visible in the night sky, two of them are in Orion. Orion's right shoulder is the red super giant Betelgeuse. It clearly has a red hue and shines with a luminosity of 105,000 times that of our sun. Next find the blue super giant Rigel, which marks Orion's left foot and shines at a luminosity of 66,000 times that of our sun. It shines with an almost ice-blue light, particularly on cold winter nights, belying the fact that itis one of the hotter stars visible.

Rodney Ash is a member of the Seattle Astronomical Society. Star Watch appears the first Thursday of each month in NWWeekend.

Science of Sports

2010-01-07T21:30:00.001-08:00

If sports are your thing, you are still conducting scientific experiments every time you try new ways to hit a baseball farther, shoot your basketball higher, ride your bicycle faster, and do new tricks on your skateboard!

Here are some books that explain the science in sports:

Home run! : science projects with baseball and softball

Goal! : science projects with soccer / Madeline Goodstein.

Science projects about the physics of sports / by Robert Gardner

Sports science projects : the physics of balls in motion / Madeline Goodstein

Experiments with motion / Robert Gardner

Wheels! : science projects with bicycles, skateboards, and skates / Madeline Goodstein

Slam dunk! : science projects with basketball / Robert Gardner and Dennis Shortelle

Bicycle science projects : physics on wheels / Robert Gardner

Why a curveball curves : the incredible science of sports / edited by Frank Vizard

Sports science / Shar Levine & Leslie Johnstone

The leaping, sliding, sprinting, riding science book : 50 super sports science activities / Bobby Mercer

The magic school bus. Super sports fun [videorecording]

Sports science : 40 goal-scoring, high-flying, medal-winning experiments for kids / Jim Wiese

Experimenting with science in sports / by Robert Gardner

Check out these website about the science of skateboarding http://www.exploratorium.edu/skateboarding/webcast.html http://www.sciencedaily.com/videos/2007/0701-science_of_skateboarding.htm

Science of Hitting/by Ted Williams

Physics of Hitting a Baseball link http://www.swing-smarter-baseball-hitting-drills.com/physics-of-hitting-a-baseball.html

Watch the video of Eyes of Nye: 106 Sports on DVD from King County Library

Watch Alan Alda's Scientific American episode "On the Ball" from PBS online at http://www.pbs.org/saf/1206/video/watchonline.htm or from the library as a downloadable e-audio book.

Backyard Science Fun

2010-01-07T20:22:00.000-08:00

Here are some suggestions for getting started if you like to experiment with science outdoors. These titles are available through both Sno-Isle Libraries and King County Libraries - check them out!

Backyard laboratory / [from the editors of The New Book of P opular Science]J 507.8 BACKYAR

Backyard science / Shar Levine & Leslie Johnstone J 507.8 LEVINE

Backyard science / Chris Maynard J 507.8 MAYNARD

More nature in your backyard : simple activities for children / by Susan S. Lang, with the staff of Cayuga Nature Center J 508 LANG

The backyard camp-out book / by Douglas Love J 790.15 LOVE

Nature ranger / by Richard Walker J 508 WALKER

The amateur naturalist : explorations and investigations / by Charles E. Roth J 574.078 ROTH

Woodswalk : peepers, porcupines & exploding puff balls! : what you'll see, hear & smell when exploring the woods / Henry W. Art and Michael W. Robbins J 508.352 ART

Backyard pets : activities for exploring wildlife close to home / Carol A. Amato ; illustrated by Cheryl Kirk Noll J 508 AMATO

Just add water : science experiments you can sink, squirt, splash, sail J 546.2207 JUST AD

December Science Experiment submitted by Amy Oliver

2009-12-05T19:43:00.000-08:00

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

2009-12-05T17:41:00.000-08:00

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

2009-11-20T13:09:00.001-08:00

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!

2009-10-22T20:36:00.000-07:00

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

2009-10-22T19:03:00.000-07:00

"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