<![CDATA[www.123playandlearn.com - Science]]>Wed, 12 Nov 2025 00:30:04 -0800Weebly<![CDATA[Pendulum Art]]>Fri, 07 Nov 2014 22:44:38 GMThttps://www.123playandlearn.com/science/pendulum-artPendulums are a great way to teach children about centrifugal force, without getting into the actual science of how it works. Their curiosity will be piqued when they are able to see the path their pendulum takes as it eventually comes to rest. Often times children see that suspended items return to a resting position (as with swings), now we have created a way to illustrate this so that they can understand. 
]]><![CDATA[Rainbow Bubble Snake Wand]]>Tue, 02 Sep 2014 16:31:00 GMThttps://www.123playandlearn.com/science/rainbow-bubble-snake-wand
Things will need for this experiment:
  • Water Bottle/or sports drink or any kind
  • One Sock
  • liquid dishwashing soap
  • Food Coloring (Optional)
What to do:
 Step #1: Find a bottle you can put a sock onto securely
Step #2: Once you have finished putting the sock onto the bottle, go find a bowl and put dishwashing liquid into the bowl
Step #3: Add as little water as possible, only to thin out the soap
Step #4: Dip the sock piece into the solution to create bubble glory!

#5: (Optional) You can add food coloring to the sock to create colorful bubbles!


How Does this experiment work:
The sock acts as though it’s a wand, you dip the wand into the soap solution then BAM! You have a long trail of bubble floating everywhere! This project is meant to be outside, this project can stain clothes if your
]]><![CDATA[Lava in a cup]]>Tue, 02 Sep 2014 16:19:45 GMThttps://www.123playandlearn.com/science/lava-in-a-cup
Things will need for this experiment:
  • Find a clear glass or cup
  • Warm Water
  • Food coloring
  • Vegetable oil
  • Measuring cups (3/4 cup and ¼ teaspoon )
  • Salt (Does not matter on the kind you use)
What to do:
Step #1: Fill the glass with ¾  of water
Step #2: Add five or more drops of food coloring
Step #3: Then slowly pour the Vegetable oil into the glass
Step #4: Once the glass is filled with both the water and vegetable oil begin adding as much salt as needed until you see bubbles.
Step #5: (Optional) Once the affects wear off, you may keep adding salt to keep the affects going
How Does this experiment work:
How the experiment works is basically the combinations of the three main ingredients (water, vegetable oil and   Salt) The vegetable oil raises to the top since oil is lighter than water. Once the water and oil separate, begin adding the food coloring which will turn the liquids into the “lava” color. Then we add the salt last since the salt is heavier than oil! Once the salt sinks down into the water, the salt will take a bit of oil down with it, and then return to the surface as bubbles.
]]><![CDATA[Fizz-Inflator]]>Tue, 02 Sep 2014 16:04:59 GMThttps://www.123playandlearn.com/science/fizz-inflator
Things will need for this experiment:
  • One water bottle
  • ½ cup of vinegar
  • A (Preferably) small balloon
  • Baking soda
  • Funnel or rolled up piece of paper
What to do:

Step #1: Find a water bottle and carefully pour ½ a cup of vinegar into the water bottle.

Step #2: Find a funnel and attach it to the balloon. Once the balloon is attached to the funnel begin pouring baking soda into the funnel to the balloon. Keep pouring until the balloon is half way full.

Step #3: Once the water bottle is filled with some vinegar, and the balloon has some baking soda in it then you attach the balloon to the mouth of the water bottle as tight as possible.

Step #4: Then gently tip the balloons baking soda into the water balloon and watch the science began!

How Does this experiment work:
The experiment works by creating an Acid-based reaction of the two chemicals (the baking soda and vinegar) forming into gas (carbon dioxide) which will inflate the balloon.

