Science Projects | Science Buddies Blog (Page 40)

Electronics and Play Dough: Fun, Tactile Family Science

October 25, 2013 10:00 AM

With a new group of electronics Project Ideas and a cool kit from the Science Buddies Store, you can turn ordinary play dough modeling into a great hands-on electronics activity with your kids. Since the trio of electric play dough projects launched at Science Buddies, I have wanted to give these hands-on science projects a try as a weekend science activity with my kids. The idea of rigging up an electronics-friendly batch of dough to some LEDs has… Read more

Afterimages Eye Science: Weekly Science Project Idea and Home Science Activity Spotlight

October 24, 2013 10:10 AM

In this week's spotlight: a trio of human biology and health science projects that invite teachers, families, and students to explore the way the human eye works. What happens when you stare at something for a period of time and then look away? You might continue to see the image, what is called an afterimage. We have versions of this exploration for an independent student project, a family activity, or a classroom activity! Afterimages: The Colorful Tricks Eyes Play… Read more

Science Projects that Double as Halloween Costumes

October 21, 2013 10:17 AM

If you are still thinking about what to wear this Halloween, you might find you can combine a science project and your costume needs to good, possibly ghoulish, effect! My favorite Halloween idea this year is low-tech. I saw a "stick man" figure homemade costume, and I can't get it out of my head for its sheer simplicity—black electrical tape on a white shirt and pants. It is an unusual and fun twist on the classic DIY white tape skeleton costume and perfect for someone who loves to… Read more

Compost Science: Weekly Science Project Idea and Home Science Activity Spotlight

October 17, 2013 8:00 AM

How does the rate of decomposition compare for different items and materials? Set up an indoor composter to find out! In this week's spotlight: a pair of environmental science projects that help guide families in an investigation of different biodegradable and compostable items. Do all environmentally-friendly items decompose at the same rate or as completely? With a homemade indoor composter, you and your students can run your own experiment and see… Read more

A Trick of the Eye for Halloween

October 14, 2013 9:30 AM

Exhaust your eye cones in just the right way, and you can enjoy the spookiness of seeing something that isn't really there! The screenshots above are from a project a student created using Scratch to demonstrate afterimages.Seeing something that isn't there can be spooky, right? That's what I thought one morning this month when I got out of the car after dropping my kids at school and saw a giant "phantom" in the basement window of the house next store to mine. After doing a… Read more

Saved by the Clot

October 9, 2013 11:00 AM

How does the human body "turn off" bleeding from an injury? Why do some people bleed too much? This October, a cool experiment lets you investigate blood coagulation! By Kim Mullin Don't Drink the Science What you mix up doesn't have to be green, but this green combo (it's not a smoothie!) fits in great with Halloween spookiness. The mixture shown in the blender is part of the procedure from the "Blood Clotting to the Rescue: How to Stop Too Much Blood from Flowing" science… Read more

An Apple for the Science Fair

October 4, 2013 9:30 AM

Apples are perennial favorites for pies, but how about for science experiments? Absolutely! From chemistry to food science and beyond, apples are the perfect vehicles for scientific exploration. By Kim Mullin With fall apples weighing down local trees, the timing is just right for apple-based hands-on science! Gather a few apples and sit down with your students for some hands-on fruit science. (Image: Wikipedia)Crunchy fresh apples, apple pie, apple cider... can't you just smell… Read more

Bird Science: Weekly Science Project Idea and Home Science Activity Spotlight

October 3, 2013 8:00 AM

In this week's spotlight: a pair of zoology science projects that encourage families and students to use their observation skills to learn more about birds. What can you deduce about a bird's lifestyle or habitat by looking at its feet? More than you might think! Both the independent science project and the family science version guide students in an engaging bird feet scavenger hunt. The closer you look, the better, so pack a picnic lunch and head to a nearby park or… Read more

Probability and Playing Cards: Hands-on Family Math

September 27, 2013 6:00 AM

A deck of cards provides a concrete look at probability and chance in a hands-on math activity that easily scales up and down in difficulty to match the experience of your students. A Deck of Cards Four suits. Thirteen cards in each suit. Twelve face cards. Four aces. Twenty-six red cards. Twenty-six black cards. Using these simple facts about a deck of cards, many math questions and scenarios rise to the surface! How likely is it that you will draw an ace from a full deck of cards?… Read more

Soil Science: Weekly Science Project Idea and Home Science Activity Spotlight

September 19, 2013 8:30 AM

In this week's spotlight: a pair of environmental science and geology projects that let families and students investigate a biogeochemical cycle, a kind of reuse and recycling process that helps support an ecosystem. In either the independent science project or the family science version, students create and cultivate a miniature biosphere, called a Winogradsky column, to explore the relationship between available nutrients and the microorganisms that grow in a sample of… Read more

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