It is believed that Einstein once said that if you cannot explain it to a six year old, you do not understand it yourself. The best learning experiences are those that are experiential and fun. Silly science experiments are meant for everyone, the young and the young at heart. They are a lot of fun, and can be quite exciting. They also offer teachers and parents the unique opportunity to introduce new concepts, and connect them with previous learning.
Age Appropriate Silly Science Experiments
Most silly science experiments illustrate how things come together to form something new. Or they focus on the reaction caused by mixing two or more chemicals. The best science experiments are the ones that children can participate in. And this is why it is important that teachers choose age appropriate experiments that their class can do.
Making slime is an experiment that elementary school students seem to enjoy. Though the elephant toothpaste experiment is fun to conduct and watch, it requires the use of hydrogen peroxide. And thus, it is best if it is conducted by high schoolers who understand that chemicals need to be handled with care. When the hydrogen peroxide and dish wash solution is mixed together, and then activated yeast and warm water solution is added to it, the resulting foam looks quite dramatic.
Learning from Science Experiments
Some experiments can be done by kids of all ages. However, the lessons they take away from them may be quite different. For instance the baking soda and vinegar experiment would be fun for young children. It would also be great for middle school students who are studying about the specific chemicals used in the experiment and the resulting reaction. Similarly placing celery sticks in glass jars filled with colored water will help kids understand the transportation system within the plant.
The naked egg experiment that involves placing an egg in a glass of vinegar is quite popular with middle schoolers. They can watch the vinegar or the ascetic acid react with the calcium carbonate of the egg shell, to give out tiny bubbles of carbon dioxide. Over a period of a week the egg shell disappears completely and the egg membrane around the white and yolk is clearly visible. The egg is also visibly bigger because of the water it has absorbed. This experiment can be useful to explain chemistry as well as biology lessons.
Likewise, the elephant toothpaste experiment is fun to conduct and makes it easier for students to understand many science concepts. The experiment causes an exothermic reaction and students can experience this first hand. By making fun science experiments a part of the learning experience teachers can ensure that kids have fun while they learn.
