KS2 Science at home
Here are some ideas for you to try:
Cabbage water indicator
Aim:
To determine which substances are an acid and which ones are an alkali. The cabbage water acts as an indicator, changing colour if it is in contact with an acid or an alkali. Even if the concept of acids and alkalis is too complex for your child, they will wonder at the amazing colour changes in this experiment.
Method:
- Chop and boil a quarter of a red cabbage
- Strain off the cabbage water and keep it
- Note what colour the cabbage water is
- Place the cabbage water in several clear glasses or in several bowls
- Place some washing soap powder in one of the glasses or bowls and note down any colour changes
- Try the same thing with other household substances e.g. vinegar (acid), lemon juice (acid), orange juice (acid), soap (alkali), shampoo (alkali), conditioner (alkali)
The cabbage water should turn pink in acidic solutions, and blue or green in alkaline solutions.
Kids could also go on to make and try different indicators such as the juice from freshly boiled beetroot, blackberry juice or strawberry juice. They could also go on to use these natural colourings to dye some scrap materials.
Homemade lava lamp - Science with children - ExpeRimental #2
Build a home-made lava lamp and use a surprising property of citrus fruits to explore the science of floating and sinking. For more ideas, and to download an info sheet click here: http://www.rigb.org/families/experimental/homemade-lava-lamp Olympia Brown does science at home with her daughter investigating density.They discover that an orange sinks when it is peeled and try objects from around the home to see if they float or sink.
Which egg will cook first?
Aim:
To guess which egg will cook first.
Method:
- Take two pans and fill them with the same amount of water
- Boil two eggs, one in each pan, but over two different sizes of flame - one larger than the other. Boil both eggs for four minutes
- Ask your child to guess which egg they think will cook first
- Then crack them both open and look inside.
Answer: Both eggs should be the same when you open them up, because the water boils at 100 degrees, so even if the one flame is hotter the water will not get any hotter!
Race a balloon-powered car
Balloon car racers - ExpeRimental #6
See who can make the fastest balloon powered car in this fun science activity to do with kids. For more ideas, and to download an info sheet click here: http://www.rigb.org/families/experimental/balloon-car-racers Polar oceanographer and dad of two Mark Brandon does science at home with his daughters.
Science Experiments For Kids - Top 5 Tips!
Doing science experiments with your children can be easy and fun. Here are five simple ways to get the most out of the activities with your kids. We have 30 fun, free experiments to try: http://www.rigb.org/families/experimental Our top 5 tips: 1 - Don't worry if you don't know the science!
Science for kids - How to inflate a balloon with a chemical reaction - #ExpeRimental 18
Try this fizzy cubes experiment with your children, then use the reaction to make a balloon blow itself up. Download the infosheet for more ideas and information: http://bit.ly/FizzyInfosheet Subscribe for regular science videos: http://bit.ly/RiSubscRibe Olympia and her daughter Viola explore how bicarbonate of soda reacts with different liquids from around the house.
Science for kids - Soap boat water experiment - ExpeRimental #14
Comedian Rufus Hound and his son Alby make soap powered boats and learn how soap affects the way water molecules hold onto each other. For info sheets and printable boat templates, click here: http://bit.ly/RufusRacerSheet ExpeRimental is a series of videos showing fun, cheap, simple science activities to do with 4-10 year olds.