Cool Science Experiments

Did you know science is every kid's favorite subject?
Well, it will be with the use of cool science experiments and projects.

Think about it. Science is the exploration of matter.

Matter = Things

And what kid doesn't like things?

Cool science experiments use a variety of objects to teach and reinforce important science concepts.

These science experiments and projects come from the MatchCard Science curriculum for 3rd to eight grade.

Light and Energy

Light is the first form of energy we "see". Start with light energy, then learn about magnetic, sound, temperature, and other forms of energy.

• Translucent, transparent, and opaque objects
  
• Refraction, Reflection, and Absorption of Light Waves
  
• Magnetic Poles
  
• Sound Waves: Frequency and Amplitude
  
• Celsius to Fahrenheit
  
• Freezing, Melting, Evaporation and Condensation MatchCard
  
• Convection, Conduction, Radiation: Transfer of Heat
  
• Diagram and build an electrical circuit
  
• Test conductors and insulators
• Explore static electricity
• Compare amps, volts, and watts
• Compare fusion and fission.
• Arrange the colors on the light spectrum.
• Perform more experiments with a triangular prism.
• Contrast the different electromagnetic waves
• Compare actual and potential kinetic energy.
• Types of Energy games and activites
• Conservation of Energy activities

Weather

We notice it every morning. We talk about it everyday. Now, let's study to see how weather changes.

• Changing Weather in the Two Hemispheres
  
• Precipitation Experiments and Types of precipitation
  
• Create a Water Cycle
• Use Beaufort Scale
• Use weather instruments
• Compare a hurricane and tornado
• How to use a pet tornado
• Identify cloud types
• Observe how atmospheric pressure and temperature are related

Force and Motion

Watts it all about? Force and motion are required for any work to be done.

• Six Simple Machines
  
• Compare mass and weight
  
• Demonstrate effects of friction and inertia
  
• Analyze the effects of gravity
  
• Compare speed, velocity, momentum, and acceleration
  
• Explore Newton's Three Laws of Motion
  
• Compare Newtons, Joules, and Watts
  

Geology

Have some rockin' fun with the projects in our Geology Unit Study.

• Erupt a volcano and learn its parts.
• Compare Rocks and Minerals
  
• Build a model of the Layers of the Earth
  
• Investigate the 4 types of Weathering.
• Learn the 3 types of rocks and the rock cycle.
• Use the Mohs Hardness Test to identify rocks and minerals.
• Mineral identification lab to test the physical properties of minerals.
• Identify the five types of mountains.
• Demonstrate the three types of waves in an earthquake.

Oceanography

Our oceanography unit study is a whale of a good time! Learn about the ocean and the creatures in it.

• Find the six major oceans.
  
• Investigate the three major types of ocean creatures.
  
• Make a model of the ocean floor.
  
• Trace the route water takes from mountain springs to the oean.
  
• Find what makes seaweed float.
  
• Learn the three ocean zones.
  
• Compare different types of algae with plants.
  
• Raise shrimp or hermit crabs in your own coral reef.
  

Human Anatomy

Human anatomy sure helps a body to function. Can you name the major body systems?

While we are all about kids doing real science experiments, we do draw the line here. We'll save the real experiments for med school. Meanwhile, we do have some projects and models to demonstrate how the human body works.

• From Cells to Systems - Identify how the body parts work together.
  
• What happens after you swallow? Trace the route of food through the digestive system.
  
• Build a tooth model and observe tooth decay
  
• Listen to different sounds in your respiratory system
  
• Trace the route of blood through your heart, lungs, and body.
  
• Play "Simon Says" and identify the major bones of the human skeleton.
  
• Discover how muscles and joints make our anatomy work.
  
• Find what human organs are part of the renal system.
  
• Learn about your central nervous system or things will get on your nerves.
  
• Discover the parts of the human eye.
  
• Identify and use the parts of the human ear.
  
• You're covered in it. Get a feel for what your skin can do for you.
  
• Match the hormones to their endocrine glands.
  
  

Chemistry

Chemistry really "matters." Atoms and molecules make up the substances all around us.

• Build a model of an atom.
  
