Science

Science and Engineering

 

Science and technology have been important throughout history and continue to be fields which offer stable, rewarding jobs. My husband is a computer programmer. Before I became an educator I was a Mechanical Engineer, and before he was a computer programmer he was a civil engineer. We hope to inspire kids to explore science and technology. 

Doctors, bridge builders, ultrasound technicians, rocket designers, pharmacists, medical researchers, automobile manufacturers, video game creators, and ship builders all require extensive backgrounds in science. Here are some fun activities to help kids explore science.

Science Fair

Helping Kids Prepare for a Science Fair 

Step 1: Ask a Question (cleaning pennies)

Step 2: Planning Phase (balloon lift) 

Step 3: Experiment - What shape of ice cube melts the fastest? 

Prehistoric Creatures

Lesson 1 - Timeline 

Lesson 2 - Mass Extinction Events 

Lesson 3 - Pre-Cambrian Period 

Lesson 4 - Paleozoic Era 

Lesson 5 - Paleozoic Era Mass Extinction

Lesson 6 - Mesozic Era

Lesson 7 - Dinosaur Extinction

Lesson 8 - Cenozoic Era 

Lesson 9 - Human Evolution

Lesson 10 - Last Ice Age

Lesson 11 - Wolves in Yellowstone

 

Geology

Week 1 - Minerals

Week 2 - Geodes

Week 3 - Digging for Gemstones

Week 4 - Growing Crystals

Week 5 - Rock Cycle Activity  

Week 6 - Rock Identification

Week 7 - Granite Formation  

 

Earth Science
Week 1 - Formation of the Earth
Week 2 - Earth's Layers
Week 3 - Atmosphere
Week 4 - Atmospheric Pressure - Barometer
Week 5 - Wind Speed - Anemometer
Week 6 - Magnetic Field
Week 7 - Latitude - Astrolabe
Week 8 - Elevation - Measure a Hill
Week 9 - Contour Maps
Week 10 - Land Forms
Week 11 - Biomes
Week 12 - Rain Forests - Hygrometer
Week 13 - Deserts
Week 14 - Sand Storms
Week 15 - Desert Oasis - Water Beneath the Surface
Week 16 - Grasslands - Soil Drainage
Week 17 - Soil Acidity
Week 18 - Water Biomes
Week 19 - River Beds
Week 20 - Rivers Flow When it Doesn't Rain
Week 21 - Ground Water Run-off
Week 22 - The Water Cycle
Week 23 - Oceans - Mapping the Ocean Floor
Week 24 - Ocean Currents
Week 25 - Tectonic Plates, Earthquakes and Mountains
Week 26 - Sea Floor Spreading
Week 27 - Volcanoes Introduction
Week 28 - Strata and Shield Volcanoes
Week 29 - Caldera Volcanoes
Week 30 - Tsunamis
Week 31 - Glaciers
Week 32 - Mountains
Week 33 - Erosion - Science Fair
Week 34 - Erosion Part 2
Week 35 - Erosion - Angle of Rest
Bonus - Make a Sundial 
Climates - Orange Trees
Tsunami

Earth Science Books and Resources

Astronomy

Week 1 - Constellations and Star Maps
Week 2 - Phases of the Moon
Week 3 - Life Cycle of a Star
Week 4 - Comets and Meteors
Week 5 - The Space Program and Rockets
Week 6 - Celestial Navigation - Tracking the Big Dipper
Week 7 - Creation of the Universe
Week 8 - Birth of Stars
Bonus - Copernicus Solar System Model

Biology

First Aid and Emergencies

Lesson 1 - What is an emergency?
Lesson 2 - Rescue Breathing and the Heimlich Maneuver 
Lesson 3 - Emergency Scenarios

Cells 

Week 1 - Drawings
Week 2 - Atoms
Week 3 - Molecules
Week 4 - Cell Walls
Week 5 - Cell Structure
Week 6 - DNA
Week 7 - RNA and Ribosomes
Week 8 - Golgi Apparatus 
Week 9 - Mitochondria and Energy 
Week 10 - Mitosis - Cell Division  
Week 11 - Types of Cells
Week 12 - Tissues
Week 13 - Body Systems Memory 

