STRAWS:

BUCKET BUILDhttp://www.teachersareterrific.com/2015/09/whats-going-on-in-science-class-bucket.html?m=1 

This challenge is to build a tower (although not a very tall one) that will hold weight. There are some other rules for this and some ways you can vary the task. Students will be challenged to find a way to hold up the bucket as it gets heavier and heavier when weights are added. They will make on-the-spot adjustments as they see weak points of the tower buckle or collapse. It’s engineering at its best!

You will need supplies in addition to this package. This includes: straws, string, masking tape, hole punchers, small cups, and scissors.

Lesson Plan    Video Lesson

• plastic drinking straw
• 1 x FREE straw rocket printable template (makes two rockets)
• sicssors
• 1 x sheet of A4 paper
• sticky tape
• lead pencil

Double Straw Rocket         

• Sticky tape
• Scissors
• Small Diameter straw with bend
• Large Diameter Milkshake straw (slightly thinner than pencil)
• Paper for fins
• Blu- tack

Magnetic Putty

(didn't work so well-need strong magnet to attract to putty) 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZXJuJQVrgbI

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JcBgBsgixlg

• (Borax)—liquid stay-flow

• glue

• black iron oxide-Amazon

• bowl

• stirrer

• measure spoon

1. 2 glue : 1 starch 

2. start to kneed (5 minutes)  shiny & wet, can pull apart

3. Flatten and add 1/2 tablespoon of Iron Oxide, fold in.  Bit messy.  

4. Add another 1/2 tablespoon or less at a time, and then keep folding.

5. keep stored in air tight and will stain.  

Frozen Glitter Ball

 http://www.instructables.com/id/DIY-FROZEN-Liquid-Squishy-Ball-Glitter-Liquid-Stre/

• Water
• Clear Glue
• Food Color-Wilton
• Sparkle Edible Dust Powder
• Glitter Powder
• Glitter
• Jar & Funnel to pour into balloon
• Balloon with air inflated
• Have to spin it and then release the air out of it.  Tie it tight.

Popsicle Catapult

http://buggyandbuddy.com/stem-activity-for-kids-popsicle-stick-catapults/

Hover Craft

http://makercamp.com/projects/rideable-hovercraft

Kinetic Sand: 

1. 1 cup fine sand

2. 1.5 tbsp corn starch

3. STIR

4. 1 tsp dish soap

5. water as needed

6. STIR

7. Add food coloring

8. let sit 1-2 hours 

GAK

https://www.stevespanglerscience.com/lab/experiments/glue-borax-gak/

• 8 oz (240 ml) Elmer's glue  (What is Polyvinyl Acetate?)                              
• Borax (laundry section of a grocery store)  (What is Borax Decahydrate?)  
• Large mixing bowl
• 9 oz (266 ml) Plastic cup
• Spoon
• Measuring cups and spoons
• Water
• Paper towels
• Zipper-lock plastic bag
• Dinner plate
• Food coloring (optional - but more fun!)
• Adult supervision

http://onelittleproject.com/galaxy-in-a-bottle/2/

• Plastic Bottle
• Baby Oil
• Silver Glitter
• Purple and Blue Liquid Food Coloring
• Water

OOBLECK with Shampoobeleck

http://makeitatyourlibrary.org/play/silky-stretchy-conditioner-cornstarch-play-dough#.WVV3HBMrLdc

• one (1) cup scented conditioner (the one shown was on sale for $0.82!)
• two (2) cups cornstarch (less than a dollar, also purchased on sale)
• a large bowl and a measuring cup (very important)

Sand Slime

https://www.momdot.com/sand-slime/

• White school glue – about 2 cups
• Liquid Starch – 1/3  to 1/4 cup 
• Shaving Cream about 1 cup
• Fine Sand – about 1/2 cup
• color  

1. When you make it this way, it comes out more like flubber. Its soft and rubbery, and can hold shapes very well. It has a super slow flow and isn’t sticky like regular slimes. 
2. Start with about 2 cups of white glue – you don’t have to measure it, just eyeball it. I pour in a glass bowl.
3. Now add some poofy shaving cream, I like the dollar store kind. My estimate is about 1 cup worth. Stir.
4. Add color! 
5. Now add your find grain sand. I added about 1/2 cup worth
6. Starch time! Add about 1/3rd- 1/4th cup liquid starch to the bowl and stir. You will immediately see the slime form up. Continue stirring a minute or so and then pick up and begin kneading your slime. 
7. Once your slime is made, sit down and let it flatten out. You can fold it a few times like you would bread dough until its cohesive. Now you can play.
8. Remember that this kind of slime is not as stretchy as regular sand slime, its more of a flubber, which is due to the additive of shaving cream.

