In this activity, students will observe how physical processes like shaking can cause things to change. Materials:
Small glass jar with lid (baby food jars are the best)
Heavy whipping cream
Instructions: 1. Fill each jar about three-quarters of the way full.
2. Tightly seal each jar with its lid.
3. Shake the jar for 10-15 minutes or until the whipping cream has solidified.
How It Works: When the jar is shaken the particles are forced close together. A few particles clump together and soon, with all the shaking more and more particles clump together until most of are in a solid.
Discussion Questions to Ask: What did we add into the jar?
Did you know that cooking is a chemical and a physical process? Exploring other food processes like making cheese, baking bread, even making a cake are easy ways to introduce the concept of physical and chemical changes. Chemistry is not just only in the lab or taught during science class. It is important to help young students recognize chemistry concepts inside and outside of the classroom. For more information on how to teach young students about chemical and physical change, visit: http://acswebcontent.acs.org/scienceforkids/index.html#Reactions
For some of our Fun Learning Science games such as How to Become a Teenage Genius by playing Our Learning Brain, you can visit here:
http://www.science-lessons.ca/games/brain.html
http://www.science-lessons.ca/games/forceenergy.html
http://www.science-lessons.ca/games/weatherbingo4.html
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In this activity, students will see how gas can be made using a chemical reaction and how gas can be used to inflate a balloon.
Materials:
Several empty and dry plastic bottles (a disposable water bottle is fine)
Baking Soda
Vinegar
Balloon
Tablespoon
Funnel (optional)
Instructions
How It Works:
The baking soda and vinegar mix to form CO2 (carbon dioxide) which is a gas. When the gas is formed, there is nowhere for it to escape, but into the inside of the balloon. As the gas particles begin moving around, colliding with each other and the walls of the balloons, it is able to inflate the balloon.
There are lots of ways that chemicals help make our lives easier and also safer. Airbags work using a chemical reaction and so too do ice packs. Even those bright glow sticks are made possible by the wonderful world of Chemistry. Teaching elementary school students about chemical reactions is best done near sinks as these can be messy learning activities. For more ideas about how to teach young students and fun videos/songs about chemical reactions, visit: http://www.watchknowlearn.org/SearchResults.aspx?SearchText=gases
For another of our Fun Games for Learning Science concepts, feel free to visit here:
http://www.science-lessons.ca/games/space.html
http://www.science-lessons.ca/games/weather3.html
http://www.science-lessons.ca/games/weatherbingo4.html
http://www.science-lessons.ca/games/weather8.htm.http://www.science-lessons.ca/games/planetsbingo.html
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