Cool Elementary Science Experiments

Forces and Energy: Film Canister Rockets

• The film canister rocket experiment is an outdoor activity. To make the rocket, you need an empty film canister, construction paper, tape, scissors, baking soda and vinegar. Construct the rocket by rolling a piece of construction paper around the film canister to make a long tube. Making sure the lid of the canister is at the bottom end of the tube, tape the paper into place. Make a paper cone by cutting a circle out of construction paper, then cutting a line halfway through the middle of the circle. Twist this paper into a cone shape, and tape it into place on top of the long tube. Cut triangular fins out of construction paper and tape on the tube on the opposite end of the cone. This stabilizes the rocket. Now comes the fun part. Take off the film canister lid and put some baking soda in the canister. Add some vinegar and cover it quickly. Set the rocket on the ground cone end up and stand back---the rocket may shoot as high as 25 feet in the air.

Air: Flying Toilet Paper

• The flying toilet paper experiment is entertaining for kids or adults. For this cool experiment you need a hair dryer, an empty paper towel tube, ping-pong balls, a balloon, a beach ball, a roll of toilet paper, and a stick or piece of dowel rod. Set the hair dryer to the cool setting, turn it on and aim it at the ceiling. Next, hold the dryer steady and place ping-pong ball in the stream of air. Watch as the ball floats in the stream of air. Move the dryer left and right and watch as the ping-pong ball stays in the stream of air. Float other objects at the same time; see how many objects can float in the air. To make toilet paper fly, place a roll on a stick or dowel and watch the paper spin off the roll into the air. For the grand finale, float a ping-pong ball in the stream of air. Place the empty toilet paper tube above the ball. See if the ball gets sucked up into the tube. To conclude the experiment, discuss Bernoulli's Principle, which allows heavier-than-air objects to fly.

Chemistry: Frozen Bubbles

• Kids like to make bubbles, and the idea of making frozen bubbles is intriguing to them. In addition to bubble solution and dry ice, for the frozen bubble experiment you will need an old wok or fish tank. Put the dry ice in the bottom of the wok or fish tank. Let it sit for 15 minutes. Then, gently blow bubbles over the thawing dry ice. The ice produces carbon dioxide when it thaws, and the air-filled bubbles will float on the carbon dioxide, since air is lighter. Sometimes a bubble will fall through and onto the dry ice; it may then freeze in place, or freeze while it is in the middle of popping.