Science Experiment Morning

We had a PJ morning while Chris scooted out to Costco.  I thought it would be a good time to try one of the experiments that I talked about in yesterday's post.  Well, the kids blew through the first experiement and the second, third and fourth!  It is really hard to hold their attention!  Next time I think we will try to take things slower and have them record their observations, draw pictures or journal in order to stretch out the lesson.

The first experiement was Foaming Nest.  This simulates how the African tree frog forms a nest of foam that it hangs from a branch to lay its eggs in.  The little froggie babies hatch and then drop from the foam into the water below.  We used an egg white to whip into a foam and then a wooden spoon to act as the branch.  The kids enjoyed this one. 

The next experiment was Fooling your Tongue.  First they chewed an apple and took note of the taste.  Then took another bite with a vanilla soaked cotton ball held near their nose.  The second bite of apple should then taste like vanilla.  This experiment was ok.



Then we did the Cold Feet experiment talking about heat conductors.  One foot stood on a piece of tin foil and one on a bath mat.  Jillian felt that the tin foil was more cold than the bath mat but Sarah didn't.  She said 'Mommy I was born on the coldest day of the year - I don't feel the cold!'

By far the best experiment (and quite honestly the one that I thought the kids wouldn't think much of) was Plop.  It demonstates inertia.  We placed 5 books on a chair, pushed the chair fast and then quickly stopped.  Because of inertia the books will remain in motion and fly off the chair.  The kids loved this and all wanted to try.  Then Sarah came up with the marvelous idea of trying it with people sitting on the chair.  Well, before I knew it kids were flying off chairs all over the kitchen!  It was hillarious and so much fun.  I didn't realize how far little Matthew would fly!  Poor guy ended up flat on his stomach.  It was also a great way to explain the importance of seat belts!  I don't think the kids really understood why they needed seatbelts - but now they do!