| Fall is in the air and school is back in session. With the | | | | vinegar onto sticks of chalk to watch them dissolve. |
| weather cooling off, children will be spending more time | | | | The Water Drop Magnifier was another fun project |
| indoors. Rather than spending the weekends and | | | | for children between the ages of 6 and 12. Using a |
| afternoons in front of the television, why not have the | | | | styrofoam plate, saran wrap, and a drop of water, the |
| family participate in some fun one hour science | | | | children create a magnifying lens which they use to |
| activities? Everyone will have fun learning and spending | | | | view letters on pages. It is a fun, hands on way for |
| quality time together. | | | | children to understand the process of magnification. |
| At reachoutmichigan.org, you will find a large selection | | | | One hour science activities aimed toward older children |
| of science projects aimed to give children of any age | | | | were also quite enjoyable. The Pringles Pinhole |
| a hands on experience of how the world works. The | | | | Camera had kids build a make shift camera out of the |
| list is compiled from A to Z with numerous choices to | | | | cardboard can, explaining the mechanics of a camera |
| suit any situation. You can also search the projects by | | | | and the way that light is reflected off of objects. More |
| the age of the children who will be doing the | | | | time is spent building the camera than on the |
| experiments. | | | | experiment itself, but the outcome is fascinating, even |
| For preschool age children, Bubble-ology gave young | | | | to the fully grown. Another project of interest is the |
| children the chance to examine light spectrums and the | | | | Soda Pop Can Hero Engine, in which Newton's law of |
| way colors are created by blowing bubbles in the sun | | | | motion is demonstrated. Holes are punched in a soda |
| and studying the colors that appear on the surface of | | | | can which is submersed in water. When it is lifted out |
| the bubbles, and an experiment with soap powered | | | | by a string, the water forces the can to spin. |
| paper boats shows children surface tension and the | | | | Many other sites are available to explore different |
| force that is release when the tension is released. | | | | types of one hour science projects. It is an excellent |
| For early elementary aged children there was an entire | | | | pass time for the whole family, and the time spent |
| array of one hour science activities. The experiment | | | | together is just as valuable as the knowledge that is |
| titled "The Disappearing Statue" demonstates the | | | | acquired. So why not get together tonight and see |
| effects of acid rain on statues and other stone | | | | what can be learned together? After all, there's nothing |
| structures. The activity is very simple, involving dripping | | | | good on TV tonight anyway! |