728x90
my iParenting
From Our Sponsors
e-newsletters
Sign up to receive our free weekly e-newsletters

new terms of use
new privacy policy
award-winning products
The iParenting Media Awards program helps parents find the best products for their families.
Home › Articles › Activities › See for Yourself

See for Yourself

Experiments from Bubbles, Rainbows and Worms (Gryphon House, 2004)

By Sam Ed Brown

Pages:  1  2  3  

Put a small amount of soap and water in cups so each child has a cup of soapy water. Dip the end of a straw into the cup, remove the straw and allow the soapy mixture to drip once. Blow gently and produce a bubble.

Talk about the air inside the bubble and point out that the bubble has different colors because light changes when it shines through the bubble.

Ask the children why they think bubbles burst when they hit the ground. When it is time to finish the activity, allow the children to catch some of the bubbles on construction paper. Discuss why the popped bubble leaves a wet circle. Allow the children to draw around the wet outline to make designs.

Explanation
Light contains all the colors of the rainbow. When light passes through the bubble, it reflects and is broken into wavelengths, allowing the different colors to be seen. Wet rings on the construction paper show that a bubble is composed of bubble solution surrounding air.

More experiments!

Making Lightning

Principles: Electricity can be made, and static electricity can be seen.

Materials:
two balloons
wool cloth
dark room

Words to Discuss:
spark
static electricity

Science Experiment
Blow up the balloons. Rub one balloon briskly on a piece of wool. Push the balloon against the wall.

Explain to the children that static electricity created by rubbing the balloon on the wool causes the balloon to stick to the wall. Tell the children that they can also see this static electricity. Ask if they have ever been shocked after walking on a carpet or putting on a sweater.

Tell them they can see what this looks like when it is dark. Darken the room, and rub both balloons briskly on the wool. Hold the balloons, almost touching, so the children can observe a spark jump between them.

Explanation


Pages:  1  2  3  


Want to see more?