VanCleave's Science Fun

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

ABOUT THE SOUND PICTURE

With mouth wide open, vibrating air coming up the throat from the vocal chords leaving the open mouth and spreading in all directions. Hi, I am Janice VanCleave, author of 50+ best-selling science experiment books for children ages 4 through high school. I taught science for 27 years and now am creating this science website.   My scream was not staged. The picture was to be of two adult cats, which I was holding. A microsecond before the camera snapped, the two cats dug their claws into my skin as they prepared to leap out of my arms. A picture like this is great for making inferences. Kids could make "guesses" as to why I am screaming. They would be drawing on facts from the photo, such as I look like I am in pain or maybe I am just pretending.

Sound Supplies and Sound Investigations

Educational Innovation Sound Supplies A black and yellow logo for Educational Innovations. A place to find fun science supplies.

Vision: Optical Illusion

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I love optical illusions. For example, the two curved pieces of paper in the diagram are exactly the same size. I know that because I cut them with the same pattern. I find it fascinating that my brain seems to have a “mind of its own.” What I know and what I see are different. […]

Persistance of Vision: Coins

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Question: What is persistence of vision? Answer: The retention of an image on the retina after the object has moved. Discover for Yourself: 1. Hold two identical coins together between your thumb and index finger. (One coin on top of the other.) 2. Quickly rub the coins against each other so that they slide back […]

Jesus Lizard

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Question: How fast can the Jesus Lizard run on water? Answer: The lizard is called a  “Jesus Lizard” because it can run across the top of water. This is because the lizard has large hind feet with scaly fringes on the sides of the third, fourth, and fifth toes. As you can see in the […]

Inherited Trait: PSR

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Sunlight always makes me sneeze. I haven’t thought much about it and assumed that it happens to everyone. While researching the cause of sneezing, I found information about photic sneeze reflex (PSR).  What I thought was a common is a trait inherited by less than 35% of the population. To inherit the trait, at least […]

Sneezing

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A sneeze is a sudden, forceful, involuntary burst of air through the nose and mouth. A sneeze is the body’s way of getting rid of irritating stuff in your nose, such as dust and pollen. Sneezing associated with a cold ejects thousands of  infectious, microscopic droplets that can hurt you. Sternutation is the scientific name […]

Carbonless Copy Paper

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Question: When I write on some papers, a copy of the writing appears on the underlining page. How does this happen? Answer: This is called No Carbon Required (NCR) paper and is used to make original copies of handwritten or typed documents without the use of electronics (copy machines). The process for preparing the paper […]

Scientific Method

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The scientific method must have originated with kids. I say this because they are naturally curious –naturally inquisitive –natural explorers. For example, at eight, my uncle told me that if I would run around our house three times two small spotted calves would be behind me. He swore it was true. His insistence that it […]

Optical Illusion: Zoo Bus

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This is tooooooooo cool! What do you think! will this zoo advertising attract more people to the zoo or scare them away. The zoo bus is advertising the Copenhagen Zoo. I personally love it and it will be on the top of my list of where to go in Copenhagen. I cannot stop looking at […]

Allergies: Allergens

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In a dusty area, most people sneeze. This is because dust contains so many different things that irritate the lining inside the nose.  For example dust can be made of these things and more: molds pollen roach poop dust mite poop pet and human dander (dead skin) Sneezing in a dusty area is not the […]

Chemistry: Stain Removal

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Notes from Janice’s Desk I love blackberries but seem to always drop them on my clothes. Actually, I am worse than a small child when it comes to staining my clothes with the foods I eat.This means that I have lots of clothes that have food stains on them. While researching food stains I discovered […]