Secret Stash of Rocket Projects
Sneak a peek at the rocketry projects I am working on for summer. Try a few and tell me what you think! Expires Feb 5. Read More →
“We’re not farmers… we’re chemists!”
“…Thank you for the free tele-classes. Also my son got “pouring science” (the homesciencetools chemistry set recommended on your site) but I’m just letting him pour colored water back and forth while he learns not to spill.” “…whenever I sing that catchy insurance jingle, “we are farmers”, He says “we’re not farmers. We’re scientists.” I have been pre-schooling him... [Read More...]
Space-opoly
Kids love my new twist on the classic game of Monopoly. Besides being chocked full of real photographs of celestial objects, it’s simple to set up and easy to play. Read More →
Stand Guard at the Gateway to Your Mind
After putting together this video, it is so clear what makes some kids successful when it comes to school and why others really struggle. Motivation. That’s it. And, I also know it’s not that simple to motivate kids, but stick with me for a minute… Read More →
Want to see what kids learn and build with the e-Science Program?
From a parent: “Just a quick note to let you know that our 9 year old Hannah got 100 % correct on all her IOWA test science sections!!! Her math and punctuation took a bit of a hit this year… now I know why (she was obsessed with your science). She has always done well but your science hit alot of the spots she had gaps in and she filled them all in and more. THANK YOU!!!” ~Jill and Hannah Read More →
Inertial Ta-Daa!
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NEW! Planetarium-Style Astronomy Show
Did you know you can take an intergalactic star tour without leaving your seat? To get you started on your astronomy adventure, I have a front-row seat for you in a planetarium-style star show. I usually give this presentation at sunset during my live workshops, so I inserted slides along with my talk so you could see the pictures better. This video below is about an hour long. I highly recommend doing this with friends and a big bowl of popcorn.... [Read More...]
14 New Alternative Energy Videos!
Earth, our home in space, has supported life for a long time. But with a growing human population, people are having a greater effect on the environment than ever before. Together we must learn about the problems facing our environment and work to protect the earth. Read More →
NEW! 3 Videos on Easy Steps to Keeping Science Journal
Keeping a science journal doesn’t have to be flashy or fancy, just accurate. Science is already hard enough without the added chaos of not knowing what you did yesterday. I’m going to show you the three easy steps to keeping a journal. Read More →
Planetarium-Style Astronomy Show
Astronomers study celestial objects (stars, planets, moon, asteroids, comets, galaxies, etc) that exist outside our planet’s atmosphere. Its the one field that combines most science, engineering and technology areas in one fell swoop. Astronomy is also one of the oldest sciences on the planet. Our solar system includes rocky terrestrial planets (Mercury, Venus, Earth, and Mars), gas giants (Jupiter and Saturn), ice giants (Uranus and Neptune),... [Read More...]
Superconductor Roller Coaster
When I was in 10th grade, my teammate and I designed what we thought was pretty clever: a superconductor roller coaster, which we imagined would float effortlessly above its magnetic track. Of course, our roller coaster was only designed on paper, because yttrium barium copper oxide ceramics had only just been discovered by top scientists. jwplayer("jwplayer-2").setup({flashplayer: "http://www.sciencelearningspace.com/wp-content/uploads/jw-player-plugin-for-wordpress/player/player.swf",... [Read More...]
NEW! 65 Biology Videos
Some of the experiments you’ll be creating include: a working lung model so you can see how pressure differences affect the lungs and diaphragm; a robotic hand model with real tendons; working eye model which you can adapt for near and far sighted conditions; how to do chemical fingerprinting… and so much more! Read More →
NEW Video on Significant Digits
How can you be sure your answers are both precise AND accurate? That’s what the idea of significant figures is all about. If you’re struggling to untangle the confusion about significant digits, then this is the video you’ll want to watch. Get a calculator, sheet of paper, and a pencil and get ready to become a super-genius on sig figs! Read More →
PTC Testing
We have done some extensive experiments on taste buds: how they are categorized, what tastes they recognize, and we have even mapped their location on your tongue. But we haven’t yet mentioned this fact: not all people can taste the same flavors! So today we will check to see if you have a dominant or recessive gene for a distinct genetic characteristic. We’ll do this by testing your reaction to the taste of a chemical called phenylthiocarbamide... [Read More...]
