| Do you dread the day when your child comes home | | | | (where the toes are). Then take the vial and put it into |
| from school and yells: "We have to do a science | | | | the new hole that you just made. Make sure the vial |
| project!" Where do you start? What is even in a | | | | opening is in the stocking/pantyhose. Use tape to |
| science project? Don't worry, I will walk you through | | | | secure the vial in this position. |
| and help you complete one of many 4th grade | | | | 4. Now it's time to go outside! Take your new "net" |
| science experiments. | | | | and go to a pond, stream, lake, beach or ocean. |
| You first need the materials. Here is a list: | | | | Holding the wire part of the "net," drag the net in the |
| -pH paper | | | | water. You are now collecting plankton, tiny |
| -lemon juice | | | | microscopic organisms that you will use in your |
| -two see through glass containers | | | | experiment! |
| -magnifying glass | | | | 5. As you drag the net in the water, plankton should be |
| -tape | | | | collecting in the vial. Pour the water in the vial into one |
| -pencil | | | | of your two glass containers. Use a magnifying glass |
| -paper | | | | to look for plankton. Collect more plankton. Make sure |
| -hanger | | | | you have enough plankton for your two containers. |
| -glass or plastic vial | | | | You want to have equal amounts of plankton in each |
| -nylon stocking or one leg of pantyhose (Don't get | | | | container. |
| alarmed! It's for the experiment!) | | | | 6. Everyday, add a tablespoon of lemon juice to ONE |
| Procedure (instructions for 4th grade science | | | | of your containers. At the end of the day, test the pH |
| experiments): | | | | of each container using your pH paper. |
| 1. First cut up the coat hanger into one long metal wire. | | | | 7. Record these pH readings everyday. Also note how |
| Be careful. Then take the wire and make a circle with | | | | much plankton are in each of the containers everyday. |
| an 8 inch diameter. | | | | Take pictures. Write down your observations. |
| 2. Take the stocking or pantyhose leg and stretch the | | | | 8. After a week, your experiment is finished! What |
| opening top around the 8 inch wire. Staple it in place. | | | | happened? Compare the plankton and pH readings of |
| 3. Cut off the end of the stocking or pantyhose | | | | both containers. |