Spring Science Ideas

Spring is a great time to bring hands on science activities into your curriculum.  My students love interactive science activities. With the warmer weather approaching, our curriculum focuses on spring science standards. Students are so excited when they can step out of the textbook and interact with science in creative ways.  I found some wonderful activities and want to share them with you.
Why don't you step outside and enjoy some of these activities with your students!

Photo courtesy of: OneLittleProject.com

Kids love making bubbles! Bubble Snakes looks like a fun, inexpensive activity to introduce to students this spring. All you need is a pair of scissors, an old sock, an empty water bottle, and bubble solution.  For step-by-step visual directions read more about it here.

You can purchase bubble solution, or make your own using Dawn Dish Soap. These are the directions I use to make mine: Add 1 cup of Dawn Dish Soap to 6 cups of water. Stir slowly to combine, but avoid making bubbles. Add 1 tablespoon of glycerin (available in the pharmacy section). Stir until the solution is mixed together.

Photo courtesy of: frugalfun4boys.com

I can't wait to do this with my students!  Simple materials are needed. Baking soda, vinegar, an empty 2 liter soda bottle, cork, duct tape,3 unsharpened pencils, and a paper towel. According to the author the bottles can launch as high as a 2-story house! Find step-by-step visual directions here.

Photo courtesy of: prettyprovidence.com

Something else all kids love...playdough!  Look at these beautiful spring colors!  Students would love exploring matter by combining these simple ingredients.  All you need is: water, flour, salt, cornstarch, vegetable oil, food color, and alum (also available in the pharmacy section). According to the author this is a long lasting product if stored in an airtight container.  Find detailed instructions here.

Photo courtesy of: howwelearn.com

This is an experiment I have NEVER heard of.  By simply combining two liquids, milk and vinegar,  you end up getting a plastic type product.  I can see this being useful for many things such as a Mother's Day pendant on a ribbon.  In addition to the basic ingredients, you will need a strainer to strain out the remaining liquid.  Find the directions here.

Photo courtesy of: premeditated leftovers.com

Since you have vinegar on hand from these delightful activities, be sure to share the magic of disappearing egg shells as part of your life cycles unit.  All you need is an uncooked egg, vinegar and a mason jar.  This one takes a few days for the complete science process, which leaves plenty of opportunities for observations and hypothesis.  Find the visual  directions here.

Well, I hope you have discovered some new ideas to brighten your science classroom this spring!