This is a guest blog by Big Bang Science.
Here at Big Bang Science HQ we have been keeping ourselves really busy during lockdown! Amongst other things, we have been writing up experiments for all our followers to enjoy as we have all been looking to the internet to provide us with exciting home learning options. We have put together 9 simple experiments that are all easy, mess-free and require very few resources for you to all enjoy.
BUT FIRST SOME AWESOME NEWS! OUR EDUCATIONAL SUBSCRIPTION BOXES HAVE ARRIVED!
Big Bang Bots from Alice Mott on Vimeo.
This month has also seen the launch of the BIG BANG BOX! Our brand-new science subscription box delivering a little bit of science magic to your door each month. With 4 activities (2 experiments and 2 science challenges) arriving every month, your mini scientist will be in their element. And what’s more, we are offering every new subscriber this month a FREE starter pack worth £30. There are no monthly tie ins, so you have absolutely nothing to lose!
We would love you to start this SCIENCE ADVENTURE with us so that your child can continue to receive real quality science experiments whether they are in or out of school. There are illustrated step by step instructions, really cool science facts, collectables, and some authentic scientific equipment to make their very own home lab!
Join our mailing list, to be entered into our monthly draw and you may even receive your first box and starter kit absolutely FREE.
So, hop onto to www.bigbang-science.com/bigbangbox and start your child’s science adventure today! Deadline for sign up to receive the box is the 15th June. Delivery from the 1st July.
We have supplied 9 exciting experiments to keep you all entertained. I do hope you enjoy them! If you have any photos, we would love to see them so share them on social media and be sure to tag Big Bang Science on Facebook, Instagram and Twiter. Don’t forget to follow us!
For full experiment guides, visit www.bigbang-science.com/experiment-guides where you will find step by step procedures with diagrams, extension ideas and ‘The Science!’
Our experiments are:
BUT if you are SERIOUS ABOUT SCIENCE you’ll love our Big Bang Box. They are super convenient with EVERYTHING you need for a FUN and EDUCATIONAL experience.
1. Skittle Rainbows
You will need a small plate, a pack of skittles and some water.
Full experiment guide here.
Rainbows are everywhere at the moment, as they symbolise the tremendous work and thanks we give to our fabulous NHS workers, so what better way than to open with a skittle rainbow experiment.
Place the skittles around the edge of a plate. The edge of the inner rim is best. The skittles can be arranged in any way, so this is great for the children to be creative and decide themselves. They can be arranged either in colour groups or a repeating pattern or even better…just random. The skittles should be touching for best results. Into the centre of the plate pour some water. This can be cold or slightly warm. Pour the water in gently and just enough so it reaches out and touches all the skittles at the edge of the plate. Now watch…. After a short while, you will begin to see the colours from the skittles dissolving into the water and after about 5 minutes a beautiful rainbow pattern will have been made. It’s really important not to jog the plate when this is happening as the colours can muddle up.
Points to remember
2. Storm in a jar
You will need an empty jam jar or a large glass, water, shaving foam, food colouring or watercolours, pipette or a syringe (Calpol or Nurofen syringe will do).
Full experiment guide here.
What if you could float into the sky and watch a storm happening from above the clouds? If you’ve ever travelled on an aeroplane, then you will know what it feels like to be above the cloud level and look down. This is exactly where you are going to go in this activity…well almost.
You will need an empty jam jar or a large glass. Fill it about three-quarters of the way with tap water. This represents the air. On top of the water, you are going to squirt some shaving foam to fill the rest of the jar. This is your big fluffy cloud. Next, either using food colouring or poster paints dissolved in a small amount of water, squeeze (using an old Calpol or Nurofen syringe) the colours into your shaving foam. After a few squirts, you will notice the shaving foam becoming full of extra liquid which will eventually burst through into the water layer below. The colours represent the rain.
You can make it authentic by just using blue colours or make a rainbow by having a selection. This quick, easy and delightfully mesmerising experiment is great for all ages!
Points to remember
3. Tornados
You will need a clear, empty plastic bottle with no labels, washing up liquid, vinegar (optional) and water.
Full experiment guide here.
Have you ever wondered why tornadoes do so much damage? Well in this experiment, using a few simple items from around the home we are going to create our very own mini tornado so we can see exactly what they get up too!
You will need a clear plastic bottle with a cap, half to 1tsp of washing up liquid depending on the size of the bottle, 1 tsp of vinegar (but not necessary) and water.