Stress Ball

http://www.cbc.ca/parents/play/view/diy-snowman-stress-ballsMaterials:

• white balloons
• black and orange permanent markers
• funnel
• materials to fill the balloons (rice, epsom salt, play dough, aloe vera gel, beans, water beads, or anything similar)

Bridges

• Scholastic

http://www.scholastic.com/browse/lessonplan.jsp?id=1509

PBS

• http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/buildingbig/bridge/

Examples of Bridges PGH

• http://pghbridges.com/basics.htm

Truss Bridge

Instructables

http://www.instructables.com/id/Popsicle-Stick-Bridge/

SQUISHY CIRCUITS

http://courseweb.stthomas.edu/apthomas/SquishyCircuits/howTo.htm

Crystals  Alum

http://nurturestore.co.uk/how-to-grow-crystals-with-alum-easy-kids-science-project

http://diyprojectsforteens.com/diy-bath-bombs-recipe/

• 1 cup baking soda
• 1/2 cup citric acid
• 1/2 cup Epsom salts
• 1 tsp. water
• 2 tsp. essential oil
• 3 tsp. oil (olive oil)
• food coloring (any color you want)
• bowl
• whisk
• jar or bath bomb mold

Borax Crystal Star/Snowflake

https://www.stevespanglerscience.com/lab/experiments/magic-crystal-snowflake/

Materials:

• 3 Pipe cleaners (white, if possible)

• String

• 3 Wide-mouth containers (boiling-water safe)

• Borax (laundry section of a grocery store)

• 3 Pencils

• Boiling water

• Food coloring (optional)

• Scissors

• Adult supervision

Directions: See website

Plates & Bowls & Silverware

Flying Saucer 

-http://makercamp.com/projects/plastic-plate-ufo/print

Catapult

catapultinstructions (1).pdf 

http://www.devincollier.com/how-to-build-a-simple-small-marshmallow-catapult/

• 4-6 rubber bands
• 1 plastic spoon
• Popsicle sticks

Toothpicks

Marshmallow Structures

How Tall Can You Build?

What to do

1. Using only 20 toothpicks and 10 marshmallows, build a free-standing (standing alone without being attached to or supported by something else) structure that is as tall and as big as possible, that can also support an object.
2. Try to have your structure support one object. If it can support this object, try adding another object. How many objects can your structure support?
3. Now add another 20 toothpicks and 10 marshmallows to your structure, and see how many objects it can support.
4. Keep adding toothpicks and marshmallows, and seeing how many objects it can support. See how big you can make it!

What’s happening?

There are numerous ways to build strong structures with objects that may appear weak. The idea is to recognize that certain shapes are very strong.

The C.N. Tower in Toronto, Ontario, Canada is one of the tallest free-standing towers in the world. Its base is actually triangular: there are ribs that go down the length of the tower, but, if you were to look down, and draw a line around the base, it would be a triangle.

Another very strong shape is the cylinder. A single cylinder can be very strong, just not stable. If the base of the C.N. Tower were cylindrical, it would fall over with the first wind gust. However, if you make the base of a structure out of four cylinders, positioned in a square about the base of the building, then it would be extremely strong and stable.

Why does it matter?

All structures, even marshmallow towers, are built to support a certain load. There are two general categories of loads: static loads (that do not change) and dynamic loads (that change). Within static loads, there are two main subcategories: dead loads and live loads. The dead load of a structure is the weight of the structure itself or anything else physically attached to it. Live loads are subject to change, but are the loads expected to occur during the regular use of a structure, such as cars or trucks passing over a bridge. Dynamic loads are sudden impacts and can be unexpected. They may exert forces that are out of the ordinary like hurricanes, earthquakes and large waves. Engineers need to consider these dynamic forces and try to design and construct buildings that have the ability to withstand these unexpected loads as well as the expected static loads.

Investigate further! 

Try building a new structure using the marshmallows. How many types of structures could you make? Which of them are the strongest? Which ones are not so strong? What shapes work the best?

Bridge Building

Drawling Bot

http://makercamp.com/project-paths/change-the-move/

• A small toy or household device that contains a circuit with a motor, battery power, and a switch (such as a disposable electric toothbrush, a mini-handheld electric fan, or a toy car)
• A plastic cup or bowl
• Drawing tools, such as markers, crayons, or chalk (avoid permanent markers)
• Fasteners (such as masking or electrical tape, double-sided foam tape, pipe cleaners, or rubber bands)
• Cork or old eraser
• Art supplies such as googly eyes or pipe cleaners
• Wires or copper tape and a wire cutter/stripper
• Butcher paper or large sheets of art paper
• Tools for deconstructing machines safely, such as pliers, screwdrivers, scissors, and safety goggles

Float Your Boat Challenge

Challenge Directions  

 • A 10" piece of plastic wrap

• 10 plastic straws

• Four 7-ounce paper cups

• 24" of duct tape

• 25 pennies

Mayflower Boat Challenge

• 10 Wikki Stix (any colors)
• 10 Craft (Popsicle) Sticks
• 5 Sticky Notes
• 5 Pony Beads
• 5 Toothpicks
• Aluminum Foil
• One challenge directions per student or team

Dry Ice

Snow From Carolina Biological

Perler Beads

Pintrest Page