Basic Chemistry Safety Information
Chemical Data & Safe Handling Information Sheet What do I really need to know first? First of all, the chemicals in this set should be stored out of reach of pets and children. Grab the chemicals right now and stuff them in a safe place where accidents can’t happen. Do this NOW! When you’re done storing your chemicals out of reach, watch this video: Please login or register to read the rest of this content. Read More →
Stethoscope
Stethoscopes are instruments used to amplify sounds like your heartbeat. Your doctor is trained to use a stethoscope not only to count the beats, but he or she can also hear things like your blood entering and exiting the heart and its valves opening and closing. Pretty cool! Today you will make and test a homemade stethoscope. Even though it will be pretty simple, you should still be able to hear your heart beating and your heart pumping. You can... [Read More...]
What’s Your Lung Capacity?
Today you will make a calibrated, or marked, container that you will use to measure your lung capacity. You will fill the calibrated container with water, slide a hose into it, take a really deep breath, and blow in the hose. As the air in your lungs enters the container, it will push out the water inside. Just blow as long and as much as you can, then when you flip the bottle over you will be able to read the amount of water you have displaced. If... [Read More...]
Basic Chemistry Safety Information
Chemical Data & Safe Handling Information Sheet What do I really need to know first? First of all, the chemicals in this set should be stored out of reach of pets and children. Grab the chemicals right now and stuff them in a safe place where accidents can’t happen. Do this NOW! When you’re done storing your chemicals out of reach, watch this video: Please login or register to read the rest of this content. Read More →
Making Litmus Solution and Paper
You can go your whole life without paying any attention to the chemistry behind acids and bases. But you use acids and bases all the time! They are all around you. We identify acids and bases by measuring their pH. Every liquid has a pH. If you pay particular attention to this lab, you will even be able to identify most acids and bases and understand why they do what they do. Acids range from very strong to very weak. The strongest acids will dissolve... [Read More...]
Magnesium Battery
Magnesium is one of the most common elements in the Earth’s crust. This alkaline earth metal is silvery white, and soft. As you perform this lab, think about why magnesium is used in emergency flares and fireworks. Farmers use it in fertilizers, pharmacists use it in laxatives and antacids, and engineers mix it with aluminum to create the BMW N52 6-cylinder magnesium engine block. Photographers used to use magnesium powder in the camera’s... [Read More...]
Making Copper
In this lab, we’re going to investigate the wonders of electrochemistry. Electrochemistry became a new branch of chemistry in 1832, founded by Michael Faraday. Michael Faraday is considered the “father of electrochemistry”. The knowledge gained from his work has filtered down to this lab. YOU will be like Michael Faraday. I imagined he would have been overjoyed to do this lab and see the results. You are soooo lucky to be able to take... [Read More...]
Making Chlorine
If we don’t have salt, we die. It’s that simple. The chemical formula for salt is NaCl. Broken down, we have Na (sodium) and Cl (chlorine). Either one of these can be fatal in sufficient quantities. When chemically combined, these two deadly elements become table salt. What once could kill now keeps us alive. Isn’t chemistry awesome? Chlorine, element 17, is called a halogen as are all the elements in the 17th row. All halogens have... [Read More...]
Electrochemistry
Electricity. Chemistry. Nothing in common, have nothing to do with each other. Wrong! Electrochemistry has been a fact since 1774. Once electricity was applied to particular solutions, changes occurred that scientists of the time did not expect. In this lab, we will discover some of the same things that Farraday found over 300 years ago. We will be there as things tear apart, particles rush about, and the power of attraction is very strong. We’re... [Read More...]
Working Lung Model
Food and air both enter your body through your mouth, diverging when they reach the esophagus and trachea. Food goes to the gastrointestinal tract through your esophagus and air travels to your lungs via the trachea, or windpipe. You will be making a model of how your lungs work in this lab. It will include the trachea, lungs, and the diaphragm, which expands and contracts as it fills and empties your lungs. Please login or register to read the rest... [Read More...]
