to do with 20 first graders by myself! At our school we have a classroom division of the science fair. I need something very very simplistic. Thanks for any and all ideas!
We did one (with 2nd grade) on which bread molds fastest. Once we had the bread in baggies & labeled, all we had to do was watch & write down what we observed. The kids kept a constant check on everything.
Which brand of microwave popcorn pops the most? (pop different kinds and count how many seeds are leftover...then eat!)
Compare liquid densities to object densities (layer molasses, water and cooking oil in a class glass/jar and then "float" different objects like toothpicks, paper clips, counting bears, grapes, etc. - they will float on different levels based on their densities)
You can show how water is absorp through a plant by putting a stalk of celery in red food coloring and water. The kids can see the veins in the celery stalk and leaves. You can predict what will happen. Take pics from the start to the end. Then as a treat have cheese whiz and celery sticks.
Have your students gather items from their classroom or homes, then predict which will be attracted to a magnet. Test and record results. You can also have them hold a magnet at one end of a ruler and record the distance at which an item is attracted. This way they can test which magnets are stronger.
This one's messy but SOOOO much fun... have them make Oobleck (wear smocks and use cafeteria trays on desks) Oobleck is the only? or of the only materials that is both a liquid and a solid. It's cornstarch and water and it behaves in crazy ways. My kids love to do this activity one day and then debate if it is a liquid or a solid and why. Before the activity, they have to have the background knowledge of the qualitiies of liquids and solids.
We had an experiment in our science book that the kids found fascinating. You mix salt and water and pour into a bowl of sand. Work a clean cup or other container down into the wet sand and cover the whole bowl with plastic wrap and secure it with a rubber band. Place 2-3 marbles on top over the clean container and place the bowl in a very warm place (like the sun). When you check it again in a couple hours, there will be water in the clean cup and it will be fresh water, not salty.
This is a great way to teach about the water cycle.
Get four plants and take one element away from each one. Give one everything (air, dirt, water, light). Put one in a dark place, don't water one, and take the dirt out of another (float it in water). Chart their growth and see which elements the plants can live without. It is a fun experiment.
Freeze water in a disposable glove and a cup. Have student hypothesize which melts faster in water. FYI The fingers will melt away. I floated the ice in several tubs. The kids got to have Oriental Trading penguin erasers and the penguins jumped off the ice-fun and cheap! They could play with just about anything in the water. We did it outside with expectations clear...you mess up you loose your chance.
11-22-2006, 02:33 PM
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