Four Great Science Activities for Kids by Matt Bamberg There are a wide variety of science projects you can do when you are 13 years-old. You can do projects in any of the three branches of science: physical science, life science and earth science. These are the branches of science that 13 year-olds study in school (Reference 3). You don't have to be limited though, especially when it comes to a science fair, where you can do more advanced projects according to your academic level. When you pick a project, make sure it is a subject you are interested in. Your project may involve research on the Internet. Make sure there is an adult around when you are doing the research, so you can get help if you need it. Constellation Round-Up Choose five constellations from one of the maps on "Constellation Maps" website. Make a copy of the map and use a yellow marker to outline the constellations you have chosen. Write the history and story of each constellation, list the major stars located there, write about when and where you can see each constellation, and include any other interesting information you find in your research. Weather Station Use a barometer, hydrometer and thermometer to determine the air pressure, humidity and temperature twice a day for week. Take the first reading early in the morning and the second in the late afternoon. Write how the measurements change during the day and over the course of the week. How Disease Spreads Consider a scenario where a disease is extremely contagious. The disease can only spread between two people. Use the powers of twos to determine how many people might get the disease in the future. To do this, get some clay and a large piece of construction paper to put it on. Mark the papers into rows going down. Make about 5 rows. Make about 100 little clay balls. In the first row set two clay balls down close together on the paper. In the second row calculate the answer to 2 to the second power down, and set that number of clay balls down. Continue: In the third row calculate 2 to the third power, in the fourth row, 2 to the fourth power and in the fifth row 2 to the fifth power. The clay balls symbolize people. Put red hot candies, which signify sick people, on two clay balls in the second row. Under those two people in the third row, put a red hot candy on 2 to the second power clay balls. In the fourth row, put 2 to the third power red hots under the people marked red in the third row. In the fifth row, put red hots on the 2 to the fourth power clay balls underneath the ones in the fourth row. Count up the number of people who are sick. Write about why so many people got sick. Cleaning Water Get a cup of dirty dish water, clean sand, coffee filter paper and some activated charcoal (for aquariums). Use a plastic funnel into which you will pour some sand and charcoal to purify the water. Place the filter inside the plastic funnel. Pour some sand inside the filter (about 2 inches deep). Pour some charcoal on top of the sand (about 2 inches thick). Have a partner hold the funnel. Place a clean empty bowl under the funnel. Slowly pour the dirty dishwater into the funnel. When all of the dishwater has dripped into the bowl, add a drop of bleach to the water. Write about what you did. List the name of the project, the materials, the procedure, the results, and the conclusion. |
