The Kids Corner Science Fair Fun Sheet!

Every spring Dr. Lisa Chirlian joins us to celebrate the fun that is Science Fairs! Are you preparing for a Science Fair at your school, or have you just completed your Science Fair project?

Here's some great tips and ideas to help you along during your next Science Fair!

Preparing For A Science Fair

Before you start planning your science fair project, you should ask yourself a few questions.

What are the requirements for my science fair?
Most science fairs have rules or guidelines regarding the projects. Certain types of projects may not be allowed - things involving flames or live animals, for example. By becoming familiar with the guidelines before you start to think about projects you can avoid disappointment later!

Also think about whether you will be able to do a live demonstration at the science fair or if you will only be able to show pictures. Live demonstrations can be fun and exciting but pictures and words can explain your project too.

What interests me? What things would I like to know more about?
Science fair projects are a lot more fun if you are excited about your topic. Think back on experiences you've had - things that you've wondered about. Maybe you saw an exhibit at a local science museum that made you want to know more about a topic.

How much time do I have to prepare?
The time you have to prepare can impose some practical limits on your project. If you want to experiment with growing plants, you may need to have at least a few weeks. Other projects may be easier to do in a short time.

Once you've considered these questions and picked your topic - it's on to the project! At this point you might need some additional information. You can look in your local library or on the Internet to find out more about your topic. Still have no ideas for a topic? The Internet can help you there too!

Here are some ideas to get you started... but remember, ALWAYS ASK A PARENT FOR HELP WITH YOUR EXPERIMENTS!

That's What I Call Soda - POP!

Baking soda is a wonderful product. It makes cakes and cookies rise, acts as a deodorizer and can be used as a cleanser. Some people even use it to clean their teeth. Baking soda reacts with acids to produce carbon dioxide gas. You can use the carbon dioxide gas to blow up a balloon. For this activity you will learn how to blow up a balloon...without having to blow at all!

Blow Up Balloons - With No Blowing

Supplies needed:

• 1 Empty 16 oz plastic water or soda bottle
• 1/2 cup baking soda
• 1 cup vinegar
• 1 funnel
• 1 balloon

Directions
1. Fill bottle with vinegar
2. Fill uninflated balloon with baking soda
3. Carefully fit balloon over bottle so baking soda-filled balloon hangs to the side - Make sure baking soda doesn't get in bottle yet!
4. Count down from 5 and lift balloon up so that baking soda pours into bottle.

• Try different amounts of vinegar and baking soda to see what creates the best chemical reaction
• Give the bottle a shake to really get the carbon dioxide to fill the bottle even more
• Make sure balloon is tightly attached - you may want to try this over the bathtub!!

It's Slime To Investigate!

Slime can be made using white glue and borax (found in the laundry detergent section of most supermarkets). When you make slime you start with a polymer (the glue). Polymers are molecules that form in long chains. The borax links the individual chains together and changes the properties of the glue.

If you make slime, ask yourself what happens to the slime when you stretch it by pulling your hands away from each other? What happens to the slime if, instead of pulling your hands away from each other, you pull one hand toward your body and push the other hand away?

In the book, Bartholomew and the Oobleck by Dr. Seuss, the King of Didd wishes for something different to fall from the sky than rain or snow. Though no one is prepared for a sudden shower of Oobleck! Now you can make your own magical messy Oobleck at home.

Oobleck is similar to slime except it is made from cornstarch (also a polymer) and water. Investigate ooblek's properties and try to decide if it is a solid or a liquid!

Supplies needed

• 2 cups of cornstarch
• 1 cup of water
• Green food coloring
• Sheet of wax paper

Directions
Mix together the cornstarch, water, and food coloring in a bowl. Pour a little onto the wax paper so you can play with it. Roll it between your hands and it feels solid, but let it sit and it becomes a gooey liquid.

It's Crystal Clear!

Did you know that rock candy was just big crystals of sugar? You can grow them at home but... Beware! It can take up to two weeks for the crystals to fully form.

Instructions for growing sugar crystals can be found here.

Recipes for sugar and salt crystals are given here.

You can grow crystals of Epsom salts using these directions.

Trying growing the crystals using different conditions. Vary the amount of salt you put in the water, for example or try using hot, cold and warm water. Grow the crystal in a cold spot and a warm spot. When your crystals have grown, look at them with a magnifying glass - do they look the same? Or different?

TEACHERS/PARENTS!
Learn More About The Delaware Valley Science Fairs
The Delaware Valley Science Fairs, Inc. was founded in 1949 and incorporated in 1993, making it one of the oldest Science Fairs in the country. It is now also one of the largest. The Fairs were designed as a vehicle for stimulating interest in science and technology among students in middle and high schools in the tri-state area. The philosophy behind the Fairs is that students learn science by doing science.

Their mission is to bring parents, teachers, and industry together to stimulate and nurture young people so that they grow and develop into contributing members of the community.

They provide a forum for students to present their scientific work and interact with scientists in their field to receive feedback on their efforts. Students are awarded, scholarships, cash prizes, and other non-monetary recognition for outstanding work. We provide mentoring and teacher training to facilitate participation in this activity.

This year's Fair will be offering awards, prizes, and scholarships totaling over $800,000! The dates for this year's Delaware Valley Science Fair are April 5th - April 7th 2005 at the Ft. Washington Expo Center, in Ft. Washington, PA.