Experiment 1: Learning About Air
For this meeting, the Y2 and Y3 Scientists learned about air -- oxygen and carbon dioxide.
The students were amazing! All of them knew that humans inhale (breath in) OXYGEN. Now, they know that humans exhale (breath out) CARBON DIOXIDE!
They also discovered that plants do the opposite -- take in CARBON DIOXIDE and release OXYGEN!
The students came to the conclusion that plants are important because they "make" oxygen that humans need AND that humans are important because they "make" carbon dioxide that plants need!
Not bad for a first meeting!
The students were amazing! All of them knew that humans inhale (breath in) OXYGEN. Now, they know that humans exhale (breath out) CARBON DIOXIDE!
They also discovered that plants do the opposite -- take in CARBON DIOXIDE and release OXYGEN!
The students came to the conclusion that plants are important because they "make" oxygen that humans need AND that humans are important because they "make" carbon dioxide that plants need!
Not bad for a first meeting!
The EXPERIMENT: Making Carbon Dioxide
How can we make carbon dioxide? Well, we can inhale oxygen and exhale carbon dioxide. OR, we can do some chemistry!
Our Objective: To produce (make) carbon dioxide by mixing two chemicals
Our Materials:
Our Objective: To produce (make) carbon dioxide by mixing two chemicals
Our Materials:
- one balloon
- one empty bottle
- 1/2 teaspoon sodium bicarbonate (common name: baking soda)
- 3 tablespoons acetic acid (common name: vinegar)
The Procedure:
The Science Behind the Magic
What happened? Why did the balloon inflate?
A chemical reaction happened! We mixed two chemicals:
liquid acetic acid (vinegar) and solid sodium bicarbonate (baking soda) which produced a gas called carbon dioxide
Amazing, isn't it?
A chemical reaction happened! We mixed two chemicals:
liquid acetic acid (vinegar) and solid sodium bicarbonate (baking soda) which produced a gas called carbon dioxide
Amazing, isn't it?
For Parents...
Science is a great way to develop your children's critical thinking and logical reasoning skills! So, ask them to share what they did during science club. They should have brought home the products of the experiments or even some materials to do the experiment at home with you! Have a discussion about the experimental process and do extension activities! I promise that you will have as much fun as your children had and they will have a blast being your TEACHER!
Discussion Questions:
Extension Activities:
Discussion Questions:
- Why do you think the "magic powder" was put inside the balloon instead of inside the bottle with the acetic acid?
- Why do you think we needed to cap the bottle with the balloon?
- Why did the balloon inflate? What is inside it?
Extension Activities:
- Experiment with the ratio of sodium bicarbonate and acetic acid and see which ratio will make a bigger balloon. Take some photos and send them to me! I'd like to see what you've come up with! My email address is: [email protected].
Did you know...
Some types of fire extinguishers use carbon dioxide to extinguish flames!
Watch this video and be amazed!
Watch this video and be amazed!
WHY DO YOU THINK THIS HAPPENED???