Hands on science experiments are exciting for children of all ages. There are many science experiments that can be safely performed at home or as a group activity amongst your child and his friends.
Through science, children are taught that mistakes are not necessarily bad. Often scientific discoveries have been made by accident. If the science experiments do not go as planned or if the results are different to what was expected – it doesn’t matter. As long as all your observations are accurately recorded. Through various experiments you will become fascinated by the science that is happening all around us.
Scientists discover many wonderful things about our world through their experiments and investigations. Scientists also need to be very organized and careful individuals. All the work that they do needs to be well documented. This includes the materials they used, how they performed the experiment and the results of each experiment. Experiments should also be well tested to ensure accuracy of the results. Sometimes they will need to be carried out numerous times, making sure that all the variables affecting the outcome remain the same. Safety should always be the number one consideration. Make sure that you understand the materials, chemicals and equipment that you are required to work with. Take the necessary precautions and always wash your hands well if you have been involved with chemicals.
Plan carefully before starting your investigations and put some thought into the methods you are going to use. Decide on the equipment and materials needed for the experiment as well as the information you will need to collect. Make notes of your plans and in what order you decide to carry out the project. Consider any safety aspects.
While you are busy with the investigation, accurately record your results. Make sure that the experiment is a fair test. Lastly make a good presentation of your findings. Various projects will require different methods. Some will work well in a table form and others will need graphs. Think about and record any improvements that you might have added to the experiment. Was your evidence strong and could you have done anything differently?
A quick example of a science experiment would be to make a volcano in a bottle. You will need the following materials:
- Sand
- Pouring jug
- I/2 cup vinegar
- Old newspaper
- Red food coloring
- Bicarbonate of soda
- A small plastic drinking bottle
Make sure you do this experiment in a place where you can make a bit of mess! Put the bottle on the newspaper and build up the sand around it like a mountain (to about half way up the bottle). Measure a tablespoon of the bicarbonate of soda and put it into the plastic bottle’s opening. Lastly mix the vinegar and a few drops of the red food coloring in the jug and pour it into your bottle.
Sit back and watch as your science experiment comes alive with frothy red lava!