]]><![CDATA[Expanding Soap Bars]]>Sun, 15 Jun 2014 21:02:53 GMThttps://www.123playandlearn.com/science/expanding-soap-bars*Warning* This project will make your home/Care Center smell like a bar of soap. Please use common sense when executing this project.
Place a piece of waxed paper in your microwave, then place the bar of soap on top of the parchment. This really doesn't make a mess, so don’t worry. We started out with one minute, which gave us a good result. Had we known better, we would have stopped at one minute, but we decided to spring for two minutes and got burnt soap. As an FYI; Burnt soap makes a lot of soap smelling smoke... 


**As a bonus sensory exorcise, we let the children play with their expanded soap n the sink. They really enjoyed feeling the different textures of the soap, and watching it melt away. 
]]><![CDATA[Celery Coloring Experiment]]>Mon, 28 Apr 2014 17:41:01 GMThttps://www.123playandlearn.com/science/colorful-celery
Picture

Supplies:
  • celery
  • clear cups or jars
  • water
  • food coloring
  • knife
Directions: Fill cups/jars half-full of water. Add 5-8 drops of food coloring to each cup/jar. Cut the bottom of the celery to make each stalk the same height (use the stalks with some leaves on them). Place celery into cup/jars. Observe the changes several times over a 24-48 hour period.
The science: When you water the soil of your plants, how does the water travel from the soil into the plant and out to the leaves? Tiny tubes (xylem) draw the water up from the roots like a straw. It works by a capillary action. The water molecules suck up inside the tiny tubes and move up and out to the leaves as if someone was sucking on the end of the tubes. The suction actually occurs as a result of water in the leaves evaporating very slowly. 
]]><![CDATA[Coffee Clay: Fossils]]>Mon, 28 Apr 2014 17:22:34 GMThttps://www.123playandlearn.com/science/coffee-clay-fossils
Supplies:
  • 1 Cup used coffee grounds
  • 1/2 Cup water or leftover coffee
  • 1 Cup flour
  • 1/2 Cup salt
Directions:
Mix all ingredients together. Knead a few times. Roll out or hand pat clay to desire thickness. Create beautiful keepsake fossils by gently pressing shells, leaves, or plastic animals or dinosaurs into the clay. Remove the item from the clay gently. Use a straw or pencil to create a hole at the top of the clay ornament. Let the clay sit out to dry for 1-3 days. Add a ribbon or string for hanging.
]]><![CDATA[Apple Seed science]]>Tue, 08 Apr 2014 15:52:50 GMThttps://www.123playandlearn.com/science/apple-seed-science
Directions:
Place a few apple seeds onto a paper towel. Fold in half. Wet paper towel just enough to make damp. Place inside sandwich bag and seal shut. Check every few days for changes. Place in a sunny place.  Add water if paper towel becomes dry.
Supplies:
  • Apple seeds
  • Resealable sandwich bag
  • Paper towel or napkin
  • Water

Will my seed sprout?

If your seeds continue to grow plant them in a small cup with soil and water regularly. Transfer to a bigger container as needed.

]]><![CDATA[Kitchen Science Experiments]]>Mon, 24 Mar 2014 17:37:59 GMThttps://www.123playandlearn.com/science/kitchen-science-experimentsLava Lamp Experiment

Supplies:
  • clear glass 
  • water
  • 1/4 cup vegetable oil
  • salt
  • food coloring

Directions:
Fill glass 3/4 full with water. Add 3-5 drops of food coloring. Slowly pour in oil and let it rise to the top of the glass. Sprinkle 1 teaspoon of salt on top of oil. Wait and watch for blobs to move up and down in the glass. Add more salt to keep the blobs going.

Tornado in a Glass



Supplies:
  • clear glass
  • water
  • 1/4 cup vegetable oil
  • food coloring
  • butter knife

Directions:
Fill glass 3/4 of water. Add 3-5 drops of food coloring. Stir. Slowly pour in oil and let it raise to the top of the glass. Use a butter knife to rapidly stir the contents in the glass around in a circular motion. Remove knife and observe the tornado effect.
]]><![CDATA[Pepper Scatter ]]>Tue, 26 Nov 2013 17:27:09 GMThttps://www.123playandlearn.com/science/pepper-scatterWhat's going on? http://www.abc.net.au/science/surfingscientist/pepperscatter.htm
Picture
]]>