Category Archives: Physics
Simple Light Refraction Experiment
Scared of science? Don’t be. Doing science with your kids can be the best part of their week. And it’s not nearly as complicated as scientists and the writers of textbooks would like you to believe. Take, for example, optics. … Continue reading
Optical Illusions
The eye is made up of two different types of light receptors called cones and rods. Cones are necessary for color vision and to see well in bright light. Rods are necessary for seeing in low light. The two experiments … Continue reading
Recycled Regatta Boat
CJ built a “recycled” boat for his cub scout Rain Gutter Regatta last week. In case you’re not familiar with the famed Rain Gutter Regatta, the kids build boats, usually from cub scout supplied kits, and race them down water-filled … Continue reading
Learning with Legos
Some months back our families entered a Lego Smart contest. The challenge was to create a unique lesson plan using Legos that focused on alternative energy. In Layers of Learning style, we submitted a lesson plan with lots of additional … Continue reading
Heavyweight Champ
Find a heavy weight, like a weight belt for exercising. Try to lift it. It should be pretty heavy. Try to lift it just a few inches off the ground. You can probably do it, but it’s tough. Now attach … Continue reading
Marble Roller Coasters and Physics
For a great physics lesson, have kids create a marble roller coaster. You need pipe insulation (a few bucks at any home improvement store), duct tape, and marbles. We used about 3 lengths of the pipe insulation and had more … Continue reading
Experiments With Electricity
To perform electricity experiments with kids from 1st through 8th grade you need these materials: electrical wire: a couple of feet from your local hardware store or you can buy the type with alligator clips from a science supplier. If you want enough for … Continue reading
Conductive Materials
Learn about materials that conduct and materials that do not. Gather some items from both categories like, a banana, rubber bands, coins, paper clips, water (you can try distilled and from-the-tap), paper, cloth, aluminum foil, and a small piece of wood. Create a testing apparatus … Continue reading
Creating a Circuit
A circuit allows electricity to flow around an uninterrupted path. There are two basic types of circuits: parallel and series. A series circuit is like the ones in a flashlight, everything is lined up in a straight line one after another. In a parallel circuit the components are next … Continue reading
A Simple Machine Hunt At The Hardware Store
This is an easy no-need-to-plan-ahead expedition. Head over to your local hardware store and challenge the kids to find some simple machines. Simple machines work for us so we don’t have to. Think of a wheelbarrow– its wheel and axle make it … Continue reading
Pneumatic Rockets
Put “pneumatic” on your kid’s spelling list, because this week they’re going to learn about these air driven missiles. A pneumatic rocket is completely impractical for full sized NASA or military rocketry. If they got a big enough air source they could … Continue reading
Solar Energy
Life has always depended on energy, but until just a few hundred years ago that energy was mostly low level, unorganized, passive energy in the form of sunlight which is essential in plant growth. Sunlight is still one of the best sources … Continue reading
Secrets of the Universe in a Candle
Michael Faraday Michael Faraday had very little scientific training and wasn’t particularly good at math, but still he was one of the most brilliant and influential scientists the world has ever known. He had the kind of mind that questioned and sought … Continue reading
Levers
Give me a place to stand and with a lever I will move the whole world. -Archimedes A lever is a simple machine with a long pole and a fulcrum. The fulcrum is the point upon which the … Continue reading
Decoding the Guts of the Computer
I’m very glad that computers work. I like them. They’re like magic boxes as far as I’m concerned. I don’t have the faintest idea how little electric signals, a series of 1′s and 0′s, become what they become. Luckily my curious … Continue reading
Pendulum Waves
A wave is a transference of energy from one point to another. Sometimes it can be seen as a pendulum swinging back and forth, other times it is like a flowing up and down motion, and in still other cases … Continue reading
Balloon Rockets and Newton
An absolutely fun way to teach Newton’s third law is a balloon rocket. Newton’s Third Law states: For every action there is an equal and opposite reaction. Think of it this way. If you were stadning on roller blades facing … Continue reading
Up Periscope!
My two older boys, ages 12 and 11, and I made this periscope. It could be used in connection with learning about WWI, where they used periscopes to see over the edge of the trenches and in U-boats, while learning … Continue reading
Energy Conversion
Energy conversion is energy changing from one form to another. Like when the electrical energy in the wires to your house changes to light and heat in your light bulb when you flip the switch. Sunlight changes to energy for … Continue reading
Physics: Friction
Friction is the slowing down of a moving object because it is touching another object. Newton said that objects in motion tend to stay in motion and they do. In a vacuum, or in a place with nothing, if an … Continue reading
Physics: Inertia
Inertia is Newton’s first law. It states that an object in motion tends to stay in motion and an object at rest tends to stay at rest. To demonstrate inertia try this experiment. Get a wheeled toy, like a car … Continue reading
Physics: Forces
Forces are the effects of objects acting on one another. This might be a breeze stirring a leaf or a jet engine strongly pushing on the air to create a forward thrust. Brainstorm as many different things that forces can … Continue reading
The Science of Sledding
The top of the hill. Anticipation. The ride down. Stimulation and Trepidation. The bottom of the hill. Satisfaction. These three stages, the top, the ride down, and the bottom, are examples of energy in action. At the top you have … Continue reading
Printable Magnet Unit Book
Click here for a printable unit workbook on magnets for elementary aged kids. It includes some of the magnet projects and experiments from other posts and also some new activity ideas and information. Pick and choose what you want to … Continue reading
Gears, Motors, and Simple Engines
In science we’ve been doing a unit about motors and simple engines. It can be a big concept to tackle with kids, but it’s also so fun that they’re willing to get right in and learn it. We went to … Continue reading
More Magnetism
Here is an earlier post with more on magnets from our website. Make Your Own Electromagnet:Electromagnets are magnets that use flowing electrons to create a magnetic field. Flowing electrons means electricity. You need: Wire Strippers A long iron nail, the … Continue reading
Magnetism
Magnetism is mysterious and cool. Kids love playing with magnets so these activities should get their attention. First explain what magnetism is. This is tougher than it sounds. Most definitions you read on Magnets and magnetism say something like: A … Continue reading
Is There Zero Gravity in Space?
It seems obvious. Astronauts float around in their space ships up there so there must not be any gravity, right? Not so fast. Gravity is the force between any two objects that have mass. There is mass in space (you, … Continue reading
Roller Coasters
Roller coasters are fun physics in action and you can build your own at home. No, not a real, thriller roller coaster, but a coaster with BBs or marbles as the “cars”. Get flexible rubber tubing and BBs or marbles. … Continue reading
Non-Newtonian Fluid
Studying changes of state with kids is really fun and interesting because there are so many simple experiments that can demonstrate the concepts of matter changing from solids to liquids to gases. If your kids are really curious though, introduce … Continue reading
Rockets and the Laws of Newton
Launching a model rocket . . . fun, fun, fun! We made this one from a kit. you can buy one in the toy section of most discount stores or at a hobby shop. It takes some skill to put … Continue reading
Sunlight Experiment
Light is fascinating to study with kids because of its interesting properties. This particular experiment takes a look at ultraviolet light in sunlight. Here’s what you’ll need: 2 clear plastic cups tonic water tap water marker black paper or black … Continue reading
