Full understanding of Scientific Principles requires a combination of direct instruction and active learning. Research has shown that students learn best when they have opportunities to participate in hands-on activities. When students are able to physically interact with scientific principles, they will retain information better.
Hands-on science experiments are one of the best ways to engage students in learning about science. Hands-on science experiments allow students to hone their reasoning, predicting, writing, and math skills. Students will become more active learners, develop interpersonal skills, and increase independent thinking while gaining a deeper understanding of science.
Offering your class a combination of book-based activities and hands-on science experiments will allow students to get the most out of their science lessons.
The next time you’re looking for something to stimulate students’ brains and keep their hands busy, too, try one of these fun experiments:
Balloon Rockets
How does a rocket blast off? Use simple materials to create a hands-on project that helps students understand the properties of physics.
Find the instructions here.
Scientific principles at work:
This demonstrates Newton’s Third Law and the concept of thrust. Thrust is created when matter is pushed out—as air leaves the balloon, it creates energy that pushes the balloon forward.
Take it further:
Have your class experiment with different sized balloons and hold the yarn at various angles. What happens with a bigger balloon? Does the rocket slow down if the yarn is angled upward?
Cohesion on a Coin
Did you know water is sticky? The molecules in water “stick together” because of cohesion. Test that idea in this experiment.
Find the instructions here.
Scientific principles at work:
This demonstrates the concepts of surface tension and cohesion. Water is cohesive because the slightly negative charge of the oxygen atom in a water molecule is attracted to the slightly positive charge of the hydrogen atom in another molecule.
Take it further:
Predict how many drops you can fit on your coin. Challenge another group to beat your record. Try dropping the water from a higher distance or add drops quickly. Does that change the number of drops your coin can hold?
Floating Static Bands
Make objects float in the air by using static electricity! Use everyday materials to complete this fun science experiment.
Find the instructions here.
Scientific principles at work:
This experiment demonstrates the principle of static electricity. Static electricity is created by charges on particles: positive protons and negative electrons. Two of the same type of charges will repel each other— when you rub the objects together you create two negative charges and the objects will float.
Take it further:
Try different materials for the floating bands experiment. What happens if you use other household items, like aluminum foil, fabric, confetti, or newspaper?
Invisible Water
Watch crystals grow into large, water-filled blobs with this experiment about polymers.
Find the instructions here.
Scientific principles at work:
This experiment uses polymers, or long chains of identical molecules. Without water, the molecules are tightly compacted and twisted. When water is introduced, the molecules will grab onto the water and expand. Polymers can expand up to 300 times their original weight!
At full absorption, the polymers are 98% water. They vanish when you place them in a cup of water due to them having almost the same refraction index as the water surrounding them.
Take it further:
Do polymers absorb anything other than water? Test out your hypotheses with a variety of liquids (i.e. milk, soda, vegetable oil, etc.) and see what happens.
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