Sarah J
My daughter is participating in the Science Fair for the first time and we are looking for a good / easy project she can complete on her own. Any past experience would be great! Thank you!
Answer
science fair is all about learning something in science and doing a series of experiments. encourage your child to choose what she wants to know more about. do NOT have her do a fancy science trick without knowing what's behind the fancy stuff.
some ideas:
which releases more gas: baking powder or baking soda?
-get two bottles and two balloons. put soda in one and powder in the other balloon. pour vinegar into both bottles. attach the open end of the balloons to each bottle. allow the powder to fall down into the bottle. the balloons will inflate. check to see which inflates more...or which inflates faster..you could also try it with alka seltzer.
how do different colors of light affect plants?
-buy four of the same plant. get 4 shooe boxes and cut the topps off so that the plants will be in a box that has a window. allow one to have sunlight. apply colored plastic onto three of the boxes by taping the plastic over the opening. be sure to allow air holes (maybe at the bottom of the box) so the plants can have air and won't get too hot. allow the second to have filtered red light, another to have filtered green light, and the last to have filtered blue light. you can get filters from any teacher's supply shop. i think you can find colored saran wrap at the grocery store.
how do plants react when watered with different liquids?
-get four of the same species of plant. water one with plain water. water another with salt water. water the third with milk. water another with soda. check to see how the plants differ.
which diaper holds the most liquid?
-buy four differnt brands of disposable baby diapers. pour a cup (or some other amount) of liquid on each. test to see which is most absorbent.
which battery lasts the longest?
-get four differnt brands of batteries, and four electronic devices....like four toy dogs, four flashlights, or something like that. put the batteries inside each device and leave the devices on. record each day....check to see which lasts the longest.
can boys in second grade ______ better than girls?
with a teachers help...have the student do a blindfold taste test, or a reflex reaction test (catching a falling object without warning, for example) on 2 or 3 classes of students. graph and chart results. make conclusions.
how does a lemon conduct electricity?
-you can build a clock using a lemon...it's in any science book for kids. all you have to do is find the parts at radio shack, and buy a lemon.
how fast can a rat/guinea pig/mouse learn to run a maz?
-if you have any of these as pets...build a maze out of plywood or cardboard. place the animal in the maze. time the animal, and count how many trials it takes for the animal to be successful.
whatever you and your child choose....don't build a volcano out of clay and use baking soda/vinegar to make it erupt. ...it's very over done, and it doesn't really teach kids about volcanoes.
science fair is all about learning something in science and doing a series of experiments. encourage your child to choose what she wants to know more about. do NOT have her do a fancy science trick without knowing what's behind the fancy stuff.
some ideas:
which releases more gas: baking powder or baking soda?
-get two bottles and two balloons. put soda in one and powder in the other balloon. pour vinegar into both bottles. attach the open end of the balloons to each bottle. allow the powder to fall down into the bottle. the balloons will inflate. check to see which inflates more...or which inflates faster..you could also try it with alka seltzer.
how do different colors of light affect plants?
-buy four of the same plant. get 4 shooe boxes and cut the topps off so that the plants will be in a box that has a window. allow one to have sunlight. apply colored plastic onto three of the boxes by taping the plastic over the opening. be sure to allow air holes (maybe at the bottom of the box) so the plants can have air and won't get too hot. allow the second to have filtered red light, another to have filtered green light, and the last to have filtered blue light. you can get filters from any teacher's supply shop. i think you can find colored saran wrap at the grocery store.
how do plants react when watered with different liquids?
-get four of the same species of plant. water one with plain water. water another with salt water. water the third with milk. water another with soda. check to see how the plants differ.
which diaper holds the most liquid?
-buy four differnt brands of disposable baby diapers. pour a cup (or some other amount) of liquid on each. test to see which is most absorbent.
which battery lasts the longest?
