Science Fun

Last week we studied the different forms of energy. We had fun with the experiments. They really helped the kids understand how energy comes from many sources.

We made a flashlight from a battery, wires and a light bulb. We tested different materials to find the ones that were able to close the circuit. They loved it....we all did!











Friday, they raced balloons on strings by threading string through straws and tying the strings onto two chairs. We taped the blown up balloons to the straws. When they released them, the air caused the straws to travel along the strings. We did this to demonstrate movement energy. They loved racing them and keeping score.

To demonstrate magnetic energy, we put a strong magnet in a box suspended from a table. We tied a paperclip onto the end of a piece of string and pulled it toward the magnet until it was suspended in the air. The other end of the string was held down by a book. It looked like the paperclip was floating on its own!

This week, we are studying simple machines. Yesterday, we made a pulley out of Tinker Toys. We also used the Tinker Toys to demonstrate wheels and levers. They made it fun. On Friday, I am going let the kids take turns finding simple machines around the house/yard and and taking pictures of them with the Polaroid camera. We will put the pictures on a poster board when we are finished.