I'm planning to introduce my 6 yr. old daughter to some weather & science experiments this winter. I just don't know where to begin. We get rain (no snow) where we live so I'm thinking maybe a rain gauge or something along those lines? Has anyone tried this before?
I'm not sure what we can do for science? I saw some mini volcanos on pinterest so maybe those? Has anyone tried those yet?
I'm just looking for feedback, additional ideas, suggestions for books/websites, etc.
BTW, I'm not really in D.C., that's just Mamapedia's default location so please don't take D.C. weather into account when responding. :)
Thank you! :)
My kids received this book for Christmas and really liked it. Even the 'Dad' kid liked it. Nothing like giving two boys a key to messy experiments....
http://www.amazon.com/Simple-Science-Experiments-Everyday...
The library is a great resource for this. When I was a scout leader and we were working on science badges, that's where I went. Just ask the librarian and she'll show you where you can find these books.
Here are a few of our favorite science experiments that are kind of related to weather:
Water cycle in a bottle (leave the bottle in a sunny windowsill, and rain forms at the top),
Baking soda and vinegar volcano, or inflate a balloon with a bottle of it.
Pinwheels or kites (measure wind direction or speed)
Freeze a water-filled eggshell (the force of ice will bust it).
Sand and water table for erosion.
Tornado (swirl water inside two soda bottles taped together like an hourglass)
Shrink a balloon by freezing it.
Solar panels.
Watch static electricity in the dark or use it to make a fluorescent tube glow.
Also, if you're not getting enough rain to make the rain gauge interesting, use it to measure the rate of a lawn sprinkler or a shower.
I got this book when I was a kid (I don't remember how old) but this is the first thing I thought of when reading your post!
http://www.amazon.com/Earthsearch-Kids-Geography-Museum-O...
After looking, apparently I also had this one. :) It was also a ton of fun.
http://www.amazon.com/Explorabook-Kids-Science-Museum-Boo...
You might enjoy checking out www.TOPScience.org: nearly 50 books featuring hands-on science and math activities for a wide range of ages, and a free sample activity offered right online for each book.
The books called Lentil Science and Get A Grip are especially appropriate for younger kids. Also Perfect Balance #31, and a wildly popular unit called Electricity #32. Unfortunately, the weather-related units are mainly for older students.
Full disclosure: my husband has developed these activities over the past 30+ years, and I am the illustrator, so I confess I am partial. But our stuff is considered valuable and accessible both in public schools and among home educators.
Check out thehappyscientist.com. It has loads of science experiments for all age groups.
Check out www.weatherwizkids.com for information and experiments. I've used Barometer II in nature classes with up to 40 kids - easy experiment that works well.
http://www.stevespanglerscience.com/experiments/024
Has experiments you can do using things lying around home and stuff to buy like test tubes and beakers. Can make a cloud in a bottle & tornado etc.
A great book is The Big Book of Experiments: An Encylopedia of Science
We bought ours at a consignment bookstore but you can probably find on ebay or amazon or check library.
Pammy
