Topic: Surface tension, geometry in nature Overview In this activity, students investigate the fascinating geometric patterns created by bubbles. They’ll observe that bubbles always meet in groups of three and form equal angles—patterns that also appear in honeycombs and other natural structures. Materials Clear glass or plastic cup Milk (any kind) Drinking straw (Optional: cookies…
Science Focus: Light, color, diffraction, wave behavior Overview In this activity, students discover how white light can be split into a rainbow of colors using everyday objects: a CD, a hair, and a feather. They’ll see that light doesn’t always travel in straight lines—on a tiny scale, it bends and creates patterns. Objectives Students will:…
Science Focus: Gas release, nucleation sites, chemical reactions Objective Students will observe how carbon dioxide gas escapes from a carbonated beverage and learn how “nucleation sites” help gas escape rapidly. Materials 1 large (2-liter) bottle of carbonated soda (any brand) A clean, unused soda bottle cap Peppermint Lifesavers or similar mints with holes Thread or…
Based on ideas by Amy Fesler, Kindergarten Teacher Objectives Students will: Learn about the layers of the rainforest (forest floor, understory, canopy, emergent layer) Identify a rainforest animal and understand its habitat Create a simple 3-D rainforest scene inside a file folder Practice fine motor skills through cutting, coloring, painting, and assembling Materials For each child:…
Overview This project lets students see sound. By stretching a balloon over a container and sprinkling salt on top, you create a simple device that turns sound vibrations into moving, dancing patterns. These shapes are known as Chladni patterns, and they reveal how materials vibrate at different frequencies. It’s hands-on, visual, and mesmerizing. Materials You…
Overview This experiment looks simple — a bowl of water and one drop of coloring — but the results are mesmerizing. Instead of instantly turning the entire bowl one color, the drop forms delicate ribbons that drift and swirl through the water. Students can observe density, surface tension, diffusion, and currents all at once. Materials…
Overview This experiment shows how certain substances can change the surface tension of water — and when they dissolve unevenly, they can actually push themselves across the surface. The result looks like tiny, fast-moving “color boats” zooming around your bowl. Materials You will need: A few drops of liquid food coloring A small plate…
Overview This is one of the most dramatic ways to show students how surface tension works. It looks like magic when pepper suddenly rushes away from your fingertip — but it’s really science in action. This activity works beautifully during lessons on liquids, molecules, and forces on the surface of water. Materials You will need:…
Overview This classic experiment looks like magic — a candle goes out and water rises inside an upside-down jar. Many people think the water rises because the flame “uses up all the oxygen,” but that explanation is not quite right. This modern version shows the real science behind what’s happening: expanding and contracting air. Materials…
Melting Ice Experiment Overview This surprising experiment—featured on Good Eats with Alton Brown—reveals how heat transfer, insulation, and moving water affect how quickly ice melts. Students often predict that boiling water melts ice fastest, but the results challenge their expectations. Objectives Students will: Make predictions and test a hypothesis Compare the effects of still hot…