Ammonia Experiments
Ammonia has been used by doctors, farmers, chemists, alchemists, weightlifters, and our families since Roman times. Doctors revive unconscious patients, farmers use it in fertilizer, alchemists tried to use it to make gold, weightlifters sniff it into their lungs to invigorate their respiratory system and clear their heads prior to lifting tremendous loads. At home, ammonia is used to clean up the ketchup you spilled on the floor and never cleaned... [Read More...]
Testing Spit Samples
Digestion starts in your mouth as soon as you start to chew. Your saliva is full of enzymes. They are a kind of chemical key that unlock chains of protein, fat, and starch molecules. Enzymes break these chains down into smaller molecules like sugars and amino acids. In this experiment, we will examine how the enzymes in your mouth help to break down the starch in a cracker. You will test the cracker to confirm starch content, then put it in your mouth... [Read More...]
Energy from Sugar
This experiment is for grades 9-12. Purple and white colors, making the whitewash that Tom Sawyer used, and produce an exothermic chemical reaction…..does it get any better? Limewater is one of the compounds we work with in this experiment. Limewater was used in the old days of America. We’re talking about the 80’s…..the 1880’s. Traveling medicine shows sold what was called “patent medicines”. These usually had no medicinal properties... [Read More...]
Getting Air from Water
This experiment is for grades 9-12. This is a repeat of the experiment: Can Fish Drown? but now we’re going to do this experiment again with your new chemistry glassware. The aquarium looked normal in every way, except for the fish. They were breathing very fast and sinking head first to the bottom of the tank. They would sink a few inches, then jerk into proper movement again. The student had to figure out what was wrong. He had set up the... [Read More...]
Working with Cataylsts
This experiment is for grades 9-12. Don’t put this in your car….yet. Hydrogen generation, capture, and combustion are big deals right now. The next phase of transportation, and a move away from fossil fuels in not found in electric cars. Electric cars are waiting until hydrogen fuel cell vehicles become practical. It can be done and is being done. Cars being powered by hydrogen are here, but not on the market yet. Engineers and chemists are always... [Read More...]
Hydrogen Peroxide
This experiment is for grades 9-12. In industry, hydrogen peroxide is used in paper making to bleach the pulp before they form it into paper. Biologists, when preparing bones for display, use peroxide to whiten the bones. At home, 3% peroxide combined with ammonium hydroxide is used to give dark-haired people their desired blonde moment. Peroxide is also used on wounds to clean them and remove dead tissue. Peroxide slows the flow from small blood... [Read More...]
Generating Oxygen
This experiment is for grades 9-12. This time we’re going to use a lot of equipment… really break out all the chemistry stuff. We’ll need all this stuff to generate oxygen with potassium permanganate (KMNO4). We will work with this toxic chemical and we will be careful…won’t we? Please login or register to read the rest of this content. Read More →
Detonating Bubbles
This experiment is for grades 9-12. Zinc (Zn), is a metal and it is found as element #30 on the periodic table. We need a little zinc to keep our bodies balanced, but too much is very dangerous. Zinc is just like the common, everyday substance that we all know as di-hydrogen monoxide (which is the chemical name for water). We need water to survive, but too much will kill us. DHMO: In chemistry, “Di” equals the number 2; hydrogen is H; mono equals... [Read More...]
Desalination
This experiment is for grades 9-12. Lewis and Clark did this same experiment when they reached the Oregon coast in 1805. Men from the expedition traveled fifteen miles south of the fort they had built at the mouth of the Columbia River to where Seaside, Oregon now thrives. In 1805, however, it was just men from the fort and Indians. They built an oven of rocks. For six weeks, they processed 1,400 gallons of seawater, boiling the water off to gain... [Read More...]
Heart Rate Monitoring
When you exercise your body requires more oxygen in order to burn the fuel that has been stored in your muscles. Since oxygen is moved through your body by red blood cells, exercise increases your heart rate so that the blood can be pumped through your body faster. This delivers the needed oxygen to your muscles faster. The harder you exercise, the more oxygen is needed, so your heart and blood pump even faster still. Please login or register to... [Read More...]
