Fun in Class Science Experiments

Some of the best classroom science experiments are simple, and require just basic household items, such as a comb.

There are a great number of science experiments that are educational, fun and suitable for doing in a classroom environment. Focus your experiment on one of the four main scientific disciplines, and make sure you get assistance from an adult with any potentially dangerous procedures. Many in-class science experiments can be carried out using everyday items and basic equipment.

Biology

One idea involves observing the life cycle of brine shrimp (so-called "sea monkeys"). Ask your teacher to provide you with a sea monkey kit and follow the instructions when placing them in a fresh-water aquarium and feeding them. Draw pictures of the brine shrimps' progress as they develop from eggs through to fully grown sea monkeys. Make sure you feed the brine shrimp as advised in the instructions to aid their growth and development. If you are preparing a project for a science fair, present your artwork and a brief explanation of the different stages of growth for the brine shrimp.

Chemistry

Conducting chemistry projects within the classroom can be difficult, as they often involve using potentially dangerous equipment and chemicals. An example of a fun science project that avoids this concern allows you to make your own bubble bombs and pop them in the sink. Take an air-tight, zip-lock bag and pour in 1/2 a cup of vinegar and 1/4 cup of warm tap water. Then, lay a paper towel flat and insert two teaspoons of baking soda in the middle before loosely wrapping it up, which acts as a time release packet. Drop the paper towel into the bag and quickly zip it shut completely, so no gas can escape, and drop the bag in the sink. Stand back and watch as the bag is inflated by the carbon dioxide produced, before it eventually pops.

Physics

Carry out a simple and fun project to help progress your understanding of this sometimes complex subject. One example of an easy physics experiment that you can complete in the classroom requires a plastic comb, a woolen cloth and access to a faucet. First, turn on the cold tap before rubbing the comb vigorously with the woolen cloth for about 10 seconds. Bring the comb to within approximately an inch of the water stream and see how the water reacts--because the comb becomes negatively charged, it attracts the positively charged water. Experiment by rubbing the comb with different items and adjusting the water flow from the faucet to see how static electricity operates.

Earth Science

Conducting an earth science experiment enables you to think on a grand scale about issues that affect the global community, as well as your classroom and school. An example of this gets you to measure the air pollution in your classroom. Take a clean, white poster board and cut it into several same-size squares. Use a hole punch to make a hole in the center at the top of each square. Run a piece of string through the holes, which you will use to suspend the poster boards around the classroom. Spread a thin layer of Vaseline on the front of each square before waiting for at least two days and collecting your squares. Take a magnifying glass and record the number of particles you can see stuck in the Vaseline on the poster board. Think about the air quality in your classroom and how this relates to the outside world.

References

• Salt Lake: Brine Shrimp
• Exploratorium: Bubble Bomb
• Sci Fun: Bending Water
• Science Fair Adventure: Measuring Air Pollution