Activities | Science Buddies Blog (Page 11)

Halloween Robots

October 21, 2016 1:30 PM

Build your own Halloween-inspired robots as a class, after-school, or family robotics activity! Halloween Robots! Use craft materials and creativity to build simple vibrating robots. Fun introductory robotics activity! Hands-on STEM with Science Buddies. www.sciencebuddies.org Simple Robots Offer Multi-level Exploration Robots can be incredibly complex and sophisticated in both design and function. But all you need to make a simple vibrating robot (a… Read more

Sound Science with a String and a Hanger

October 14, 2016 12:00 PM

In this family STEM activity, students explore how sound waves travel. Do some materials transmit sound better than others? What Sound Does a Hanger Make? A pair of walkie talkies made with metal cans (or paper cups) and string can be surprisingly effective in transmitting sound across a long distance—more effective than just talking to someone across the same distance. But why? What do homemade walkie talkies do to sound? In this family science activity, students use simple… Read more

Gas and the Size of a Marshmallow

September 30, 2016 11:00 AM

In this family STEM activity, students explore the science behind the size of a marshmallow. What happens if you add or remove air around a marshmallow? Families can see science in action by experimenting with stretchy, gooey marshmallows. Gas Inside and Gas Outside Marshmallows contain hidden gas that is trapped inside when they are made. Balanced by the gas (air) outside, marshmallows stay a certain size. But by manipulating the air surrounding a marshmallow, you can force a… Read more

Baking Soda Bubbles and the Science of Sour

September 15, 2016 10:35 AM

In this family STEM activity, students use baking soda to help detect the presence of acids in foods and explore the relationship between acidity and whether or not a food tastes sour. A Simple Test for Sour When you eat or drink something, your taste buds detect qualities like sour, sweet, and bitter. If you drink pickle juice, you might immediately describe it as sour. The same would be true for lemon juice. But a food or drink that also contains ingredients that counter (or mask)… Read more

Stretchy Dough and the Science of Gluten

September 8, 2016 12:00 PM

In this family STEM activity, students mix up dough in the kitchen to explore the role of gluten in making doughs stretchy and elastic. The Science of Dough Preparing many baked goods involves first mixing up a dough that is then kneaded (or not kneaded), left to sit for a certain amount of time (or not), and stretched or rolled during the process (like a pizza crust) before it is baked. Depending on the desired texture of the dough and the ingredients used, the steps of the recipe will… Read more

Diaper Duty Science

August 25, 2016 1:22 PM

In this family STEM activity, students take an inside look at the polymer in diapers that makes them absorbent. Just Add Water What do astronauts and babies have in common? They both rely, at times, on diaper-like solutions to keep them dry. When it comes to how a diaper absorbs liquid and keeps moisture away from the body, there is serious science at work. With a family-friendly science activity, kids can take a closer look at what happens inside a diaper when the diaper gets… Read more

Popcorn Popping Science

August 19, 2016 7:30 AM

In this family STEM activity, students experiment to find out the science secrets behind popcorn. What Makes Popcorn Pop? Have you ever wondered what makes popcorn pop? Not all varieties of corn pop. Popcorn has a specific structure and a specific composition that allows us to turn the hard kernels into a tasty snack. In this week's family science activity, families head to the kitchen for a firsthand look at popcorn popping science. Part of what makes popcorn pop is the water that is… Read more

Center of a Shape Science

August 12, 2016 8:52 AM

In this family STEM activity, students experiment with a simple technique that can help them determine the center of a shape. Grab some paperclips and string to explore! In this week's family science activity, students learn how to find the "middle" or "center" of a two-dimensional shape. It can be easy to locate the center of a symmetrical shape like a circle or a square, but finding the middle of an irregular shape can seem tricky. With a bit of science, kids can pinpoint the center of any… Read more

Smart Plant Watering Science

August 4, 2016 11:00 AM

In this family STEM activity, students experiment to find out how the structure of soil determines how much water the soil holds. Can you use simple home science to better water your plants and gardens and reduce water waste? Find out with a hands-on water smart science activity at home! Plants Need WaterMost plants and gardens depend on regular watering to grow, but how often do they really need to be watered? With drought an issue in many areas, excessive watering of plants, lawns, and… Read more

Color Mixing and Family Physics

August 2, 2016 8:00 AM

Put on a colorful nighttime light show with this family STEM experiment! With inexpensive flashlights and colored cellophane papers, kids can experiment with additive color mixing. The results might surprise you! Mixing Colors From the time they are little, most kids learn about color mixing. In craft and art projects using colorful crayons, markers, and paint, kids are encouraged to explore how primary colors can be combined to make secondary and tertiary colors. In this week's… Read more

Science Buddies Blog (249 results)

Explore Our Science Videos