Carbon Dioxide
This experiment is for grades 9-12. This lab builds on concepts from the previous carbon dioxide lab. Limewater….carbon dioxide…indicators. We don’t know too much about these things. Sure, we know a little. Carbon dioxide is exhaled by us and plants need it to grow. Burning fossil fuels produces carbon dioxide. Indicators…something we observe that confirms to us that something specific is happening. Lime water turns cloudy and forms a precipitate... [Read More...]
Zinc Dust
This experiment is for grades 9-12. Who gets to burn something today? YOU get to burn something today! You will be working with Zinc (Zn). Other labs in this kit allow us to burn metal, but there is a bit of a twist this time. We will be burning a powder. Why a powder instead of a solid ribbon or foil as in the other labs? Have you heard of surface area being a factor in a chemical reaction? The more surface area there is to burn, the more dramatic... [Read More...]
Burning Sulfur
This experiment is for grades 9-12. Brimstone is another name for sulfur, and if you’ve ever smelled it burn…..whoa….I’m telling you ….you will see for yourself in this lab. It is quite a smell, for sure. Sulfur is element #6 on the periodic table. Sulfur is used in fertilizer, black powder, matches, and insecticides. In pioneer times sulfur was put into patent medicines and used as a laxative. To further the evil reputation of sulfur, or... [Read More...]
Acids and Bases
This experiment is for grades 9-12. ACID!!! The word causes fear to creep in and get our attention. BASIC!!! The word causes nothing to stir in most of us. The truth is, a strong acid (pH 0-1) is dangerous, but a strong basic (pH 13-14) is just as dangerous. In this lab, we will get comfortable with the basics of bases and the acidity of acids along with how you can use both and tell the difference between them. Please login or register to read the... [Read More...]
Detecting Carbon Dioxide
An oxygen and carbon dioxide exchange takes place in your bloodstream. When you breathe air into your lungs it brings in oxygen, which is carried from your lungs by red blood cells in your bloodstream. Cells of your body use the oxygen and carbon dioxide is produced as waste, which is carried by your blood back to your lungs. You exhale and release the C02. You will study this exchange in today’s lab. You will be using a pH indicator known as bromothymol... [Read More...]
Making Sodium Hydroxide
This experiment is for grades 9-12. Ever use soap? Sodium hydroxide (NaOH) is the main component in lye soap. NaOH is mixed with some type of fat (vegetable, pig, cow, etc). Scent can be added for the ‘pretty’ factor and pumice or sand can be added for the manly “You’re coming off my hands and I’ll take no guff” factor. Lots of people still make their own soap and they enjoy doing it. Please login or register to read the rest... [Read More...]
Potassium Permanganate
This experiment is for grades 9-12. Potassium permanganate (KMnO4) in water turns an intense, deep, purple. It is important in the film industry for aging props and clothing to make them look much older than they are. Also, artists use it in bone carving. People who carve antlers and bone use KMnO4 to darken the surface of the bone to make it look aged. They make the carving, soak it in potassium permanganate, then carve more, and repeat. The end... [Read More...]
Potassium Hexacynoferrate (Reagant)
This experiment is for grades 9-12. How do you know if your brother is stealing your candy? Unwrap a wrapped hard candy that he likes a lot. Roll the candy around in the powdered food dye that matches the candy. (Push the powder into the candy so it “disappears”.) Re-wrap the candy. Set the candy in the place where it usually disappears from. Wait ten minutes after the candy disappears. Find your brother. He will be sporting a new color on his... [Read More...]
Iodine
This experiment is for grades 9-12. In gas form, element #59 is deadly. However, when iodine is in liquid form, it helps heal cuts and scrapes. The iodine molecule occurs in pairs, not as a single atom (many halogens do this, and it’s called a diatomic molecule). It’s hard to find iodine in nature, though it’s essential for staying healthy… too little iodine in the body takes a heavy toll on how well the brain operates. A... [Read More...]