-get four differnt brands of batteries, and four electronic devices....like four toy dogs, four flashlights, or something like that. put the batteries inside each device and leave the devices on. record each day....check to see which lasts the longest.
can boys in second grade ______ better than girls?
with a teachers help...have the student do a blindfold taste test, or a reflex reaction test (catching a falling object without warning, for example) on 2 or 3 classes of students. graph and chart results. make conclusions.
how does a lemon conduct electricity?
-you can build a clock using a lemon...it's in any science book for kids. all you have to do is find the parts at radio shack, and buy a lemon.
how fast can a rat/guinea pig/mouse learn to run a maz?
-if you have any of these as pets...build a maze out of plywood or cardboard. place the animal in the maze. time the animal, and count how many trials it takes for the animal to be successful.
whatever you and your child choose....don't build a volcano out of clay and use baking soda/vinegar to make it erupt. ...it's very over done, and it doesn't really teach kids about volcanoes.
Do you buy nothing but educational toys for your child?
firefly_fo
What type of toys do you buy for your child? Toys for kids to be kids and enjoy their childhood, or do you ONLY buy toys that are purely educational? What are the pro's and con's for your decision? What about toys (fun and playful vs just educational) for an 8 month old vs. a 2 yr old? I've always bought both - toys that are educational and teach a purpose like animal sounds, abc's, 123's or whatever... as well as toys that are just toys... like bubbles, or balls, or a slide or cars...
All different thoughts and responses are welcome! Thank you!!
Thanks! All answers were GREAT. I totally agree that all toys are educational! I initially asked this question because my sister has an 8 mo old & I asked if she wanted some of the toys that my son grew out of (he's 2) and she said no to ALL of them; she didn't want any toys that weren't "educational" for her son. That just got me to thinking what was so wrong with toys just being toys to play with and have fun, so I had to ask all of you. I mean a kids gotta be a kid and have fun; it's not all about book learning and being smart. I'm not saying my son doesn't have a caterpillar or a bus singing the abc's or toy's teaching animals and their sounds... he's got tons of "educational" toys. But his fav ones are cardboard brick blocks, wooden blocks, lego's, trucks, tractors, bubbles, cars, sandbox & watertable. And I just wondered if I was spoiling him with having a variety of toys to play with. Or making the wrong choice by having fun toys just to be silly and a kid...
Answer
I buy very few of the "Leap Frog" type educational toys. I think kids need to learn through experience, not by having a computer voice drill them. I buy lots of toys that require imagination and problem solving skills; things like blocks, craft kits, role playing toys. I also like outdoor or active type toys like hula hoops, sports equipment, etc. We buy TONS of books. Now that my kids are older (5 and 7) they prefer science stuff. My son likes Matchbox cars and superheros a little but my daughter was never into Barbies, princesses, etc, (though she does like stuffed animals). Both really like the experiential type toys we have and even choose to buy them with their own allowance.
They like going to their friends' houses to play wii. But their friends like to come here to cook, explore the outdoors, and do craft projects!
Bubbles, balls, and slides are not "just toys!" All three teach basic physics through experience. Slides and balls help with coordination and physical development, including equilibrium. They can all be used for make believe. Stress management and "just plain fun" are important life skills, too.
I buy very few of the "Leap Frog" type educational toys. I think kids need to learn through experience, not by having a computer voice drill them. I buy lots of toys that require imagination and problem solving skills; things like blocks, craft kits, role playing toys. I also like outdoor or active type toys like hula hoops, sports equipment, etc. We buy TONS of books. Now that my kids are older (5 and 7) they prefer science stuff. My son likes Matchbox cars and superheros a little but my daughter was never into Barbies, princesses, etc, (though she does like stuffed animals). Both really like the experiential type toys we have and even choose to buy them with their own allowance.
They like going to their friends' houses to play wii. But their friends like to come here to cook, explore the outdoors, and do craft projects!
Bubbles, balls, and slides are not "just toys!" All three teach basic physics through experience. Slides and balls help with coordination and physical development, including equilibrium. They can all be used for make believe. Stress management and "just plain fun" are important life skills, too.
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