| Several fun science experiments can be conducted | | | | The comb will now chase the bits of paper about the |
| with basic materials that you already have in your | | | | plate. Afteryou are done with that phase of the |
| home. These little experiments will keep your children | | | | experiment, blow up and tie the balloon. Vigorouslyrub it |
| entertained while enhancing and reinforcing their | | | | on your child's hair or let them rub it through yours. The |
| science knowledge. | | | | balloonshould now stick to the wall because of the |
| The first easy experiment will teach your child how | | | | static electricity. |
| sound is caused by vibration. | | | | Another simple science experiment involves learning |
| Gather a small empty box such as a match box or a | | | | how plants grow. Gather paper cups, water, dirt, |
| child's shoe box, somerubber bands, a few small | | | | seeds, carnations,food coloring, a spoon, leaves, paper, |
| drinking glasses, a spoon, and some water. First, fillthe | | | | and a pencil. First, let your child addsome dirt and a little |
| drinking glasses with different amounts of water. Have | | | | water to two paper cups. Next, plant some seeds into |
| your child tap on theglasses using the spoon and point | | | | eachcup. Place one cup in a window or a sunny spot. |
| out how the amount of water inside the glassaffects | | | | Place the other plant in a shadyspot that rarely sees |
| the sound that is produced. Next, wrap the rubber | | | | the sun such as a closet. Water each plant regularly. |
| bands around the box. | | | | Astime passes your child will notice how the plant that |
| Make sure they are all facing the same way. The box | | | | receives sun thrives andhow the other plants do not. |
| should look similar to a guitarif done correctly. Let your | | | | This experiment proves that plants need sunshineto |
| child pluck the strings to make sound. There are | | | | grow. There are some related experiments that you |
| additionalways to produce sound as well. For example, | | | | can also do. Pour some waterinto several cups and |
| you can put wax paper over a comband blow on it | | | | add different hues of food coloring to the cups and stir. |
| like a harmonica. Kazoos are also a fun way to | | | | Add a carnation to each cup. By the next day, the |
| produce sound. Ifyou live near a school supply store | | | | carnations should have changedto the color of the |
| you might also consider purchasing a tuningfork to | | | | water. This demonstrates how plants absorb water. |
| enhance this experiment. | | | | You mightalso have your child do leaf rubbings using |
| Static electricity is something else that can easily be | | | | paper and pencil to show how the plantfood is |
| taught. For this experimentyou will need a balloon, a | | | | produced. |
| comb, a plate, and some small bits of scrap paper. | | | | As you can see, there are many simple science |
| This experiment works best in the winter. First, tear the | | | | experiments that can be done withyour child. Gather |
| scrap paper up intotiny bits and place it on the plate. | | | | those materials and let the fun and the learning begin! |
| Next, let your child run the comb throughhis/her hair. | | | | |