How to Get Hydrogen from Zinc
This experiment is for grades 9-12. Zinc and Hydrogen are important elements for all of us. Zinc (Zn) metal is element #30 on the periodic table. Lack of zinc in our diets will delay growth of our bodies and can kill. Hydrogen gas (H) is element #1 on the periodic table. Hydrogen was discovered in the 1500s. In a pure state, hydrogen combustion (in small quantities) is interesting. In large amounts, mixed with oxygen, the explosion can be devastating. Please... [Read More...]
Hydrogen Bromide
WARNING!! THIS EXPERIMENT IS PARTICULARLY DANGEROUS!! (No kidding.) This experiment is for grades 9-12. We’ve created a video that shows you how to safely do this experiment, although if you’re nervous about doing this one, just watch the video and skip the actual experiment. Bromine is a particularly nasty chemical, so be sure to very carefully follow the steps we’ve outlined in the video. You MUST do this experiment outdoors.... [Read More...]
Hydrogen Chlorine Gas
WARNING!! THIS EXPERIMENT IS PARTICULARLY DANGEROUS!! (No kidding.) This experiment is for grades 9-12. We’ve created a video that shows you how to safely do this experiment, although if you’re nervous about doing this one, just watch the video and skip the actual experiment. The gas you generate with this experiment is lethal in large doses, so you MUST do this experiment outdoors. We’ll be making a tiny amount to show how the... [Read More...]
Shopping List for Unit 19
How many of these items do you already have? We’ve tried to keep it simple for you by making the majority of the items things most people have within reach (both physically and budget-wise). Here’s how to use this shopping list: First, look over the list and circle the items you already have on hand. Browse the experiments and note which ones use the materials you already have. Those are the experiments you can start with. After working through... [Read More...]
Robotic Hand
Your body moves with the muscles pull on the bones through ligaments and tendons. Ligaments attach the bones to other bones, and the tendons attach the bones to the muscles. If you place your relaxed arm on a table, palm-side up, you can get the fingers to move by pushing on the tendons below your wrist. We’re going to make a real working model of your hand, complete with the tendons that move the fingers! Are you ready? Please login or register... [Read More...]
Chemical Fingerprinting
Did you know that the patterns on the tips of your fingers are unique? It’s true! Just like no two snowflakes are alike, no two people have the same set of fingerprints. In this experiment, you will be using a chemical reaction to generate your own set of blood-red prints. Please login or register to read the rest of this content. Read More →
Eyeballoon
In this lab, we are going to make an eyeball model using a balloon. This experiment should give you a better idea of how your eyes work. The way your brain actually sees things is still a mystery, but using the balloon we can get a good working model of how light gets to your brain. Please login or register to read the rest of this content. Read More →
Mapping your Tongue
The tongue has an ingenious design. Receptors responsible for getting information are separate and compartmentalized. So, different areas on the tongue actually have receptors for different types of tastes. This helps us to separate and enjoy the distinct flavors. In this experiment, you will be locating the receptors for sweet, sour, salty, and bitter on the tongue’s surface. Please login or register to read the rest of this content. Read More →
Scent Matching
We now know that odor molecules are diffused throughout a room by the motion of air molecules, which are constantly moving and bumping into them. We also know that warm air moves faster than cold air, and that increasing the movement of the air (like with a fan) will increase the diffusion process. In this experiment, we look at what happens when the odor molecules find their way into your nose. Your nose has smell cells located in a small area... [Read More...]
Detective Boxes
In addition to looking pretty neat with all those loops and whirls, your fingertips are great at multitasking. The skin on them has a ton of receptors that help us to gather a lot of information about our environment such as texture, movement, pressure, and temperature. This experiment will test your ability to determine textures by using touch receptors. You will use shoeboxes with holes cut into them to make texture boxes. Each box will have a textured... [Read More...]
Tasty Tastebuds
Did you know that your tongue can taste about 10,000 unique flavors? Our tongues take an organized approach to flavor classification by dividing tastes into the four basic categories of sweet, sour, salty, and bitter. For this experiment, you will need a brave partner! They will be blindfolded and will be attempting to guess foods. Relying only on their sense of taste, they will try to determine what kind of foods you are giving them. Please login... [Read More...]
