Simple Science

**Chromatography**
Black is black, right? When you look at a black marker, you would think that black is the only color that makes up the black ink. However, if you break the ink down, you would be surprised to see the different colors that make up the black ink. This process is called chromatography. Chromatography is a process where you separate and detect chemical compounds. When I first started teaching chromatography, I did the standard marker and coffee filter experiment. http://www.exploratorium.edu/science_explorer/black_magic.html Then I found this project for chromatography and have been teaching it this way ever since. The kids have a great time "designing" their own t-shirts and they are learning science concepts at the same time! http://www.stevespanglerscience.com/experiment/sharpiepenscience Candy is another fun way to experiment with chromatography. http://scifun.chem.wisc.edu/homeexpts/candy.htm Posted: 03-08-2012 Posted by: mdpeluso

**Under Pressure**
Air.... you can't see it and you can't grab it or touch it, yet somehow you know its there. You might be surprised to learn that air has weight and is applying pressure on us constantly. It's Not Magic, It's Science! 50 Science Trick that MYSTIFY, DAZZLE & ASTOUND (J793.8 BUT). This book was a great source of inspiration and information for the class. The activities are a lot of fun and there is always a scientific explanation explaining why. Here are just a few activities that we did together. *Magnetic Water, page 17* Try this over a sink. Fill a glass 3/4's full with water. Place an index card on top of the glass so that it fully covers it. Hold the card on top with your palm. With your other hand, quickly turn the glass of water upside down. Remove your hand from the card. The water will stay in the glass until the paper becomes saturated. Won't Do It, Can't Make Me, page 21 Get a clear small water bottle (16 ounce size is perfect!). Ball up a piece of paper so that it will fit inside the mouth of the bottle. (Think spitball!) Hold the bottle horizontally with the piece of paper sitting in the mouth of the bottle near the edge. Try to blow the paper into the bottle. The paper will jump out! Air Cannon, page 22 Have an adult cut out the bottom of a half-gallon or gallon sized milk jug. Get a large piece of heavy plastic that is bigger than the bottom of the milk jug. Stretch the plactic over the hole you have made and tape the plastic to the sides of the jug, so that there are no holes for air to escape. Have an adult light a candlestick in a candle holder. Step a foot back from the candle, and aim the jug so that the mouth is facing the candle. With your hand, firmly tap the plastic covered hole. Here is an online word search with air pressure terms: http://kids.earth.nasa.gov/archive/air_pressure/wordsearch.html Posted: 03-05-2012 Posted by: mdpeluso

**Leaf Us Be**
For our Leaf Us Be class, we were right in the middle of the fall season. Everyone brought in leaves that they had found and used two online dichotomous keys to help us identify our leaves: http://www4.uwsp.edu/cnr/leaf/treekey/tkframe.htm http://dnr.wi.gov/org/caer/ce/eek/veg/treekey/index.htm Leaf chromatography project: http://tlc.howstuffworks.com/family/science-projects-for-kids-classifying-plants6.htm A great extension activity would be leaf painted t-shirts: Posted: 03-03-2012 Posted by: mdpeluso

**Wonders of Water**
It's hard to believe that it has been almost 2 years since our very first Simple Science class!!! In Wonders of Water, we talked about ways that water is special and important: Water is the only substance that naturally can be solid(ice), liquid(drinking water), and a gas(steam from a tea kettle). 2/3’s of our bodies is made of water. About 70% of the Earth’s surface is water. Here are some fun websites and further experiments: • Water Word Search from EEK(Environmental Education for Kids) http://dnr.wi.gov/org/caer/ce/eek/earth/groundwater/search.htm • *Environmental Protection Agency. Drinking Water and Ground Water Kids Stuff.* A flash animated activity that lets you control the water cycle as you learn. http://www.epa.gov/safewater/kids/flash/flash_watercycle.html • *How Stuff Works. Science Projects for Kids.* Project on making fog. http://tlc.howstuffworks.com/family/science-projects-for-kids-weather-and-seasons4.htm • *Magic* *School* *Bus* http://www.scholastic.com/magicschoolbus/games/experiments/wacky.htm http://www.scholastic.com/magicschoolbus/games/experiments/rain.htm • *National Geographic Kids. Quiz Your Noodle- Water* http://kids.nationalgeographic.com/kids/games/puzzlesquizzes/quizyournoodle-water • *The Water Cycle.* Label parts of the water cycle in this online puzzle. http://www.fergusonfoundation.org/hbf/watercycle/watercycle_puzzle2.shtml Just a sample of books for further reading: A Drop in the Ocean: The Story of Water. Jacqui Baily J 551.48 BAI Explore the water cycle, water as a precious resource, and the effect of human activity on our water supply. Down Comes the Rain(Let’s-Read-and-Find-Out Science). Franklyn Branley J 551.57 BRA Introduces the water cycle and offers simple, hands-on activities to try. Why the Sun and the Moon Live in the Sky. Elphinstone Dayrell FTJ 398.2 A Nigerian story about how a visit from Ocean caused Sun and Moon to move to the sky. Caldecott Honor Book. Splish Splash. Joan Bransfield Graham J 811.54 GRA A collection of fun, brightly illustrated poems about water in its various forms, from ice cubes to the ocean. The Magic School Bus Wet All Over: A Book about the Water Cycle. Joanna Cole J 551.57 COL Another Ms. Frizzle adventure, in which the gang learns all about the water cycle, up close and personal. Posted: 03-01-2012 Posted by: mdpeluso