Let’s have a fun:)

Winter is the time, when we can’t spend a lot of time outside, moreover sometimes children can catch a cold and have to stay at home. But sitting at home all the time can be boring... So, I want to offer you 3 easy and the most interesting experiments which you can do at home with your children.

To tell you the truth science for kids doesn’t need special equipment. Easy, at-home science experiments can be done right in your own kitchen and usually with ingredients you already have at home or can easily get.

1. Volcano

What you'll need:

• Baking Soda (make sure it's not baking powder)
• Vinegar
• A container to hold everything and avoid a big mess!
• Paper towels or a cloth (just in case)

Instructions:

• Place some of the baking soda into your container.
• Pour in some of the vinegar
• Watch as the reaction takes place!

What's happening?

The baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) is a base while the vinegar (acetic acid) is an acid. When they react together they form carbonic acid which is very unstable, it instantly breaks apart into water and carbon dioxide, which creates all the fizzing as it escapes the solution. For extra effect you can make a realistic looking volcano. It takes some craft skills but it will make your vinegar and baking soda eruptions will look even more impressive!

 

 

 

 

 

 

2.Tangerines:)

What you’ll need:

•     two tangerines (you can also use oranges or clementines)
•     a see-through container or a deep bowl water.

Instructions:

• Fill the container with water.
• Place a tangerine in the water and watch what happens.
• Peel the other tangerine and place it in the water as well.

What happens this time?

Even if you push an unpeeled tangerine down, it will keep popping up to the surface. However, if you remove the skin, the tangerine will sink right now.

Science mystery revealed: the skin of the tangerine is full of tiny air pockets which help give it a lower density than water, making it float to the surface (just like a floaty is holding a child in the pool). So when you peel a tangerine, even though you remove mass/the skin and all the air pockets, thus making it lighter, the inside of the tangerine is denser, so the tangerine increases its density higher than that of water, making it sink.


3. How Clouds Hold Water

Practice fine motor skills, focus and coordination, all while learning the very basic concept of how clouds hold water and when they become too heavy it starts to rain.

You'll Need:

• Colored water
• A clear jar/glass/vase with water in it
• Shaving foam
• An eyedropper/pipette

How to:

• Squirt shaving cream on top of the water. Talk about how the shaving cream is a "cloud" and that they are going to be filling it with water to see what happens.
• Using fine motor skills, focus and coordination to transfer the colored water from one vessel to the other.
• See how it begins "raining!" as the "cloud" gets too heavy and can't hold the water any more.

 

Autor: Ludmiła - Absolwentka Narodowego Uniwersytetu Pedagogicznego w Kijowie na kierunku: Anglistyka/ Lektor języka angielskiego. Od ponad 8 lat pracuje z dziećmi jako nauczyciel jęz. angielskiego.