Detecting Temperature Changes
This experiment has two parts. For the first half, you will mix two chemicals that will produce heat and gas. The temperature receptors in your skin will be able to detect the heat. Your ears will detect the gas at it vibrates and escapes its container. In the second portion you will demonstrate a characteristic in a chemical reaction. For this experiment, it will be an endothermic reaction, which is the absorption of heat energy. This type of reaction... [Read More...]
Rubber Eggs
This lab has two parts. First, you will learn a bit about how specific chemicals react in a specific manner. And next, you will learn a bit of biology: the structure of bird bones and the minerals that compose them. Please login or register to read the rest of this content. Read More →
Water Lens
Like sound, light travels in waves. These waves of light enter your eyes through the pupil, which is the small black dot right in the center of your colored iris. Your lens bends and focuses the light that enters your eye. In this experiment, we will study this process of bending light and we will look at the difference between concave and convex lenses. Please login or register to read the rest of this content. Read More →
Foggy Hands
Skin has another function that it vital to your survival: temperature regulation. Being exposed to high temperatures causes your skin’s pores to open up and release sweat onto your body. This helps cool us off by the resulting process of evaporation. Your pores will close in extremely cold temperatures. Also, the body stops blood flowing to the skin in order to conserve heat for the important vital organs and their processes. In this lab, we study... [Read More...]
Finger Thermometers
Your fingers have receptors which perform various jobs. In addition to touch, they can detect pressure, texture, and other physical stimuli. One specialized type of receptors is called Ruffini’s receptors. They are good at identifying changes in pressure and temperature. In this experiment, we will test their ability to distinguish between hot and cold temperatures. We are actually going to try and trick your Ruffini endings. Do you think it will... [Read More...]
Disappearing Frog Experiment
Your optic nerve can be thought of as a data cord that is plugged in to each eye and connects them to your brain. The area where the nerve connects to the back of your eye creates a blind spot. There are no receptors in this area at all and if something is in that area, you won’t be able to see it. This experiment locates your blind spot. Please login or register to read the rest of this content. Read More →
Swallowing
Peristalsis is the wavelike movement of muscles that move food through your gastrointestinal tract. The process of digestion begins with chewing and mixing the food with saliva. From there, the epiglottis opens up to deposit a hunk of chewed food (called bolus) into your esophagus – this is the tube that runs from your mouth to your stomach. Since the esophagus is so skinny, the muscles along it must expand and contract in order to move food down.... [Read More...]
Diffusion
Everything living produces some sort of odor. Flowers use them to entice bees to pollinate them. We know that the tastes of foods are enhanced by the way that they smell. As humans, each of us even has own unique odor. In this lab, we look at the diffusion of scents. They start in one place, but often end up spread around the room and can be detected by many people. Please login or register to read the rest of this content. Read More →
Cooling and Heating
In this experiment, we will continue to explore Ruffini’s endings in your skin. We also look at your body’s ability to detect temperature and regulate its own temperature. You will study how the body cools and warms itself. Please login or register to read the rest of this content. Read More →
How Does the Eye Work?
The eye is a complex structure that detects and focuses light. Light first enters the eye through the cornea, a clear protective layer on the outside of the eye. The pupil, a black opening in the eye, lets light in. In dark rooms, the pupil will become larger, or dilate, in order to let in more light. If the room suddenly becomes bright, the pupil will become smaller. The pupil is surrounded by the brown, blue, grey, or green iris. After passing through... [Read More...]
Visual Reflex
Voluntary nerves are the ones that are under our direct control. Others, called involuntary nerves, are under the control of our brains and create involuntary reactions. Please login or register to read the rest of this content. Read More →
PhotoReading
Does it sound impossible to read 25,000 words per minute with a 75% comprehension? Not at all! I learned how to photoread using this cool technique developed by Paul Scheele that I am going to share with you. You’ll be able to digest entire textbooks, articles and newspapers that have been piling up, or read hundreds of emails just a matter of minutes. And no, it’s not ‘speed reading’, and it’s not ‘photographic... [Read More...]
Camera Eyes
Your eyes have two different light receptors located on the back of the eyeball. These are the rods, which see black, white and grays, and the cones, which see color. In order to adapt to the dark, our eyes make a chemical called visual purple. This helps the rods to see and transmit what you see in situations where there is little light. Your pupils also increase in diameter in the darkness. This allows for a slight increase in the amount of light... [Read More...]
