Silly Science (Target Audience: Ages 9–12)

Recommended Silly Science Books

You do not need these books to do this program. Any fun science experiment books will do. You can use them for display, to promote the science experiments collection, and for the kids to check out. Or you can use them to get other ideas for science program activities.

Bill Nye the Science Guy’s Consider the Following: A Way Cool Set of Science Questions, Answers and Ideas to Ponder by Bill Nye

Science Fun: Hands-on Science with Dr. Zed by Gordon Penrose

First Science Experiments: The Amazing Human Body by Shar Levine and Leslie Johnstone

Really Rotten Experiments by Nick Arnold

Silly Science Tricks by Peter Murray

Silly Science: Strange and Startling Projects to Amaze Your Family and Friends by Shar Levine and Leslie Johnstone

Science Experiments You can choose one or more of the following activities for your program (approximate times for each activity are given so you can plan accordingly).

Experiment #1:

Make Gooey Slime and Play Putty (Similar To Silly Putty®) Have lots of fun doing this science project. Talk about slime in children’s films and books – even Harry Potter. The polymers we make here are non-toxic; however, eating the stuff is definitely not recommended!

Time: 30 minutes

Materials: • White glue (Elmer’s white glue preferred here) • Borax (a laundry booster available at the supermarket) • Water • Sealable plastic bags • Popsicle sticks or disposable spoons (unused and clean) • Large jar and lid (clean) • Medium-sized bowl

128 • Food colouring • Measuring cup • Sheets of newspaper to keep your work area clean • Paper towels for cleaning up

Directions: 1. Pour half a cup of glue and a half a cup of water into the jar. 2. Add a few drops of food colouring, green and yellow, for instance will create a lime-green colour. 3. In the bowl, pour and mix 240 ml of water and 1 teaspoon (5 ml) of borax powder. 4. Pour the jar or glue and water into the bowl of water and borax, stirring slowly. 5. With your clean hands pick up the “slime” at the bottom of the bowl leaving behind excess water. Then knead the sticky mixture until it feels dry. 6. Have fun with your slime which can be temporarily stored in a sealed bag in the refrigerator. 7. To create play putty just keep kneading the mixture until it dries out a bit more. 8. Clean up dried slime and putty by soaking it with water. Do the same with glue that you have dropped on your clothes, and wash your hands after you are done.

What’s happening?

The solution of borax and water is known as a polymer (polyvinyl acetate). It’s this substance that makes the slime mixture thick.

Kids will be interested to know that this putty is both a solid and a liquid! It has been called a solid-liquid and has properties of a viscoelastic liquid and an elastic solid. Those kids who have studies states of matter already in school will find this particularly fascinating!

Store-bought slime has a shiny appearance because it has a small amount of a secret ingredient called “pearl swirl” containing titanium dioxide. Only a small amount of “swirl” is needed to create the iridescent look.

Polymers today are used in almost everything from plastic spoons, glasses, computer hardware, clothes, nylon, table top laminates, paint, bottles and more!

For more fun: 1. Visit the Silly Putty® website at www.sillyputty.com and visit the Silly Science section. You can learn all about the science and the history of Silly Putty® and even earn your Master of Silly Putty Degree!

129 2. Use your “play putty” in different ways: watch it float in water, flatten it out and press it onto a piece of newspaper (comic strips would work well) – the image will appear on the putty, roll it up into a ball and watch it bounce, etc… etc…

Important Information ! • Be sure to wash your hands when you are finished • Borax should be kept out of reach of small children and clean up any spills. • The putty may stain fabric or carpets. Be careful.

Experiment #2: Tendon To Be Gross

This is a funny, gross science project using a freshly cut chicken foot. If you recommend that the children do all steps of this project adult supervision will be required.

Materials: • 1 or 2 freshly-cut chicken feet purchased from your local butcher. The toe nails should be left attached. • Alcohol • Cotton batting

Instructions: 1. Briefly boil the feet for a few minutes but not too long since over boiling causes the chicken to stiffen and loose elasticity. 2. Clean the feet with alcohol. These first two steps can be done by the presenter ahead of time. Staff can do theses first two steps ahead of time. 3. Have the children close their eyes, then reveal the chicken foot. Pull the tendon at the bottom of the “hand” below the toes and watch what happens. Be ready for lots of shrieking and gross out. 4. Explain that tendons and ligaments connect the bones in the bodies of animals and that by pulling on the tendon you are manipulating the movement of the bones, the way puppeteers do to move marionettes.

Activity #3:

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Marshmallow Head (Target audience: Ages 6–12)

Time: approximately 25-30 minutes

This activity is sure to make kids giggle! Watch these wacky marshmallow heads grow and shrink using the scientific principle of pressure.

This activity uses marshmallows. If you don’t want kids eating any marshmallows then you will have to emphasize this at the beginning of the program. If you want to have a spare supply of marshmallows for eating then make sure to inquire about any food allergies or food restrictions (e.g. some kids cannot eat marshmallows because of gelatin).

Materials: • Marshmallows (at least one for each child) • Markers (a dark colour like black would be best). • Glass bottles or jars (that have a fairly narrow opening, but wide enough to fit a marshmallows through). • Some moulding or modeling clay like Plasticine® • Drinking straws (one for each child)

*You will probably have to put the children into small groups in order to share supplies. They will probably have to share one glass bottle among the group (unless you are able to have enough bottles or jars for each child).

Instructions:

1. Kids will draw a face on both (flat) ends of a large marshmallow. The funnier the face the better! 2. Drop the marshmallow into a glass bottle (the kids can take turns doing this in their groups). You'll have to use a bottle/jar that has an opening slightly larger than the marshmallow so you can fit the marshmallow in. Do not use a bottle/jar that has a very wide opening though because you will need to seal the opening to prevent air from escaping. 3. Wrap the clay around the straw (1 inch from the end so that the clay forms a 'ring' around the straw). Place the short end of the straw into the bottle. The clay should stop the straw from dropping all the way into the bottle and then should be pressed around the mouth of the bottle so that the bottle is completely sealed and no air can get in or out. 4. Suck air out of the bottle (make sure there are not leaks in the clay) and see what happens to the marshmallow face! Then see what happens after you stop sucking on the straw…

What’s happening?

131 Marshmallows may appear solid, but they are filled with many air pockets like a sponge. When you suck the air out of the bottle the pressure inside the bottle is being decreased which causes the sponge-like marshmallow to grow (expand). When you stop sucking on the straw, the air goes back into the bottle and the pressure is increased, so that the marshmallow goes back to its normal size.

Activity #4:

Dr. Zed’s Dance-Till-You-Drop Popcorn (Target audience: Ages 6–12)

(From Dr. Zed’s Sensational Science Activities by Gordon Penrose)

Time: approximately 15 minutes

Materials: • A large clear drinking glass or jar • 1 tablespoon (15 ml) baking soda • A few drops food colouring (any colour, but just make sure to keep the water somewhat translucent) • 3 tablespoons (45 ml) white vinegar • A small handful of popcorn kernels and/or some different shape pasta pieces

Instructions:

1. Fill the glass container with water. 2. Add the baking soda and food colouring and stir well. 3. Drop in the popcorn kernels and/or pasta shapes and then stir in the vinegar. 4. Watch the popcorn/pasta dance!

What’s happening?

When baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) and vinegar are mixed there is a chemical reaction in which bubbles of carbon dioxide are formed. The bubbles attach themselves to the kernels/pasta and cause them to “dance” to the surface. When the bubbles burst at the surface, the kernels/pasta will “dance” to the bottom of the glass.

For extra discussion and enrichment, you can talk about acids and bases, and the reaction between them.

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