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younger elementary Archives - Page 4 of 4 - Taylor Made Science

AnimalsBiology

Bug Collection – Go Digital!

Remember having to do a "bug collection" project when you were in school? There is a lot of value in observing animals in their natural environment and learning how to identify them based on physical characteristics. But, is it really necessary to catch, kill, and mount them? If your kids are afraid of crawly things or squeamish about killing live creatures, why not have them do a "virtual bug collection"? Armed with a digital camera,…
Cheryl Taylor
March 28, 2014
Acids and BasesChemistry

Red Cabbage as a pH Indicator

pH is a hard concept for younger children to learn. Add a little excitement to the subject of acids and bases by using a natural pH indicator. First, the science . . . an indicator is a chemical that "indicates" or shows the presence of a substance, usually by a color change. There are many pH indicators, each working for a different range on the pH scale. A wide-range indicator detects substances on the entire…
Cheryl Taylor
March 24, 2014
BiologyCells and Microbiology

Edible Cell Models

When teaching about the parts of the cell, increase your child's interest by having them build an edible model of a cell. The type of cell and the type of model depend on the age of the child and your snack preference for them. If your child is older they can research "parts of a cell" online to find many different diagrams of different types of cells. Help your child find a diagram at an…
Cheryl Taylor
March 23, 2014
Earth MaterialsGeology

Making Rocks Fun!

Okay, I have to admit, rocks sound boring to most people. But here's a way to get kids interested in the topic of rocks and minerals! Kids (and adults) love to find treasure. Purchase a bag of "mining rough" and you have a ready-made treasure hunt for your kids. Mining rough is the left over material generated by the mining process. To a mine that recovers and sells gemstones, it isn't cost effective to spend…
Cheryl Taylor
March 22, 2014
BiologyPlants

Leaf Prints – Science meets Art!

Use an old standby in kids art projects to teach some plant science! The Art Remember making leaf prints when you were a kid? Here's a short procedure: 1. Collect a variety of fresh, green leaves. 2. Provide a large sheet of clean paper. Thin paper works best. You'll also need some old crayons with the paper peeled off. 3. Place a leaf under the paper. Use the side of the crayon to rub across…
Cheryl Taylor
March 17, 2014
ChemistryWater and Solutions

Separating Colors with Chromatography

What is Chromatography? Chromatography is the process of separating a mixture into its individual components. The easiest way to show this process to children is by using chromatography to separate inks. Waterproof inks in permanent markers and ball point pens require a chemical solvent, but the ink in washable markers can be separated with water, making for an easy and safe experiment. Materials: washable markers, coffee filters, pie pan Procedure: 1. Flatten a coffee filter…
Cheryl Taylor
March 17, 2014
ChemistryWater and Solutions

Popsicle Science – Turn a Summer Snack into a Science Lesson!

Do you make popsicles for your kids during the summer? Involve them in the process and turn it into a science lesson! Materials: juice, plastic cup, ruler, waterproof marker, popsicle stick (or plastic spoon), index card Procedure: 1. Fill a small plastic cup about ½ full of juice. (Cups with the straightest sides work best.) 2. Cut a slit in the middle of an index card and place it over the cup. Insert a Popsicle…
Cheryl Taylor
March 17, 2014