Human Levers
Levers are classified into three types: first class, second class, or third class. Their class is identified by the location of the load, the force moving the load, and the fulcrum. In this activity, you will learn about the types of levers and then use your body to make each type. Please login or register to read the rest of this content. Read More →
Sound Speed
Sound has the ability to travel through the states of matter: solids, liquids, and gases. In this experiment we will study the movement of sound through these three states. Please login or register to read the rest of this content. Read More →
Sound Matching
You know that sound comes from vibration which are picked up by the pinna (external part of the ears). Then the vibrations vibrate your tympanic membrane, which in turn vibrates the ossicles and then the cochlea. The cochlea sends information through the auditory nerve and sends it to the brain, which recognizes it as sound. In this lab, you will testing your ability to sort and match different sounds. Please login or register to read the rest of... [Read More...]
Sound Whackers
Have you ever held a plastic ruler over the edge of a desk or table and whacked the end of it? If so, you would notice a funny sound. This sound changes if you change the length of the ruler that is hanging over the edge. The sound you hear is made by the ruler’s vibrations. In this lab, we begin to learn about sound. You know it is collected and deciphered by your ears, but did you also know that all sound is made when something vibrates? It could... [Read More...]
Big Ears
How do you think animals know we’re around long before they see us? Sure, most have a powerful sense of smell, but they can also hear us first. In this activity, we are going to simulate enhanced tympanic membranes (or ear drums) by attaching styrofoam cups to your ears. This will increase the number of sound waves your ears are able to capture. Please login or register to read the rest of this content. Read More →
Ewww… Earwax!
It may seem like walking across a balance beam and listening to your favorite song are very different activities, but they both depend on your ears. Ears are the sense organs that control hearing, which is the ability to detect sound. Ears also sense the position of the body and help maintain balance when you walk a balance beam or ride a bike. Imagine a pebble being dropped into a lake. Waves of water go off in all directions. A similar thing... [Read More...]
Tricking your Muscles
The muscles in your body allow you to move. In this lab we will do two quick experiments to explore how your muscles work. Please login or register to read the rest of this content. Read More →
Testing Muscle Strength
Some groups of muscles are stronger than others because each group is designed for a different and specific function. It just makes sense that the muscle groups in our legs would need to be stronger than the ones in our toes. For this experiment, you will use a bathroom scale to test the strength of various muscle groups. Please login or register to read the rest of this content. Read More →
Inside Bones
The skeleton is your body’s internal supporting structure. It holds everything together. In addition to providing support, bones act as shock absorbers when you jump, fall, and run. Bones have big responsibilities and so they must be really strong. They also need to be arranged properly for the best support and shock absorption. In this experiment, we will look at the internal arrangement of the bones holding together your body. Please login or... [Read More...]
How Your Brain Feels Pain
Your body is made of organs, like your heart, lungs or stomach. These organs work together to allow you to breathe, eat, move, and do just about everything else you need to do. Organs working together are called organ systems. Although all organ systems are important, and necessary for us to survive, the most important system might be the nervous system, the system that controls all the others. This system not only controls all the systems of your... [Read More...]
Nerve Tester
Our sense of touch provides us with information that helps us to process and explore our world. Nerves play an important part in the sense of touch by being the wires that carry signals from the skin to the brain. But the body has a plan in place so that our brains don’t get overwhelmed with too much information. This plan is a lot like a blueprint for wiring a house. Just like a house has light switches and electrical outlets in strategic locations,... [Read More...]
What are Bones?
Bones are made up of several parts; bone marrow (red and yellow), spongy bone, compact bone, and the periosteum. Bone marrow makes blood cells. Red blood cells are made in the red marrow, while white blood cells are made in the yellow marrow. When babies are born they only have red marrow. Spongy bone is a light, spongy type of bone found inside bones. Compact bone, on the other hand, is hard and makes up the outer layer of bones. The compact bone... [Read More...]
