| Hands on science experiments are exciting for children | | | | need to collect. Make notes of your plans and in what |
| of all ages. There are many science experiments that | | | | order you decide to carry out the project. Consider |
| can be safely performed at home or as a group | | | | any safety aspects. |
| activity amongst your child and his friends. | | | | While you are busy with the investigation, accurately |
| Through science, children are taught that mistakes are | | | | record your results. Make sure that the experiment is a |
| not necessarily bad. Often scientific discoveries have | | | | fair test. Lastly make a good presentation of your |
| been made by accident. If the science experiments do | | | | findings. Various projects will require different methods. |
| not go as planned or if the results are different to | | | | Some will work well in a table form and others will |
| what was expected - it doesn't matter. As long as all | | | | need graphs. Think about and record any |
| your observations are accurately recorded. Through | | | | improvements that you might have added to the |
| various experiments you will become fascinated by | | | | experiment. Was your evidence strong and could you |
| the science that is happening all around us. | | | | have done anything differently? |
| Scientists discover many wonderful things about our | | | | A quick example of a science experiment would be to |
| world through their experiments and investigations. | | | | make a volcano in a bottle. You will need the following |
| Scientists also need to be very organized and careful | | | | materials: |
| individuals. All the work that they do needs to be well | | | | Sand |
| documented. This includes the materials they used, | | | | Pouring jug |
| how they performed the experiment and the results of | | | | I/2 cup vinegar |
| each experiment. Experiments should also be well | | | | Old newspaper |
| tested to ensure accuracy of the results. Sometimes | | | | Red food coloring |
| they will need to be carried out numerous times, | | | | Bicarbonate of soda |
| making sure that all the variables affecting the | | | | A small plastic drinking bottle |
| outcome remain the same. Safety should always be | | | | Make sure you do this experiment in a place where |
| the number one consideration. Make sure that you | | | | you can make a bit of mess! Put the bottle on the |
| understand the materials, chemicals and equipment | | | | newspaper and build up the sand around it like a |
| that you are required to work with. Take the | | | | mountain (to about half way up the bottle). Measure a |
| necessary precautions and always wash your hands | | | | tablespoon of the bicarbonate of soda and put it into |
| well if you have been involved with chemicals. | | | | the plastic bottle's opening. Lastly mix the vinegar and |
| Plan carefully before starting your investigations and | | | | a few drops of the red food coloring in the jug and |
| put some thought into the methods you are going to | | | | pour it into your bottle. |
| use. Decide on the equipment and materials needed | | | | Sit back and watch as your science experiment |
| for the experiment as well as the information you will | | | | comes alive with frothy red lava! |