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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What Is the Scientific Method?

By Janice VanCleave

The Scientific Method is a Problem Solving Process The scientific method is not a set of steps that must be followed in order with fidelity. The scientific method includes Research, Questions, Hypotheses, Experimenting, Collecting Data, Making Conclusions. But, the order is not set in stone nor is there a rule that all the steps are […]

Filed Under: Science Projects Tagged With: exploratory research, fact finding, non-Newtonian fluid, research, scientific method

What is a Science Project?

By Janice VanCleave

Girl is Reading a Book: A Type of Fact Finding Research

  What is the difference between a class science project and a science fair project? First, let me define a few terms needed to describe a science project. Science is from a Latin word meaning knowledge, specifically about the universe and everything in it. In other words, science is the study of nature and all […]

Filed Under: Science Projects Tagged With: awards, book, experiment, investigation, planning the project, project, reading, research, science, science project, scientific method

Scientific Method Scripted Lesson

By Janice VanCleave

Following is a lessons prepared for a pre-K class. It can be adapted for any age group. ——————————————————————————- This lesson uses the mixing of primary colors to teach how the five senses are used to make observations. Hypothesis, called guesses for young learners, will be made and testing done to determine if the hypothesis is […]

Filed Under: scientific method Tagged With: scientific method

Science Project:Slime

By Janice VanCleave

Borax slime used to develop a science project.

How to Develop a Borax Slime Science Project Step 1. Topic You have your topic, which is: Making Slime Step 2. Research Research is learning about your topic. A good way to learn about slime is do an exploratory  investigation about making slime. Exploratory Investigations: These are generally simple experiments performed for the specific purpose […]

Filed Under: Science Projects Tagged With: borax solution, descriptive investigations, glue solution, non-Newtonian fluid, research, science fair project, scientific method, slime, slime science fair project

Scientific Method:Research

By Janice VanCleave

Research is any process that results in the collecting of information about a specific topic. There are two basic kinds of research, primary research and secondary research. Secondary Research: Information recorded by others. Primary Research: Research that you discover on your own. For example, research experiments, called exploratory investigations. The kids in the photo are […]

Filed Under: Science Projects Tagged With: research, scientific method

Cool Science Experiments

By Janice VanCleave

Teaching the Fun of Science to Young Learners

Kids love science and they generally figure out how to solve science problems on their own. In other words they use the problem solving process called the scientific method. Make it fun and interesting and even adults want to learn science. They might even sit in a wading pool as they play and find out […]

Filed Under: Measuring Tagged With: problem solving, scientific method, young learners

Engineering Fair Projects vs. Science Fair Projects

By Janice VanCleave

Testing an Engineering Prototype

Engineering Fair Projects are developed using the Engineering Method. Science Fair Projects are developed using the Scientific Method, also called the Inquiry Cycle.

Filed Under: Science Projects Tagged With: Engineering, engineering method, engineering project, inquiry cycle, scientific method

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Welcome to Janice’s Science Extravaganza!

The spoon hanging from the string vibrates when struck and these vibrations are transmitted through the string and the sound is amplified by the plastic cups. ABOUT ME: 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. MORE.....

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