At-Home Activities

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Welcome to the Hands On! Activity Page!

Make a Whirligig
Grow a Crystal
Make a Bernoulli Blower
Make Naturalist's Binoculars
Make a Straw Launcher
Make Your Own Terrarium
Go Ice Fishing

Make a Whirligig

You will need:

  • paper
  • ruler
  • marker

Instructions:

  1. Use this pattern to make your own whirligig. Cut on the solid lines, fold on the dotted lines.
  2. CAREFULLY, drop your whirligig from a balcony or ledge, and watch it twirl!
  3. You can change the design any way you like: tall and skinny, short and wide, long blades, wide blades, you name it.
  4. Here's your challenge: make a whirligig that falls SLOWLY to the ground. Have a race with your friends, except the winner is the whirligig that takes the longest to fall.

For more cool experiments to try at home check out:   http://www.pbskids.org/dragonflytvhttp://

Grow a Crystal

You will need:

  • Epsom salt
  • a tablespoon
  • a cup of water
  • a paper circle
  • a jar lid

Instructions:

  1. Cut out a paper circle the same size as the jar lid. Put the circle in the lid.
  2. Measure 4 big tablespoons of Epsom salt. Don't worry if you add too much - the more, the better.
  3. Dissolve all 4 tablespoons in the water and stir the mixture thoroughly.
  4. Pour the water mixture into the jar lid. Stick the lid in a place where it won't be disturbed. It will take a few days, but let the water evaporate and see what happens!

For more cool experiments to try at home check out:   http://www.pbskids.org/dragonflytvhttp://

Make a Bernoulli Blower - Just Like the One at Hands On!

You Will Need:

  • a hairdryer (ask your parent's permission or for help)
  • a ping pong ball

Instructions:

  1. Turn the hairdryer on the high, cool setting and point it straight up.
  2. Hold the ping pong ball over the air stream, and let go. The air pushes the ball right up.
  3. Now tilt the hair dryer. You would think that the air would just send the ball flying away! But watch... the ball stays trapped in the air stream!

What Happened?

Toward which clock position can you tilt the hairdryer without sending the ball flying?

For more cool experiments to try at home check out:   http://www.pbskids.org/dragonflytvhttp://

Naturalist's Binoculars Craft Activity

Click here to download instructions

Make a Straw Launcher!

This experiment was designed using the Kool-Aid Bursts juice product. While other flexible juice bottles may work, the Kool-Aid product works very well. The larger of the two straws should fix loosely over the smaller straw. There should be no friction or resistance at all or the straw will not be able to launch. If you’re tired of searching for straws, just stop by Starbucks® to enjoy a drink and pick up a few straws.

Materials:

  • Kool-Aid Burst juice bottle (flexible plastic bottle)
  • Modeling clay or poster tack
  • 2 straws - one large and one small. The larger diameter straw must be able to slip over the smaller straw. The large and small straws from Starbucks® work great.

Instructions:

  1. Drink the juice! Clean and dry the bottle.
  2. Push the smaller straw into the opening of the bottle. The straw should fit snuggly in the hole at the top of the bottle.
  3. Use poster tack to seal any possible leaks between the straw and the hole in the bottle. The clay will also make the straw more stable and less likely to wobble.
  4. Push one end of the bigger straw into another piece of modeling clay. This “plug” will seal the end of the straw.
  5. It’s time to launch... Place the larger straw over the smaller straw. Ready, aim, squeeze! The larger straw launches off the smaller straw and the room erupts in a chorus of oohs & ahhhs!

How does it work?
While you’re having fun launching straws, you’re actually learning about Newton’s Third Law of Motion. According to Newton, for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction. As you squeeze the bottle, air is forced out of the straw and pushes against the clay plug in the larger straw. The resulting force causes the straw to “launch” through the air.

Additional Info
Be careful! Never point the straw rocket at anyone. The goal here is to launch the rocket up in the air (not at someone). Be sure to cover the plugged end of the straw with something soft and round to protect someone from accidentally getting hurt by a sharp edge. Be creative! Once you’ve mastered the simple straw rocket, challenge your friends to a straw rocket design contest. Add a nose cone, some fins, a few decorations, and don’t forget to name your straw rocket!

Create Your Own Terrarium!

A terrarium is a small, enclosed world made up of living things, soil, water, and air. Its covering lets in leight.

The earth we live on is like a huge terarium. Plants and animals need soil, water, air, and light in order to survive in both a terrarium and on the earth. If any of these things are missing or are damaged by pollution, the plants and animals will suffer.

You will need:

  • A clear, wide-mouthed jar (like a peanut putter jar)
  • 2 handfuls of small rocks or sand
  • 2 handfuls of soil
  • 1 handful of dead leaves
  • Some moss (look for it in a forest or vacant lot)
  • Several small ferns or plants from a forest, a vacant lot, or a plant store (you may need to ask for permission if you are not on your own property.)

Directions:

  1. Cover the bottom of the jar with the sand. Then cover the sand with the same amount of soil. Spread it out on top of the sand. Next, place the dead leaves on top of the soil.
  2. Using a pencil, tongs, or a chopstick, make holes in the soil covering. Then plant your plants. Use the moss to fill in around the plants after you have tapped the soil down gently.
  3. Water your miniworld with a squeeze bottle or sprinkle water with your hands. Do not put too much water - the covering should not be soaked.
  4. Place the lid on your jar. Keep the lid closed. Your miniworld should now have everything it needs. Place the jar in a place that has good liht, but not in the direct sun.

Each day watch for changes in your terrarium.

Taken from Try-Its for Brownie Girl Scouts ©2000 by Girl Scouts of the United States of America

Try this ICY experiment!

You will need:

  • ice cubes
  • cup of water
  • string
  • salt

Directions:

  1. Float an ice cube in the cup of water.
  2. Carefully lay one end of a piece of string on the floating cube.
  3. Sprinkle a pinch of salt onto the string and wait for about 30 seconds.
  4. Pick up the string, and WOW! You caught an ice cube.
  5. What else can you use besides salt? Try sugar, pepper, sand, flour, you name it. See what works, and what doesn’t, and try to figure out why!


What else did you use to try and catch an ice cube? Record your findings for each experiment.


For more cool experiments to try at home check out: www.pbskids.org/dragonflytv