Summer Science Favorites

Hello Fairview Families,

Want to add a little excitement to the day? All you need is a few household items, some parent supervision, and a keen eye for observing. Share the fun of scientific experimentation with friends and family members. Safety comes first. Be sure to have a parent help you with each experiment. Check back every few weeks for new experiments to try at home. If you want to share your results, have questions or want more information about science, feel free to contact me at tbkaiser@springfield.k12.il.us. Looking forward to hearing from you.

Mrs. Kaiser

Experiment #1-Lava in a cup

I like this experiment because it reminds me of lava lamps. The science of the experiment is based on the density of water, oil and salt. The oil floats on top of the water because it is lighter(less dense) than the water. Since the salt is heavier(more dense) than oil, it sinks down into the water and takes some oil with it, but then the salt dissolves and back up goes the oil!

Experiment #2-Fizz Inflator

The baking soda and vinegar combine to make carbon dioxide. This creates an Acid/Base reaction. Carbon dioxide is a gas and gasses need a lot of room to spread out. So the a carbon dioxide starts to fill the bottle, and then moves into the balloon to inflate it. Its all about the chemistry and a fun way to amaze your friends.

Experiment #3-Sinking or Floating Soda Cans

Check out the nutrition facts on a can of regular soda and compare that with a diet soda. What do you notice? A 12 ounce can of regular soda contains over 40 grams of sugar while diet sodas use artificial sweeteners. These artificial sweeteners are less than a few grams. The cans of soda have exactly the same volume, or size. But their density differs due to what is dissolved in the soda.

The difference in the amount of dissolved sweeteners leads to a difference in density. Cans of regular soda tend to be more dense than water, so they sink. Cans of diet soda are usually less dense than water, so they float.

Experiment #4-Bend A Bone

Experiment #4 is ready for you to try. Click on the blue title, Bend A Bone, to try your scientific skill in bending a bone. What is the relation between milk and building strong bones in your body?
Email me at tbkaiser@springfield.k12.il.us with the answer.