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Science for Kids

Smart Solutions : Episode SSL-816 -- More Projects »
Household expert Joey Green demonstrates fun and simple scientific experiments to get kids excited about learning.

Permanent Foam

Materials:

shaving cream
household glue
paper cups

Steps:


  1. Fill a bowl halfway with shaving cream.
PHOTO

Figure A
  • Add an entire bottle of household glue to the bowl and mix well with shaving cream and let sit (figure A).

  • Cover two upside down paper cups with the foam and let dry. The foam will harden as the glue encapsulates the air bubbles in the foam.

    Batteries

    Materials:

    nail
    wire
    copper scouring pad
    paper towel
    aluminum foil
    white vinegar
    compass

    Steps:


    1. Wrap a nail with a long piece of wire.
    • PHOTO

    Figure B
  • Attach the two ends of the wire to a copper scouring pad (figure B).

  • Place a square of paper towel on a piece of tinfoil. Saturate the paper towel with plain white vinegar.

  • Wrap the copper pot scrubber with the saturated paper towel, and then wrap the piece of tinfoil around the scrubber and towel.

  • You now have a battery with enough power to move the needle of a compass. Test by moving the nail around the edge of a compass and watch the needle move.

    Butter Factory

    Materials:

    whipping cream
    plastic container
    yellow food coloring

    Steps:


    1. Empty a carton of whipping cream into a plastic container and seal.
    • PHOTO

    Figure C
  • Shake constantly for 15 to 30 minutes. This will separate the cream into butter solids and buttermilk (figure C).

  • Pour out the buttermilk.

  • If desired, add a few drops of yellow food coloring to the butter solids.

    Candle in a Jar

    * Note: Never allow children to do this unattended.

    Materials:

    candle
    bowl
    4 pennies
    blue food coloring
    matches or a lighter
    jar

    Steps:


    1. Put a candle in a bowl.

    2. Put four pennies around the candle.

    3. Dye some water blue and pour into the bowl.

    4. Light the candle.

    5. Set a jar over the lit candle, resting on the pennies.
    • PHOTO

    Figure D
  • The fire will consume the air in the jar and the water will be drawn up into the jar (figure D).
    • Resources
    Joey Green's Encyclopedia of Offbeat Uses for Brand-Name Products ...
    by Joey Green
    Hyperion / Buena Vista Books, 1998
    Order this title from Amazon.com.

    Guests
    Joey Green
    Author
    Website: www.wackyuses.com
    Also in this Episode
    Smart Solutions : Episode SSL-816
    •Making Moist Cakes
    •Science for Kids
    •Repairing Wooden Floors
    •Smart Solution of the Day
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