Family Science | Science Buddies Blog (Page 22)

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

Falling Objects: Weekly Science Project Idea and Home Science Activity Spotlight

October 10, 2013 9:40 AM

In this week's spotlight: a pair of physics science projects that encourage families and students to put a classic question to a hands-on test. Does a heavier object fall faster than a lighter one if both are about the same size? What role do gravity and inertia have in explaining what happens when two objects of differing weights are dropped at the same time from the same height? Put it to the test! What Goes Up, Must Come Down: Conduct Galileo's Famous Falling Objects Experiment… 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

Cooking Caramel: Family Science Spotlight

September 12, 2013 8:30 AM

As this family discovered in their kitchen science activity, making caramel doesn't require much in the way of ingredients, but recipes vary, and timing and temperature matter! "My younger son wanted to make caramel sauce," reports the mom who sent in these photos. Sometimes a perfect science moment begins just like that! When the mom told her son that they only needed sugar and water to make caramel sauce, he was surprised and intrigued. Only two ingredients? As he and his mom… Read more

Rooftop Gardens: Weekly Science Project Idea and Home Science Activity Spotlight

September 5, 2013 9:00 AM

Science Buddies Hands-On Projects: Science and Engineering for School and for Home In this week's spotlight: a pair of environmental engineering science projects for a hands-on look at the benefits of taking a rooftop approach to going and growing green. Can rooftop gardens help you keep your house cooler and lower your energy bill? Explore with a student science Project Idea or a hands-on family science activity: Rooftop Gardens: Are They a Cool Idea? (full Science… Read more

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