VanCleave's Science Fun

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

Archives for 2010

Develop a Hygroscopic PROJECT

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How do I get started on my science fair project? Answer: 1. Select an experiment about a topic that you are interested in or pick an experiment that looks like it might be fun. 2. Read the experiment and any explanations about the science the investigation is about. For the selected experiment, the science topic […]

Borax Crystals

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Need a Fast Growing Crystal? Borax crystals form from a Supersaturated Borax Solution  in about three hours. Recipe for a Supersaturated Borax Solution1. Mix 1 cup of borax and 2 cups of water in a cooking pot.2. Heat the mixture to boiling, stirring so that the borax thoroughly mixes with the hot water. All the […]

Vitamin: Coenzyme

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Some enzymes need a helper called a coenzyme. The job of some coenzymes is to help an enzyme do its job, which can be to put together or take apart molecules. Changes in molecules in your body can be called biochemistry. The diagram models the bonding of two molecules, A and B. 1. The coenzyme […]

Dimensional Analysis

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Which carpet price is less expensive? $9.00 per square yard? $1.50 per square foot? Think! 1. The same units of measuring are needed in order to compare the prices. 2. You need to have a conversion factor between the units of square foot and square yard. 3. Remember that a conversion factor is a fraction […]

Stress: Elastic Limit

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Stress is an applied force that causes a material to be deformed (bent out of shape.) Elastic materials are able to return to their original shape after being deformed. For example, when you pull outward on the ends of a rubber band it stretches. When you release the ends, the rubber band returns to its […]

Click Beetle

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A live Clicking Click Beetle. Use Discount Code–    AFF20 —-to save 20% on Purchases. Janice VanCleave’s Biology For Every Kid: 101 Easy Experiments That Really Work   Janice VanCleave’s Insects and Spiders: Mind-Boggling Experiments You Can Turn Into Science Fair Projects

Click Beetle

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Reading Activity The colorful click beetle is from the cover of Eric Carle’s The Very Clumsy Click Beetle. Eric’s books are very colorful and fun.   This one about beetles would be a great introduction into a study about beetles. Learners of varied ages can compare the characteristics of real click beetles to the characteristics of […]

BUG ID Cards: Insects

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Bug is a term used for all creepy crawlers, including insects and spiders. An easy way to distinguish insects and spiders is called The 3 + 3 Rule. Insects have: three pairs of legs (3 legs on each side of its second body part) three body parts Let’s Get Buggy 1. On index cards, draw […]

Click Beetles

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Elaters, click beetles, snapping beetles, spring beetles and “skipjacks” are all common names for members of the widespread beetle family Elateridae. The following information about click beetles is from AgriLifeExtension website. Scientific Name: Varies Order: Coleoptera Description: Click beetles are elongated, parallel-sided and usually bear backward projections on the side corners of the shield behind […]

Types of Ants

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Ants are insects that live in colonies (groups of the same kind of animals living together). Each colony can contain hundreds or even thousands of ants. There are three basic types of ants: Queens: The “mother” ant that spends her long life of up to 10 to 15 years laying eggs. Queens are usually wingless […]