• Make a hydrogen and helium model
  
• Play a game with carbon, nitrogen, oxygen models
  
• Learn electron configuration with paper plates
  
• Construct molecules with the molecule worksheets
  
• Build (and eat) models of water molecules
  
• Hunt for molecules and compounds and make a mixture
  
• Make a fried egg sandwich and compare chemical and physical changes
  
• Compare properties of solids, liquids, and gas
  
• Use the density formula to compare different objects
  
• A sizzlin' way to learn the conservation of mass.
  
• Make your litmus paper for acids and bases.
  
• Find metals and non-metals on a periodic chart.
  

Astronomy

Astronomy is a really big topic! A world of information can be found about your universe.

• Demonstrate the rotation and revolution of the Earth.
  
• Demonstrate the size and distance of planets in the solar system.
  
• Find out what makes a planet a planet. Vote if Pluto should be considered a planet or not.
  
• Chart the moon cycle and demonstrate the cause of the moon's changing shape.
  
• Demonstrate two types of lunar eclipses.
  
• Make a solar eclipse in your living room
  
• Find what the sun is made out of and what it gives off
  
• Find the North Star and its two constellations
  
• Identify five northern constellations visible all year round.
  
• Make a dry ice comet. Compare to asteroids and meteors.
  
• Make a pet galaxy and a pet nebula in a jar.
  
• Make your own sextant and sky charts.
  

Botany

A plant is an animal's best friend. Find out all the important thing plants do for you.

• Build a mini-ecosystem in your own home.
• Tear apart flowers to learn their parts.
• Who or what causes the flowers to be pollinated?
• Deciduous and Evergreen Trees
• What events alter the ecology of our environment?
• What part of the plant cell makes your veggies so crunchy?
• Watch photosynthesis produce bubbles.
  
• Evaporate water from plant leaves.
• Germinate a seed from a flowering plant.
• 5 types of asexual reproduction in plants
• Find out how your breath helps the trees and plants
• Test soil for nitrogen and learn about the nitrogen cycle.

Zoology

If a dog isn't a kid's best friend, another animal is likely to be. It's fun to learn about the other creatures we share the planet with.

• Identify the parts of an insect.
• Watch a butterfly emerge from a cocoon.
• Compare the size and shape of five different types of fish fins.
• Compare the skin of reptiles and amphibians.
• List six unique characteristics of mammals.
• Distinguish primary and secondary consumers in the food chain.
• Compare the teeth of herbivores, carnivores, and omnivores.
• Trace the scientific classification of dogs from kingdom to species.
• Design a lapbook of 5 kingdoms on the biology tree of life.
• Make a mobile of nine different animal phyla.
• Build an animal skeleton while learning about vertebrates.
• Make a model of an animal cell and learn about the functions of ten cell parts.
• Find three methods of cellular movement - and what's living under your fingernails.
• Make a flipbook from the stages of mitosis diagrams.

Health and Nutrition

Make healthy living delicious and fun.

• Nutrition games and activities
• Make a Carbohydrate checker
• Find protein and fat in food. Make carb, protein, fat molecules.
• Check for Vitamin C in foods. Find out what Vitamin E does.
• Watch what acetic acid does to calcium. Use a magnet to see if there is really iron in your cereal. Make a potassium drink and more.
• Use the Memory Checker game to demonstrate how relaxation and exercise help you concentrate.
• "See" your house as a blind visitor would experience it.
• Practice using a fire extinguisher on different types of fires.
• Run while breathing through a thin straw to discover the effects of smoking on your lungs.
• Use pennies to calculate the risk of pregnancy with different forms of birth control.

Technology

Let's introduce some engineering basics or techno and not-so-techno inclined friends.

• Build the four main types of bridges.
• Use Bernoulli's Principle to discover how aerodynamics keeps a plane up in the air.
• Find the input, output, and SPU of the electronics in your house.
• Build a circuit board and learn the function of the devices on it.
• Play games converting from binary to decimal numbers.
• Compare the input and output of different computer devices. Investigate what browsers and modems do.
• Find out how lasers work and compare laser light to a flash light.
• Make a robotic hand. List the principles of robotics and ethics of robotics.
• List the four strokes of an internal combustion engine. Watch flour combust.

Other ideas

• Science Notebooks can be effectively used for your investigations and experiments.
  
  
• Nature Walks are a great way to learn about nature and the natural environment.
  
  
• Homeschool Chemistry Studies - 5 ways to teach chemistry
  
  
• MatchCard Science is a homeschool science curriculum kids want to do every day.