Human Body Unit Study

Week 1 - The Oxygen Cycle
Week 2 - The Spleen
Week 3 - The Blood 
Week 4 - Blood Types
Week 5 - The Heart
Week 6 - Vocal Chords
Week 7 - Teeth
Week 8 - Nose and Smell Receptors
Week 9 - Digestive System
Week 10 - Liver
Week 11 - Pancreas
Week 12 - Kidneys and Bladder
Week 13 - Brain
Week 14 - Ear
Week 15 - Eyes
Week 16 - Nerves
Week 17 - Adrenalin
Week 18 - Memory
Week 19 - The Endocrine System
Week 20 - Viruses and Bacteria
Week 21 - Skin
Week 22 - Lymphatic System
Week 23 - Bones
Week 24 - Muscles
Week 25 - Reproduction
Bonus Week - Fingerprints
Human Body Videos for Kids
Dissecting Pig Eyes 
Sheep's Heart Dissection 
Fetal Pig Dissection

Plants

Identifying Trees by their Shape
Experiments with Plants
Science Fair Ideas - Plants 
Growing Trees from Seed
How do Apples Grow? 
How can you tell the difference between apple and cherry trees?
Studying Trees with Children
Estimating the Age of Trees
Building a Green House
Pine Tree Seeds
Garden Store
Growing Fruit Trees
Leaf Press
Eating Stems 
Eating Flowers 
Eating Seeds - Sprouting Coconuts
Coconut Tree Update - 1 Year Later 

 

Animals

What type of seed do birds prefer?
Animal Tracks
Bird Unit Study
Bird Banding
German Birds 

Raising Chickens

Raising Backyard Chickens - Introduction
How Many Chickens to Get?
Demolition and Planning
Preparing for Chicks
Chicks Arrive
Pine Shavings 
Brooder Cover
Brooder Temperature
Move Outside 
First Eggs

Chemistry

Teaching High School Chemistry

Science with Food

Getting Iron Out of Breakfast Cereal
Rotting Apples
Hummus - Growing Beans
English Christmas Pudding
Peeling Eggs

Physics

Simple Machines

Pulleys
Archimedes Screw
Battering Ram - Lever
Lifting a Large Snowball - Inclined Plane
Ball Bearings

Engineering Activities

Aerospace
Flying a Kite
Science of Flight 

Mechanical
Building 3D Engineering Skills - Wedgits
Flat Patterns 
Scale Models
Make Your Own Remote Control Car 
Remote Control Amusement Park Rides
Hydraulic and Pneumatic Vehicles
Free 3D Modeling Tool - Google Sketchup
Bike Tinkering
Paper Gun
Slot Machine 

Civil
Bridge Study 1 - Concrete 
Bridge Study 2 - Draw Bridge 
Bridge Study 3 - Trusses 
Bridge Study 4 - Cofferdam
Bridge Study 5 - Suspension Bridges 
Bridge Study 6 - Hanging Bridges
Bridge Study 7 - Design
Bridge Study 8 - Maintenance
Construction - Gromas and Arches
The Blue Mosque

Computer Skills
Make a Moving Picture - Thomas Edison Study
Computer Programming - Scratch Basics
Computer Programming - Scratch Sensing and Events
Computer Programming - Create Your Own Video Games 
Computer Programming - Math Art - Degrees in a Circle 
Computer Programming - Javascript
Photo Editing 
Photo Album Creation
Free Computer Classes

Electrical
Make Your Own Circuit Board
Make Your Own Electrical Switch
Make Your Own Flashing Switch and Lighthouse
Electrical Engineering for Kids - Snap Circuits 
Advanced Electrical Engineering for Middle Schoolers

 

More Fun Science Activities

Density of Solids 
Density of Liquids
Orange Peel Candle
The Story of Printing 
The Story of Cotton
The Story of Steel
Water Wheel
Making Paper
Metal Detecting - Cleaning Old Coins 
Metal Detecting - Bullets
Colorful Shadows
Preheating a Teapot
Bumble Bee Craft
Metal Detecting Safety
Mylar Balloon Experiment

Science Field Trips

Salt Mine
Steel Factory
Silk - From Cocoon to Rug 
Lake Michigan Water Quality

Science Resources

Creating Your Own Science Curriculum
Discover and Do - Hands-On Science for Elementary
The Scientific Method
Science Living Books
More Science Living Books
Science Experiment Curriculum