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Resources

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Instructions

Scientist badge

Need 1 or 2 adults per station, split pack into appropriate groups, 15 / 20 mins per experiment.

Need laminated instruction cards, explaining how the experiment works and learning points to teach.


Balloon rocket

Materials:
Balloons, 30
String to reach across hall, can be tied between chairs
Balloon pump
Toilet roll tube
Masking tape

Notes for adult:
Get the kids thinking about propulsion, thrust
How do things move forward, rockets, aeroplanes
How can they change direction
How do they slow down

Method:
Start by blowing up balloon, then letting go, how far does it go? How do we improve it - make it go further
Blow it up more
Get a bigger balloon, use 2 balloons
Attach fins or wings
Make it travel along a track - like a train, tape balloon to toilet roll tube, on string across the hall


 
Vinegar and bicarb

Materials:
6 plastic bottles
Funnel x2 (1 for vinegar & 1 for bicarb)
Vinegar
Bicarb
Spoons
Balloons, 30
Cloth to wipe up spills
Bag for rubbish
Towel for drying hands

Notes for adult:
This experiment is about the reactions between two materials
In this one, there is a chemical reaction between the vinegar and bicarb
Carbon dioxide is produced, and it shows up by inflating the balloon
Ask what other reactions do they know about? Is there anything else that would react in the same way?

Method:
Get them to pour a little vinegar into the plastic bottle, using the small funnel, up to the green line
Add 2 spoons of bicarb to the balloon, using the large funnel
Put the balloon over the bottle opening, without tipping the bicarb in until properly on!
Then lift the balloon and allow bicarb to enter the bottle, holding the balloon onto the opening of the bottle
The balloon should fill with carbon dioxide
Careful when removing the balloon, as it can have bicarb residue in it

Reset for next group:
Rinse all bottles in the sink
All balloons into the bin
All kids to rinse hands in sink
Towel to dry

 

Electrical circuit

Materials:
2 boxes of connex

Notes for adult:
Energy comes from the battery
Travels along the wires
Powers the bell/motor

Method:
Get them to make a ring/ circuit for each kit
Share and take turns in connecting up
Can we add both switches into the one box?
If quick, can they connect both boxes together?

Reset for next group:
Remove all connections and place back into boxes 
Pulse rate

Materials:
None!

Notes for adult:
Explain what your pulse is, it's a measure of the beating of your heart as the blood 'pulses' round your body
Chat about what the blood does, transport oxygen from your lungs to your muscles
As you exercise your heart rate increases, to get more blood, and therefore oxygen, to your muscles
Resting heart rate
During exercise
Then back to resting during recovery

Method:
Using index and middle fingers, feel for pulse, either on your wrist, or neck
Count pulse for 15seconds, double it, then double it again to get heart rate - what is everyones? Range of group?
Get them to do squats for 1min, might need to be more!
Measure pulse again for 15seconds, double, then double again, compare to previous.
Chat about how pulse may change by fitness level, fitter person should have lower heart rate (but not always)
Take pulse again, has it returned to resting rate yet (after a couple of minutes)


 
Spaghetti & marshmallow

Materials:
Spaghetti, 3 packets
Marshmallows, a few packets

Notes for adult:
Need them to try and understand stable, strong shapes and structures
Triangles are very strong, angles less than 90degrees
Compare building methods between kids
Might have time to build, discuss, then rebuild better?


Method:
Let them build!



 
Salt Water density

Materials:
6 plastic pint glasses
Water
Salt
Spoons
Eggs
Cloth for spillages
Towel to dry

Notes for adult:
We are using salt to change the density of the water
This will then allow the egg to float/ sink

Method:
3/4 fill first container with water, gently place egg into water - it should sink
3/4 fill second container with water, add 6 table spoons of salt and stir until dissolved, gently add egg - it should float
Lastly, place egg into third container, gently, add salt water solution until it floats, then add water until it is suspended in the middle of the glass - magic!

Reset for next group:
Pour all liquids into sink
Eggs back into box
Kids to rinse hands in sink
Towel to dry

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Badge Links

• Scientist - Densities
• Scientist - Other
• Scientist - Other
• Scientist - Rocket
• Scientist - Salt
• Scientist - Vinegar