Fill your bottle about 3/4 full of water and add in 3-5 drops of blue food dye (depending on the size of your bottle and how dark you want the water to be). Add the soap and vinegar to your blue water. (Vinegar is only optional. It is used in the mixture just to lower the amount of bubbles after you mix the water and the soap). Make sure you don’t mix to quickly as you don’t want too many bubbles. Make sure the lid is nice and tight. Hold the bottle by the lid and turn it upside down. Swirl the container around in a smooth circular motion lots of times, increasing your speed as you go. When you stop you should be able to see what looks like a tornado or a Vortex. It will slowly disappear as it reaches the top of the container.
Points to remember:
4. Dry-wipe wiggle
You will need a shallow dish or plate, a dry wipe marker and some water.
Full experiment guide here.
This experiment feels a bit like magic but there is some really cool science behind it too. Maybe you could impress your family or your grandparents on a zoom call with this experiment!
Find a shallow white dish or plate that is clean and dry. Using a dry wipe pen draw a stick man or write your name. You could fill the whole plate or draw more than one image to fill the space. Carefully and slowly pour some tap water onto the plate away from the images you have drawn and watch your plate come to life.
Can you make the images wiggle?
Points to remember:
5. Chromatography
You will need paper towels, 2-4 different colouring pens a plate and some water.
Full experiment guide here.
Chrom- a- tog- graphy is a really long word and it is used in some really useful ways in science. It is a science method that is usually used on a substance to separate it out into lots of different parts. It is often used by forensic scientists to help them to solve crimes and might be used to analyse blood found at a crime scene.
Collect one sheet of kitchen roll and fold it in half. Use some water-based colouring pens to draw the beginnings of a rainbow one cm up from the bottom of the paper towel. When you have coloured the beginnings of your rainbow, hold it from the top end. Add some water to the shallow dish and suspending the paper towel so the bottom just touches the water, you will begin to see it absorbing the water and travelling upwards. Your rainbow begins to inch towards the sky!
Points to remember:
6. Paper loop
You will need some scissors, a sheet of A4 paper and an adult!
Full experiment guide here.
Can you climb through a piece of paper without tearing it? For this activity, you may need help from an adult.
This is really cool so I’m really excited to share this trick with you! Most people are a lot larger than a piece of A4 paper. But in this activity, you’ll be able to squeeze through a hole in a sheet of paper. You might even be able to squeeze your adult helper through too!
Pull the paper apart, being careful not to tear it. You should have a large loop. Now try to fit yourself through the loop!
Points to remember:
7. Pepper explosion
You will need finely ground pepper, an earbud or cocktail stick, washing up liquid and a bowl of clean water.
Full experiment guide here.
This is really fun, simple, and quick and has caused many a gasp around the room when I’ve shown children. The only problem you’ll have is how many times they’ll want to repeat it!
You will need to fill a mixing bowl with water and sprinkle some pepper over the whole surface. Then carefully, using a clean end of an earbud, dab it into some washing up liquid and drop it into the centre of the water. Watch the pepper explosion!
Points to remember:
8. Runaway can
You will need an Inflated balloon and an aluminium can (coke/ sprite).
Full experiment guide here.
This experiment is so simple. Harness the energy and watch your coke can literally come to life!
Blow up a balloon (or ask your adult to help) and rub it vigorously on your hair to generate an electric charge. Pull it away slowly and see if your hair is attracted to the balloon. Bring the charged balloon close to an empty aluminium can. It is important that the balloon does not touch the can for the duration of the experiment but gets close enough to move it.
Points to remember:
9. It’s an illusion
You will need water, vegetable oil and a marker pen, paper. An opaque cup and a penny.
Full experiment guide here.
Is your mind playing tricks with you with this fun illustration of illusions? Always a great way to entertain friends and family and quick and easy to do too!
1) Place a coin in a cup and stand back so that the coin isn’t in your line of sight. Add water slowly to the cup and watch the coin magically appear!
2) Draw two horizontal arrows pointing in the same direction on a piece of paper. Place an empty glass about 5 cm in front of the paper. Fill the glass with water slowly and bend down so the arrows are at eye level. Watch the arrows change direction! You can achieve an equally amazing effect by drawing diagonal stripes or cheques like a chessboard.
Wow! Optical illusions are awesome!
*** This is a sponsored blog by BigBang Science.