Tendon Reflex
Involuntary responses are ones that you can’t control, but they are usually in place to help with survival. One good example is when you touch something hot. Your hand does not take the time to send a message to your brain and then have the brain tell your hand to pull away. By then, your hand might be seriously hurt! Instead, your body immediately removes your hand in order to protect it from further harm. Today you will test an involuntary reflex... [Read More...]
Positive and Negative Feedback Loops
Our cells are happiest when they are in their normal or “home” state. This is a state in which the temperature, the concentrations of molecules, and molecules being produced are all at the levels at which they normally function. This “normal” or “home” state is called homeostasis. Our cells—and the tissues and organs they constitute—work hard to maintain homeostasis. We can see this in action. When it is cold out and we shiver, that’s... [Read More...]
Detecting Plaque
The buildup of things like food and bacteria where your gums and teeth meet, and also between your teeth, is called plaque. Where plaque lives is also where the bacteria turns the sugar in your mouth into harmful acids that attack your teeth’s enamel and can lead to gum disease. Regular brushing is a great way to remove plaque and keep your mouth healthy. Please login or register to read the rest of this content. Read More →
Reading about Heating & Cooling, Solar & Wind Energy, and Biomass
Earth, our home in space, has supported life for a long time. But with a growing human population, people are having a greater effect on the environment than ever before. Together we must learn about the problems facing our environment and work to protect the earth. There are many ways we can work together to protect the earth. We can ask adults to use more fuel-efficient cars (cars that get more miles per gallon of gasoline). We can ride bikes or... [Read More...]
Lesson 1: Basic Alternative Energy Video
Earth, our home in space, has supported life for a long time. But with a growing human population, people are having a greater effect on the environment than ever before. Together we must learn about the problems facing our environment and work to protect the earth. There are many ways we can work together to protect the earth. We can ask adults to use more fuel-efficient cars (cars that get more miles per gallon of gasoline). We can ride bikes or... [Read More...]
Basic Alternative Energy Exercises
Let’s see how much you’ve picked up with these experiments and the reading – answer as best as you can. (No peeking at the answers until you’re done!) Just relax and see what jumps to mind when you read the question. You can also print these out and jot down your answers in your science notebook. Please login or register to read the rest of this content. Read More →
Answers to Basic Alternative Energy Exercises
Let’s see how you did! If you didn’t get a few of these, don’t let it stress you out – it just means you need to play with more experiments in this area. We’re all works in progress, and we have our entire lifetime to puzzle together the mysteries of the universe! Here’s printer-friendly versions of the exercises and answers for you to print out: Simply click here for printable questions and answers. Answers: Please... [Read More...]
How to Find New Planets around Distant Stars
How do astronomers find planets around distant stars? If you look at a star through binoculars or a telescope, you’ll quickly notice how bright the star is, and how difficult it is to see anything other than the star, especially a small planet that doesn’t generate any light of its own! Please login or register to read the rest of this content. Read More →
How Much Energy Does the Sun Produce?
Without the sun, there would be no life on Earth. The sun warms the earth, generates wind, and carries water into the air to produce rain and snow. The energy of the sun provides sunlight for all the plant life on our planet, and through plants provides energy for all animals. The sun is like a giant furnace in which hydrogen nuclei (atoms without electrons) are constantly smashed together to form helium nuclei. This process is called nuclear fusion.... [Read More...]
How Can Water Be Used to Store Heat Energy?
Temperature is a measure of the average hotness of an object. The hotter an object, the higher its temperature. As the temperature is raised, the atoms and molecules in an object move faster. The molecules in hot water move faster than the molecules in cold water. Remember that the heat energy stored in an object depends on both the temperature and the amount of the substance. A smaller amount of water will have less heat energy than a larger amount... [Read More...]
Can Wind Be Used as a Source of Energy?
The United States has large reserves of coal, natural gas, and crude oil which is used to make gasoline. However, the United States uses the energy of millions of barrels of crude oil every day, and it must import about half its crude oil from other countries. Burning fossil fuels (oil, coal, gasoline, and natural gas) produces carbon dioxide gas. Carbon dioxide is one of the main greenhouse gases that may contribute to global warming. In addition,... [Read More...]