Tag

lab Archives - Page 2 of 3 - Taylor Made Science

Earth's HistoryGeology

Dinosaur Tracks

Scientists often have to use indirect evidence to infer information about extinct species. Children (and adults!) often find it hard to understand how a footprint can tell a scientist anything about the animal that made it. Use this "mystery solving" activity to help explain how information can be collected from indirect evidence. You will need to do a little advance preparation for this activity. You'll need some play dough or other soft modeling clay and…
Cheryl Taylor
June 20, 2014
EnergyPhysics

Teaching Kids about Consumerism and Conservation

Let's face it, the advertising world targets your kids every day. What child hasn't been disappointed after saving for months for a toy, only to find it doesn't measure up to what the commercial promised? In my science classes I teach my students how science can be used to objectively test claims made by advertisers . . . in other words, how to be wise consumers. Here's a fun idea that actually came from one…
Cheryl Taylor
June 1, 2014
BiologyPlants

Seed Germination Lab

Children are fascinated by the fact that a seed can grow into a plant. You've probably already planted seeds with your child in order to watch them grow into plants. Here's a slightly different way to show your child the actual process of germination that allows them to actually see the plant emerge from the seed. Materials: seeds, paper towel, plastic sandwich bag, magnifying glass Procedure: 1. Fold a paper towel so that it fits…
Cheryl Taylor
May 11, 2014
PhysicsWaves

Slinky Waves

Have an old slinky collecting dust in the kids' toy box? Pull it out and teach a quick lesson on the two types of waves. 1. Loosely stretch the slinky across the floor or long table with you holding one end and your child holding the other. 2. Create a transverse wave by shaking one end of the slinky horizontally across the floor or table. Continue shaking back and forth to set up a series…
Cheryl Taylor
May 5, 2014
BiologyCells and Microbiology

Growing Bacteria at Home

First, a warning . . . if you grow bacteria at home there is always a possibility you could grow large amounts of harmful bacteria that could make someone in your household sick. Always use proper safety precautions when growing bacteria! Some safety hints are included below, but always, always use common sense when handling any bacteria culture. When bacteria cultures are grown in the lab the bacteria is grown in shallow containers (Petri dishes)…
Cheryl Taylor
April 27, 2014
BiologyEcology - Ecosystems

Backyard Ecology

No matter whether you live in the country or the city, your child can observe nature close to home. Help your child be a nature detective to discover the ecosystem existing right in their own backyard. First, help your child identify what types of plants and animals they are realistically likely to see. If you have land in the country they're likely to observe large mammals such as deer and racoons. If you have a…
Cheryl Taylor
April 7, 2014
EnergyPhysics

Outdoor Activity Explains Energy and Work

Energy is defined as the "ability to do work." Energy and work are really different forms of the same thing, but to a child, they are very different. Try this simple outdoor summer activity to demonstrate the relationship between gravitational potential energy and work. First, children need to understand gravitational potential energy. Explain to your child that a ball on the floor has no potential energy because it won't move by itself. But, a ball…
Cheryl Taylor
April 7, 2014
ForcesPhysics

Understanding and Measuring Friction

For elementary children, the topic of "opposing forces" can be hard to understand. Friction is an opposing force that children can "feel." Here's a lab on measuring and comparing friction that's appropriate for older elementary children. You will need one piece of "science equipment" to get the most out of the lab . . . a spring scale. A spring scale with small increments will be easier for elementary children to use. Here's what to…
Cheryl Taylor
March 30, 2014
MotionPhysics

Calculate Speed While Encouraging Exercise

We all know that kids have a lot of energy. Put that energy to good use by combining a physics lesson, a math lesson, and some good exercise! All you'll need is an energetic kid, a tape measure, a stopwatch, and a safe place for your child to run. Calculating Speed 1. Pick out a "track" that your child can run safely. Select a distance appropriate for your child to run several times. 2. Help…
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