Materials Needed: Listed in text, book "Simple Science Experiments" by Hans Jurgen Press and Otto Ravensburg. I obtained this book through Discovery Toys but I believe it is obtainable through other sources now. If you do not have access to this particular book, simply insert the name of a similar book that you do have access to where I have referenced "Simple Science Experiments".
Lesson Time: Varied
Description: Collection of extras to supplement science lessons.
Procedure: Copy the following items onto individual index cards. Store in a box with appropriate dividers. As you study different science topics, have children choose an extra card from the box to complete. These cards are designed to enhance learning and teach thinking skills.
Scientific Method:
1. Design an experiment to answer the question: Are insects intelligent?
2. Research: What did Louis Pasteur do to prove his theory about Rabies?
Grouping:
1. How many ways can you group things? Make group lists. for example: red things, square things, things with antennas, games that use dice, insects with the color red.
2. How many ways can you classify an apple, the moon, a daisy, a pickup truck?
Building Blocks:
1. Design an experiment to demonstrate physical change.
2. Design an experiment to demonstrate chemical change.
3. From the book "Simple Science Experiments" choose three experiments from pages 15 through 27. Perform them while explaining what you are doing and what is happening.
4. "Simple Science Experiments" Choose and perform 3 or more experiments from pages 135 through 149.
Geology:
1. Build a seismograph
2. Make a documentary about geology.
3. Give a talk on geology.
4. Build a model of the earth. Make it a half-sphere to show the inside of the earth.
Paleontology:
1. Pretend you are a paleontologist and have just unearthed a new dinosaur. Write about your experience. Where is the dig located? What did you find? Describe the dino. What will you name it?
2. Use a plastic dino skeleton and clay to re-create the dino it represents.
3. Pretend you are a dinosaur living long ago. Write about your experiences.
4.Build a dinosaur panorama.
5.Paint a picture of your favorite dinosaur.
6. Propose your own theory as to what became of the dinosaurs.
7. Situation: Dinosaur bones have been found on a lot being prepared for a high rise building. After a few fossils have been removed from the site, officials decide to proceed with construction without further exploration. Your job: Write a letter to your congressman explaining how you feel about this situation and why.
8. Using model dinosaurs and the camcorder, make a movie about dinosaurs. It can be fact, fantasy or both.
9. Choose a dinosaur. Show how big it was.
Astronomy:
1. Use book "Simple Science Experiments". Choose and perform two experiments from pages 1 through 4.
2. Make a mini-planetarium.
3. Make a Milky Way Galaxy Diorama. Use beads for stars and planets.
4. Make up a story about life in a distant star system. Are the life forms there like ours? Is the weather different? Is space travel possible there? What is their transportation like?
5. Make illustrations for a story about life on a distant planet.
Sun:
1. If Earth is 7927 miles in diameter and the sun is 109 times larger, how many miles in diameter is the sun?
2. What would happen if the sun stopped shining, for a day? A week? A month?
3. Who were Galileo and Isaac Newton? What did they do?
Planets:
1. Choose a planet and describe what it would be like to visit there. How would you get there?
2. Make a diorama of the planets.
3. Make a clock face for each planet.
4. Make plans for a rocket or space ship that could travel to Pluto.
5. Find articles advancing the theory of a tenth planet.
Meteors etc.:
1. Make a magnetometer.
2. Using a magnetometer, can you determine if rocks in your collection could be meteorites?
3. Make a model of a crater.
4. When are shooting stars most visible from Earth?
Moon:
1. The moon's gravity is about 1/6 the earth's. If you can lift 50 pounds on earth, how many pounds can you lift on the moon?
2. From the book "Simple Science Experiments", choose and perform 2 or more experiments from pages 127-134.
3. Make pictures of the moon.
4. Research: How did scientists prove that the moon circles the earth?
Earth:
1. Make your own globe.
2. Make a model that will demonstrate the movements of the Earth, Moon and Sun.
Atmosphere:
1. Make a poster or model showing the layers of Earth's atmosphere.
2. Build your own barometer. Film yourself as you build it and explain what it is and how it works.
3. From the book "Simple Science Experiments", choose and perform four or more experiments from pages 55-77.
Weather:
1. Gather folklore regarding weather. Such as: A ring around the moon means it will rain tomorrow.
2. Go outside. Write a description of the weather. Be able to make someone inside know what the weather is like.
3. From the book "Simple Science Experiments" choose and perform 3 or more experiments from pages 90-97.
Water:
1. Make a poster showing the water cycle. Use this poster and film yourself as you explain the process.
2. From the book "Simple Science Experiments" choose and perform 3 or more experiments from pages 98-126.
Flight:
1.Build a model of the Wright Brother's plane.
2.Make a display or poster showing the history of airplanes. Start with the plane designed by Leonardo DaVinci.
3. Build a model plane. Be able to identify its parts and the principles of flight.
4. Design a better plane.
Space Exploration:
1. Make a display showing the history of space travel. Show at least 3 groups: Before 1900, from 1900 to 1956 and 1957 to present. Add onto display your idea of space travel in the future.
2. Discuss space travel. Is it necessary? What kinds of things has it taught us? Is it worth the billions of dollars spent on it? Do you think we will ever go beyond our own galaxy? Could we expand to populate other worlds?
3. Suppose you were an astronaut going into space for the first time. Describe how you would feel the night before, on the morning of the trip, as you are taking off, as you view Earth from space.
Energy:
1. Build a demonstration model of something that will show energy.
Heat Energy:
1. Make a list of home appliances that change electrical energy into heat energy.
2. Research: What are the melting points of silver; tin; aluminum; lead; copper?
3. Why does it take longer to cook potatoes in the mountains than at sea level?
4. Design a new way to heat a house.
5. From the book "Simple Science Experiments", choose 3 or more experiments to perform from pages 78-89.
Solar Energy:
1. Design a solar powered car.
2. Build a model of your solar powered car.
3. Design a solar powered house.
Magnetism:
1. Make a video. Explain magnetism.
2. From book "Simple Science Experiments", choose and perform three experiments from pages 49-54.
Electricity & Magnetism:
1. Make a video. Report on the life and works of Alexander Graham Bell.
2. Make an electric motor.
3. Experiment with an electromagnet. What makes the magnet stronger? Weaker?
4. What do we use electricity for in our home? How would our life change if we did not have electricity?
5. From the book "Simple Science Experiments", choose and perform 3 or more experiments on pages 28-48.
Sound & Light Waves:
1. From the book "Simple Science Experiments", choose and perform 3 or more experiments from pages 150-189.
Entomology:
1. Make and mount a collection of insects which are harmful.
Make a collection of helpful insects.
2. Make sketches of insects. Make a book out of your drawings.
3. Raise caterpillars.
4. Make up a story in which insects are the main characters.
5. Make a clay model of an ant community.
6. Raise crickets.
Botany:
1. Describe what life would be like if the plants on this planet suddenly died.
2. Make a list of the ways we use plants.
3. From the book "Simple Science Experiments", choose and perform 3 experiments from pages 5-14. Explain what you are doing.
Animals, Habitats & Food Chains:
1. Make a chart showing food chains of life in our area.
2. Interview an animal. What is your life like?
Birds:
1. Make charts showing the difference, if any, of the wings and feathers of flying birds and birds that do not fly.
2. Dismantle a bird nest. Can you re-assemble it?
Now collect materials on your own and try to design a nest.
Sight, Sound, Senses:
1. From the book "Simple Science Experiments", choose & perform 3 or more experiments from pages 190-204.
Digestive System:
1. Make a diagram of the digestive system. Make a video and use your chart to tell how the digestive system works.
