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.

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Home » Floating Ball

Floating Ball

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Science has a magical appeal for children. While they are entertained by science demonstrations, nothing is as captivating as something they can do themselves.

The best TEACHING TIP I have for club directors is to support and encourage children’s inborn gift of curiosity

One way is to explore the fun of science TOGETHER.
Instead of giving all the answers, guide activities so that kids discover answers for themselves.

For an additional activity and information about why the ball is floating above the hair dryer, see  BERNOULLI’S PRINCIPLE

DISCOVERING TOGETHER

The hair dryer is on its coolest setting. Test different balls to see which will float.

The best way to get kids involved is to ask cause-effect  questions, such as the following.

Each of the following questions has an independent variable (CAUSE) that you change in order to determine what kind, if any, change occurs in a dependent variable (EFFECT).

1. How does the speed of the air from the hairdryer affect the height of the floating ball?

2. How does the speed of the air from the hairdryer affect the weight OF THE BALL that will float?

3. How does the weight of the ball affect its height above the hairdryer?


7182X: Janice VanCleave"s Engineering for Every Kid: Easy Activities That Make Learning Science Fun Janice VanCleave’s Engineering for Every Kid: Easy Activities That Make Learning Science Fun