VanCleave's Science Fun

Your Guide to Science Projects, Fun Experiments, and Science Research

Archives for 2010

Stone Soup Activity

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Stone Soup is a wonderful story to encourage kids to share with each other. The video is one version of the story “Stone Soup.” Another tells of a solder who set up a cooking pot outdoors. He added water and a stone to the pot and started a fire beneath the pot. Periodically he would […]

Enzymes

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Catalyst vs. Enzymes A catalyst is a chemical that changes the speed of a chemical reaction. Generally a catalysts increases the rate of the reaction. Organic catalysts found in living organisms are called enzymes. Enzymes are proteins found in both plants and animals. It is believed that enzymes act like a holder into which molecules […]

Catalyst Model

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What is A Catalyst? A catalyst is a chemical that changes the rate of a chemical reaction, but does not become part of the product. Catalyst generally increases the rate of a chemical reaction. Catalysts are not all the same, one type of catalysts cause chemicals to break apart forming two or more  smaller molecules. […]

Leaf Blades and Petioles

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Basil The plant leaves represented are made of blades and petioles. The blade is the plant leaf.  It is the blade of the basil leaf that it used to season food. The petiole is  attaches the leaf to the plant stem. Celery Petioles are the part of the leave that attaches the blade to the […]

Anatomy and Physiology Glossary

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appendicular skeleton The division of the skeletal system consisting of the bones of the paired appendages, including the pelvic and pectoral girdles to which they are attached. axial skeleton The division of the skeletal system that forms the central column, including the skull, vertebral column, and rib cage. bone A connective tissue that provides support […]

Nervous and Endocrine System Glossary

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How Does Your Brain Know That Your Finger is Cut? Your brain is part of one of your body’s nervous system. This system is one of the communication systems of your body. Nerves from your cut finger send messages to your brain. The endocrine system is your body’s other communication system. Following is a glossary […]

Immmune System Glossary

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actively acquired immunity Immunity developed as a result of accidental or deliberate exposure to an antigen. Accidental exposure: coming into contact with someone who has a transmissible disease. Deliberate exposure: being vaccinated. allergen A foreign substance that triggers an allergic reaction. These substances are usually derived from living things, including pollen, dust mites, foods, and […]

Blood Transportation System Glossary

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alveoli Tiny, hollow air-exchange sacs that exist in clusters at the end of each of the air-conducting passageways in the lungs, the bronchioles. aorta The enormous artery extending from the heart that receives all the blood pumped by the heart’s left ventricle. Branches stemming from the aorta supply oxygenated blood to all the tissues in […]

Digestive System Glossary

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antidiuretic hormone (ADH) Substance that helps control how much water is either sent to the bladder (in urine) by the kidneys or retained in circulation. In a release controlled by the brain’s hypothalamus, ADH increases the permeability of both the distal nephron tubule and the n bile Substance produced by the liver that facilitates the […]