Science of Polymers

Every week, Madison (my 10-year old daughter) and I teach a 1.5-hour afterschool science club for K-2^nd graders.  Each week she helps plan the lesson and then write the blog about what we did. 

We have provided links to the books we used to sneak in some literacy.  We learned most of the science experiments and activities from Steve Spangler (awesome speaker and science guy extraordinaire).  We have included links to his science supplies, experiments, and videos.  We have also included links to our YouTube videos. These links take you away from the blog and to external websites.

Lesson 15  & 16

Science of Polymers

See our YouTube video: Punctures, Potions, and Polymers - 

Science Standards Addressed:

• Describe the characteristics of the three states of matter (solid, liquid, gas).
• Describe what happens when substances (solid, liquid, gas) are mixed – water gel & instant snow.
• Know that materials are made of atoms and molecules – polymer science.
• Describe how heat is made and how it travels. – unburnable balloon.
• Know that living things have basic needs (food, water, air, sunlight) – radish experiment.

Plus we snuck in some speaking and listening standards like asking questions, expressing ideas, following multi-step directions, and participating in discussions.

As the children arrived we played the songs Everything Grows, by Raffi; Alligator Hedgehog, by Pete Seeger; and Cool Clear Water, by Marty Robbins.

Next we had a snack that once again was a hint of the science to follow. 

Science of GLOW!

Every week, Madison (my 10-year old daughter) and I teach a 1.5-hour afterschool science club for K-2nd graders.  Each week she helps plan the lesson and then write the blog about what we did.  Then I add my 5 cents worth and we post the blog.

We have provided links to the books we used to sneak in some literacy.  We learned most of the science experiments and activities from Steve Spangler (awesome speaker and science guy extraordinaire).  We have included links to his science supplies, experiments, and videos.  We have also included links to our YouTube video science lessons. These links take you away from the blog and to external websites.

Lesson 13

Science of Glow

See our YouTube video on the Science of GLOW!

Science Standards Addressed:

• Knows that light is a form of energy, Recognize that energy can be stored in many ways (phosphorescence).
• Know that changes to matter may be chemical or physical and when two or more substances are combined, a new substance may be formed with properties that are different from those of the original substance.
• Know that materials are made up of small particles that are too small to see with the naked eye (monomer and polymer science).
• Know that bacteria and viruses are germs that affect the human body. Describe ways to prevent the spread of germs.

Plus we snuck in some speaking and listening standards like asking questions, expressing ideas, following multi-step directions, and participating in discussions.

As the children arrived we played the songs When the Lights Go Down in the City, by Journey; and Party Lights, by Claudine Clark.

10 Minutes

Simulated Germs

As the children arrived, we pumped a little glob of Simulated Glow Germs on their hands.  We asked them to rub the “lotion” into their hands making sure to get the backs of their palms and fingernails.  Then we asked them to wash their hands the way they normally do before eating snack.  Then, we put their hands back under a black light.

You could see glowing “germs” all over their hands – especially in between their fingers and in their finger nails.  We taught them how to wash their hands: by scrubbing EVERY surface of their hands for the same amount of time it takes them to sing Happy Birthday to themselves FOUR times!

Then we put their hands under the black light again.  It was much better this time, but there were still some germs that did not get scrubbed away.  After one more round of hand washing, no more Glow Germ showed up, and we mercifully let them eat snack.

5 minutes

Snack

Our snack was an extra cool hint of the science to follow. 

In addition to the healthy stuff, we snacked on GLOWING gummy worms

 (don’t be alarmed, only the forceps glowed – and the light shined THROUGH the worm).