Second Grade Science Experiments (Page 200)

Pizza Box Solar Oven: Weekly Science Activity

Blog Post

In this week's spotlight: an energy-focused family science activity that doubles as an alternative energy experiment and a recycling project. Using a pizza box (or other shipping box), foil, a few other readily available materials, and the power of the sun, you can make a functional solar-powered oven. Cooking will take longer than in a kitchen appliance, but with some planning, you can cook a meal or prepare a campsite batch of s'mores with your own homemade solar oven! How does a solar… Read more

Plastic Deformation: Glass Transition of Some Plastics

Science Fair Project Idea

Scientific Method

Some plastics undergo an unusual transition, from a hard, glassy state to a soft, rubbery state, with increased temperature. For this project, you should do background research on the effects of temperature on different types of plastics. Make sure that you understand the difference between thermosetting and thermoplastic polymers. You should also look for information on the glass transition temperature (Tg) for different plastics. Pure polyvinyl acetate has a Tg of 28 C (about… Read more

Playing with Balance: Doing Fun Science at Home during School Closures (Activity #14)

Blog Post

Follow along with a Science Buddies parent who is using family STEM activities to keep her kids learning at home during the COVID-19 school shutdown. New posts every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. Today's adventure...building and balancing a creative mobile. A Balancing Act I have a half-dozen one-liners running through my head about how there is no "balance" for parents in today's pandemic world. I'll spare you though — you can probably… Read more

Pluck Out & Pick New String Materials for Your Guitar

Science Fair Project Idea

Scientific Method

Walk into any music store and you'll find a dizzying array of string choices for your classical guitar, including rectified nylon, clear nylon, carbon fluoride, bronze wound, phosphor bronze wound, silver-plated copper wire, Polytetra-flouro-ethylene (PTFE), each in a range of tensions from low to high. There is no single best brand or best material. All have their advantages and disadvantages. A set of strings that sounds "sparkling" on one guitar might sound dull on another, primarily because… Read more

Polymer Permeability: Which Plastic Wrap Prevents Oxidation Best?

Science Fair Project Idea

Scientific Method

There are currently two different kinds of polymers used for kitchen plastic wrap: low density polyethylene (LDPE) (e.g. Saran or Glad Wrap) and polyvinyl chloride (PVC) (e.g. Reynolds PVC Foodservice Wrap or Boardwalk PVC Food Wrap Film). Which of these materials is less permeable to oxygen? When you slice an apple, the surface of the slice turns brown as the apple is oxidized. Can plastic wrap seal out oxygen and prevent the apple from browning? Which plastic wrap works best? Do… Read more

Popcorn Popping Science

Blog Post

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

Popsicle Trusses

Blog Post

Does the shape beams make when they come together make a difference in their strength? Beams in civil engineering have an important role to play in ensuring a building or bridge stands up, supports the weight it should, and doesn't bend or collapse under normal use. In this week's family science project, students and families use popsicle sticks and binder clips to investigate the relationship between the shape of trusses in a building and their strength. Popsicle Stick Trusses:… Read more

Porosity

Science Fair Project Idea

Scientific Method

Soils are made of particles of different types and sizes. The space between particles is called pore space. Pore space determines the amount of water that a given volume of soil can hold. Porosity is the percentage of the total volume of soil that consists of pore space. Compare the porosity of different types of soil. Which types of soil hold the most water? Can you see this under a microscope? Read more

Porosity and Particle Size

STEM Activity

Have you ever heard the expression, "solid as a rock"? As it turns out, rocks are not entirely solid. Rocks actually have tiny pockets of air inside them. This is obvious when you look at a piece of volcanic rock (often called basalt), which is full of visible holes. But dense rocks, such as granite, have tiny air pockets inside them, too. These pockets of air are just much smaller. If you picked up one volcanic rock as well as one granite rock of the same size, you would notice they don't… Read more

Potato Science Collection

Blog Post

Whether you prefer your potatoes mashed, fried, or as part of an alternate energy circuit, you can use these vegetables for a range of hands-on student science explorations! Potato Projects If potatoes are on the menu this month, set a few aside for hands-on science—or turn your food preparation into a science experiment! From kitchen science to electronics, there are many science questions kids can explore using potatoes! For potato-based… Read more

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