VanCleave's Science Fun

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

Tips for Making Science Fun For Kids

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As a teacher, you have your own “magic touch” that makes  lessons come alive. For me, the following tips along with my own excitement helped stimulate interest. Hands-on activities, such as investigations that kids can do themselves. Kids want to be active problem solvers. Investigations that have just a touch of magic to make kids […]

Teach Hypothesis Using Möbius Strips

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Demonstrations are great for starting a class. The more magical the better. I suggest that you give no clues about what is going to happen. In fact,  make it as mystical as possible. Even prepare your materials in advance. Instructions: Students are asked to prepare for the demonstration. Regardless of age, all students are asked […]

Fishing Fun

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I am a mom, grandmother, and great grandmother– In my spare time I wrote 52 science books for kids. Now I squeeze in time to write this science web site. I also write articles for magazines. A parenting magazine asked me to provide them with  fun activities for very young kids. At the time, my […]

Teaching Science

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  Grace and I made a video about science fair projects.   Grace is interviewing me about  science fair projectss. Grace wasgiven a script to follow, which is one way kids can learn tohow to interview someone. After kids have practiced interviewing each other, they willbe ready to interview people outside the classroom. For example,kids […]

Starch Slime

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Slime:Cornstarch and Water. MESSY?? You bet. FUN?? Absolutely 1. Pour 2 cups of corn starch into a large bowl. Tip: It is difficult to give an exact recipe for making cornstarch slime because  humidity can be a factor. So, I have suggested that you start with a 2:1 ratio of corn starch to water. 2. […]

Measurements: Mass vs. Weight

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I am helping a first year teacher who is teaching science to children who are not fluent in English. 1. How does one explain that mass and weight are not interchangeable terms when  the same instrument, such as a  bathroom scale, can be used to measure both mass and weight? 2. How does one explain […]

Science at Home

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Home study provides endless ways for you and your children to play and find out about science. You have a fantastic science laboratory in your kitchen with a bounty of chemicals and laboratory tools. I am not minimizing the importance of learning to use science equipment. My thought is that by mastering measuring skills using […]

Collection of 203 Science Investigations

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This collection of science experiments gives you a taste of all the different science disciplines: Astronomy, Chemistry, Biology, Earth Science and Physics. Why are Popsicles softer than ice? What makes bananas turn brown? How do whales use sound to “see”? Why does the Moon seem to change shape?   Figure out the answers for yourself […]