| Here are a pair of easy science fair projects you can | | | | but ever time you let them be, put the cereal box |
| do around the home; one of them is good for biology, | | | | cover over them. |
| the other one teaches physics rather nicely. | | | | What's different about the plants at each hole? All |
| These are projects that can be done with a minimal | | | | three of them grew, but each of them grew differently, |
| expenditure, and one where the bulk of the work is | | | | as if it's growing towards the light. (Bean sprouts grow |
| done by the student, rather than by their parents, and | | | | pretty quickly, which is why this is a good easy |
| where it isn't just handed to the student in a | | | | science fair project.) |
| pre-fabricated kit. | | | | If you make the internal slats more elaborate, you can |
| This is real science, and it will teach your students | | | | convince plants to grow in all kinds of directions this |
| some decently important things about how the world | | | | way. Think about what this means for farming and for |
| works; most importantly, it'll teach them to ask | | | | hydroponics, and write a short report. |
| questions, sort out the answers on their own, and | | | | The Even Easier Second Project: Eureka! |
| show their steps and their data. | | | | We're going to do Archimedes experiment with |
| Easy Project Number One: Phototropism in Plants. | | | | pitchers of water and measuring cups. Fill the pitcher all |
| For this science experiment, you're going to need a | | | | the way up to the brim, and put a measuring cup |
| couple of bean sprout plants - these can be gotten | | | | underneath its spout. |
| pretty easily at any greenhouse or gardening store, | | | | Now, drop common household items of about the |
| and they're pretty easy to get in the spring time. You'll | | | | same size and mass into the pitcher, and measure |
| want three seedlings, minimum. | | | | how much water spills out. Good candidates for this |
| Next, you're going to take some old milk cartons, or | | | | are a ping pong ball and a golf ball. The difference in |
| cereal boxes, and cut some holes in them; use the | | | | water displaced is their difference in density. |
| cardboard you cut from them to make some internal | | | | This "water displacement effect" is how the Navy |
| "shelves". Put the holes and shelves at different | | | | measures the weight of ships - after all, an air craft |
| heights, and all on the same side of the carton. | | | | carrier is 600 yards long! It's kind of hard to pick it up |
| Put the plants in the carton, one in front of a low hole, | | | | and put it on a scale! (A nuclear aircraft carrier has a |
| one in front of a medium height hole, and one in front | | | | displacement tonnage of 92,000 metric tons! |
| of a tall hole. Water the plants regularly and normally, | | | | |