SUMMER SCIENCE FUN: DIVE INTO DISCOVERY WITH HANDS-ON EXPIREMENTS!

Written by: Jamie Marcella

 

Summer is here, bringing with it sunshine, longer days, and the perfect opportunity to turn your backyard, kitchen, or local park into a vibrant laboratory! At CMASAS, we believe that learning is an exciting, year-round adventure, and summer is an ideal time to explore the wonders of science through engaging, hands-on activities.

 

Why limit discovery to the classroom when the world outside offers endless possibilities? This past school year, our Elementary STEM Club was incredibly active, making magnificent messes and diving deep into the worlds of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. The energy, curiosity, and excitement from those sessions were contagious, and we simply couldn't bear the thought of taking the entire summer off from such thrilling explorations!

 

Summer science experiments are not just fun; they foster curiosity, critical thinking, and a deeper understanding of how the world works. Plus, they're a fantastic way to beat the heat and create lasting memories with family and friends.

 

Ready to unleash your inner scientist? Here are a few exciting summer science activities and experiments that are easy to set up and packed with learning opportunities:

 

1. The Amazing Exploding Baggie Experiment (Chemistry in Action!)
 

What you'll need:

 

  • A Ziploc sandwich bag
  • Warm water
  • Baking soda
  • Vinegar
  • Measuring spoons/cups
  • A safe outdoor space (this can get messy!)

 

What to do:

 

Pour about 1/4 cup of warm water into the Ziploc bag. Add 2 tablespoons of baking soda to the bag (try to keep it separate from the water for now). Measure 1/2 cup of vinegar. Get ready! Quickly pour the vinegar into the bag, seal it shut as fast as you can, and shake it gently. Set it down quickly and watch what happens!

 

The Science Behind It: When baking soda (a base) mixes with vinegar (an acid), a chemical reaction occurs, producing carbon dioxide gas. As more gas is produced, the pressure inside the bag builds until – pop! – the bag bursts!

 

2. Build a Water Filter (Engineering for a Clean Planet)

 

What you'll need:

 

  • An empty plastic bottle (cut in half)
  • Cotton balls or a piece of cloth
  • Charcoal (activated charcoal from a pet store or broken-up charcoal briquettes – not self-lighting ones)
  • Play sand or fine gravel (rinsed clean)
  • Gravel or small pebbles (rinsed clean)
  • Dirty water (from a puddle, or mix water with soil and leaves)
  • A clear glass or jar

 

What to do:

 

Invert the top half of the plastic bottle into the bottom half (like a funnel). Place a layer of cotton balls or cloth at the bottom of the inverted bottle opening. Layer the materials on top of the cotton in this order: charcoal, play sand, and then gravel/pebbles. Carefully pour your dirty water into the top of your homemade filter. Observe as the water slowly drips through the layers into the bottom container.

 

The Science Behind It: Each layer of material in your filter plays a role in removing impurities. The larger particles are trapped by the gravel and sand, while the charcoal helps to absorb smaller particles, odors, and some chemicals through a process called adsorption. While this filter demonstrates filtration, remember that this water is not safe for drinking unless further purified!

 

These are just a few ideas to get you started. The possibilities for summer science are endless! Encourage your young scientists to ask questions, hypothesize, experiment, and most importantly, have fun!

 

Happy experimenting, and enjoy a summer of discovery!