It’s National Science Week next week so I thought we’d start the weekend with a nice little bit of science!
Both of my children say that their favourite lesson at school is science and I can see why when I hear about some of the fun experiments they get to do. Master Frugal won a Headteacher’s award for science last week and he’s asked if we can do some science experiments at home ‘instead of that crafty stuff’!
So, I’m trying to do more science related activities with the kids at home which has been interesting to say the least. Not all have worked as they should have done (some have failed completely) but I will share the successful ones with you over the next couple of weeks
Blowing up a balloon using just vinegar and baking soda – The Fun Bit
As you’d expect for this one, you need a balloon, some vinegar and some baking soda (who says science is complicated) If you’re not using the vinegar bottle in the experiment you’ll also need a small bottle as well.
First you need to half fill your balloon with baking soda – using a funnel if you have one. If not, just spoon it in with a teaspoon like we did or you can make a mini funnel by rolling some paper into a cone and cutting the bottom bit off. We stretched the balloon gently for a minute or so before I did this bit to make it a bit easier to work with.
Pour about 100-150ml of vinegar into your bottle and then very carefully stretch the balloon over the top of the bottle being very careful at this stage not to let the baking soda mix with the vinegar.
Next you can gently lift the balloon to tip the baking soda into the vinegar.
As the baking soda mixes with the vinegar, the vinegar will start to froth up and the balloon will slowly begin to inflate.
After a few minutes the balloon will be fully inflated.
The Science Bit
The baking soda and the vinegar react together to create a carbon dioxide. Because gas needs a lot of room to spread out, the carbon dioxide fills the bottle first and then spreads out into the balloon which inflates it.
Here’s a few of our other science exploits over the last few years:
Making homemade bubble mixture
Learning how to separate an egg the easy way!
I think that the age the kids are now is going to mean less crafts and more experiments in future – they love science and they’re naturally curious about everything at the moment so I think we’re going to be having a lot of fun with it.
Now I just need to find some more experiments we can do at home! 😉
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