Science Projects | Science Buddies Blog (Page 24)

Fun Frisbee Science

July 8, 2015 7:00 AM

Test different throwing techniques or compare different types of Frisbees and learn more about aerodynamics and physics at the same time. Ready, set, throw! With the right mindset—or source of inspiration—you can find ways to easily tie science into many of your family's activities and hobbies, and the things you do with your kids for fun can be a fulcrum for science-themed family conversation. Your kids don't even have to realize you are turning a routine together-time… Read more

Explore Magnification with a Drop of Water: Weekly Science Spotlight

July 2, 2015 9:00 AM

What happens when you look through water at something below it? Does the object (or image) appear larger? Does it appear smaller? How much larger or smaller? It may depend on the shape of the water. Viewing something through a drop of water may make the object or image appear larger. Viewing through a layer of water in a container like a cup, on the other hand, may have a different effect because the curvature of the water is different. (The size of the drop of water may also make a… Read more

Measuring Surface Tension with a Penny: Weekly Science Spotlight

June 29, 2015 8:00 AM

What makes drops of water on a penny appear to pool together on the top of the penny as a large drop rather than run over the sides? Attraction of the water molecules holds the surface of the water together until the amount of water is too great and spills over the edge. This attraction results in surface tension—something we can see visually in the way the droplet may seem to hold together as a jiggly whole rather than flowing freely over the edges of a surface. You can see surface… Read more

Splitting Ink: Marker Chromatography

June 25, 2015 8:00 AM

Use paper chromatography to explore the colors used to make different colors of marker ink! What color dyes are in your favorite marker ink? Try paper chromatography to find out! What color dye molecules are combined to make your favorite marker color? From creating with paint or colored pencils, you probably know that mixing certain colors makes predictable colors. Blue and red makes purple, for example. But what color molecules are used in a purple… Read more

Glow-in-the-dark Nighttime Summer Science

June 23, 2015 6:00 AM

A test tube of phytoplankton offers a no-mess way to let kids observe biochemical processes, circadian rhythms, and bioluminescence. Move over fireflies, phytoplankton live longer, which makes them a great option for home science. On the first night of a fifth grade camping trip earlier this year, our group leader shuffled us all down to the beach in the dark. The kids were on a phytoplankton mission, and the dark beach was the place to be. The… Read more

Heat up Your Summer with Solar Science

June 22, 2015 9:00 AM

Bright summer light is perfect for exploring solar energy. Science Buddies' kid-friendly science project ideas make it fun and easy! By Kim Mullin Summer is almost here, so get ready for fun in the sun! With school out, there will be plenty of time to play in the water, eat popsicles, spit watermelon seeds, and much more. What do you like to do with your summer days? Learning through Exploration and Discovery When deciding how to spend your free time this summer, be sure to… Read more

Golden Rules of Photography: Family Science Spotlight

June 18, 2015 12:30 PM

Try this hands-on science experiment to learn about the golden rules of photography and improve your photo compositions. When you take a photo, do you put the subject right in the center? What happens to the same photo if you move the subject to the right of the frame, or to the left? These are questions a photographer asks herself every time she gets ready to snap a photo. Where should the subject "go" in the frame? In making this decision, a… Read more

Building Paper Bridges: Family Science Spotlight

June 11, 2015 11:00 AM

Build bridges from paper to explore civil engineering in this family STEM activity. Does the shape of the materials make a difference? What helps make a bridge strong? In this family science activity, explore bridge engineering with kids by making paper bridges that stretch between stacks of books. How does changing the shape of the materials (the paper) change the strength of the bridge? This is a fun and creative science activity you can do with… Read more

Throwing Balls and Trajectory: Weekly Family Science Activity

June 1, 2015 7:00 AM

In this week's spotlight: a physics-focused family sports science activity that may make a difference in your next game of catch! At what angle should you throw a ball if you want it to go as far as possible? This week's sports science activity helps students observe and quantify the relationship between launch angle and distance by getting outside, throwing balls with different trajectories, and seeing how far they go. What happens when you throw a ball very high, very straight, or with… Read more

Sweet Like Sugar? Weekly Science Activity Spotlight

May 22, 2015 9:00 AM

How do sugar-free substitutes compare to sugar in terms of sweetness? Whether you make something sugar-free to cut calories or carbohydrates or for medical reasons, there are a wide range of sugar alternatives available. But how do these substances compare in terms of taste? In this food science family activity, you can investigate levels of sweetness by making your own homemade lemonade with sugar and with a sugar alternative. (The full project idea doesn't involve making… Read more

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