Science FUNdamentals
Activities/Demos
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Check back soon for new demos!
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Volunteers, please note there are two icons that have been added to most demo docs. The atom is a suggested interactive
component and the microscope is more science background, for your own knowledge, but feel free to use it in your presentation as you see fit.
Acids and Bases
In this demonstration students will be taught what makes an acid and a base and how these two can be differentiated using an indicator. Students will then identify common acids and bases found in their homes. Students will also be shown how the reaction between an acid and base leads to the erosion of an egg shell and the classic baking soda volcano experiment. NOTE: Volunteers must read the egg preparation instructions for a part of this demonstration. The egg must be prepared at least one week in advance..
Air Pressure
In this demonstration, students will learn many principles of pressure and lift that correspond to flight. They will be shown how to suspend a ball inside a jet stream and counter the effects of gravity. Students will demonstrate their knowledge of aerodynamic principles by working in teams to build balloon-propelled rockets. At the end, they will then fold their own paper airplanes to show the importance of how balance impacts flight patterns!
Bacteria and Viruses
In this demonstration students will not only learn what bacteria and viruses are, but the importance of hand washing, the dangers of antibiotic resistance, and the ease with which a cold virus can spread between students. They will play a game to mimic how bacteria gain antibiotic resistance, use Glo Germ cream to learn the importance of thorough hand washing, and simulate how the cold virus can be transmitted between students when personal objects such as cups are shared.
Brain Builders
In this demonstration students will learn what the human brain is and how it functions. They will learn what a neuron is, how it transmits signals from the brain to the target muscle, how our brain learns new ways of interpreting signals, and what happens when this signal is interrupted. They will play a game to mimic neuron communication, use prism goggles to change the interpretation of their visual signals, and discover what happens when the signal between the brain and nose are interrupted and how this affects taste. Students will learn about the different parts of the brain using a human brain model.
Kindergarten Friendly
Buoyancy and Surface Tension
In this demonstration students will better understand buoyancy, Archimedes principle, density, and surface tension. Students will be shown how density can be changed by increasing the mass of a given volume of liquid, how an object’s buoyancy can be altered by varying the density of liquid it is immersed in, and how density creates the beautiful affects of lava lamps. They will then be given a chance to put their knowledge of Archimedes’ Principle to the test in a group based competition, the object of which is to have largest number of marbles float using a given size of tin foil in water. Students will also learn how surface tension is responsible for the classic coke and Mentos geyser reaction.
Kindergarten Friendly
CSI
In this demonstration students will conduct multiple reviews of common crime scene investigation techniques and learn how they apply to real world crimes. Students will become familiar with interpreting handwriting samples and learn how to use chromatography skills to identify ink samples. Students will also have the opportunity to examine their own fingerprints up close and see how each fingerprint is unique. At the end, the students get the opportunity to solve their own mystery.
Electricity
In this demonstration students will learn about the various aspects of electricity including static electricity, current electricity, and electromagnetism. Students will learn about the triboelectric effect, charge separation, and induced charge separation. They will also learn about current electricity, voltage, and resistance by creating a light bulb using only batteries, wires, and a pencil lead. Students will then learn how magnetism and electricity are connected and will be shown using a homopolar roller that electricity creates magnetism.
Hearing and Sound
Test your ability to identify mystery sounds without the benefit of seeing what made the sound. Examine the challenges between memories of familiar sounds versus unknown sounds. Create vibration waves using pop bottle resonance to understand the difference between high and low frequency sounds. Use tuning forks to further examine resonance patterns of pure sounds. Test your ability to locate where certain sounds are coming from. Finally, explore problems that loud sounds can cause on our auditory system.
Light
In this demonstration, students will learn about the various aspects of light, including the basic characteristics of light, the splitting of white light, and Ultraviolet (UV) light. Students will be briefly lectured on the characteristics of light, then shown some examples of the splitting of white light, shown how UV light can reveal hidden messages.
Magnetism
In this demonstration, students will learn about the various aspects of magnetism including how magnetism is created, magnetic lines of force, functional uses of magnetism in the real world such as the MagLev train, and electromagnetism. Students will be shown the properties of magnetism by creating their own magnet, work with ferrofluid to understand magnetic lines of force, discover how magnetic repulsion is the cornerstone of the MagLev train, and the concept of electromagnetism by creating current to light a light bulb via rotating magnets.
Making Paper
In this demonstration students will learn about the various aspects of paper and how it is made. Students will be given a brief survey of tree trunks and how they are used to create paper. Students will then be given the opportunity to run through this process by first examining a tree trunk slice then creating their own paper using scraps of found in the classroom. NOTE: Classroom scrap paper is required for this demonstration. Students can use any type of paper they wish from their classroom.
Mystery Powders
In this demonstration students will learn about the various aspects of the chemical and physical properties associated with certain household materials. This demonstration fosters and encourages proper observation and scientific note taking. Students will be lead through a group based activity to identify six similar looking powders using various chemical tests including testing acidity and the presence of starch. They will also test physical properties such as touch and how it acts when dissolved in water.
Kindergarten Friendly
Psychology
In this demonstration, students will be provided a PowerPoint presentation to examine many types of visual illusions. Different videos and pictures will show students the limits of their perception in certain cases. Students will also play games that require memory matching, as well as conduct a psychological taste test.
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Strawberry DNA
In this demonstration students will learn about DNA and how it is the fundamental coding system for all life. This is a highly interactive demo will allow students to work in pairs to extract and see the DNA contained within the strawberry. Students will also learn how their DNA makes them a unique individual with different traits than other people via multiple activities.
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Weather
In this demonstration, students will explore the various aspects of weather systems including how clouds are created and shown how they can be created in class. Students will have the chance to play with artificial snow, learn how tornadoes develop, and gain an understanding of weather instruments. If the classroom has a supply of water bottles, students will also be able to make their own thermometers.
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Coding
In this demonstration, students will explore the fundamentals of coding. The presentation will cover concepts like loops and conditional statements. The activities will help students think like a programmer and will provide a solid introduction into the world of programming.
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Heat and Temperature
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In this demonstration, students will explore heat, insulators and conductors and temperature. The presentation will teach about the ways heat and temperature applies to our lives.
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