Mini-Science Experiment Ideas Needed (for a 2nd grader)
 

Our Son has to do a mini science experiment on Friday. Of course I have 1000 ideas all of which will require extensive reasearch and preparation. Friday is too short a time frame for an NSF grant so we have to come up with something simple, fun and not too messy or dangerous.

I was thinking about having hime bring in my multi-meter and several jars of different liquids and show the various difference in conductivity. My Wife thinks thats stupid so of course I have to dig my heels in further!

I'm drawing a blank on what to suggest. He wants to blow something up but that is not an option. You guys have any ideas?

You could always do the conductivity thing...have several items and see which pass the current best to light up a lightbulb...and measure the voltage as well.

Baking soda volcano

http://chemistry.about.com/cs/howtos/ht/buildavolcano.htm

liquid plumber
aluminum foil
2L soda bottle

under parental watch of course.

Remember the "hustle" thread from yesterday. Have him do that and explain how it works.

Barring the use of explosives, in second grade, if science isn't like magic, it isn't interesting enough to hold the attention of his peers.

Mentos and Diet Coke :cool:

Soda bottle w/ vinegar and balloon filled with baking soda streched over neck of bottle. Although I do like Nostril Cheese's Drano/aluminum foil bomb better...

soap in a microwave.

The diet Coke Menthos would be good but it would be too messy as would the volcano. Condustivity of various coins and solutions would be easiest.

The hustle trick would be cool but I'm not so sure they would allow hootch in a 2nd grade class room (here in Tejas, they save that for Jr High).

Show the teacher how putting Sterno in the intake runner of his Dodge Minivan will improve his mileage long enough to get an A on his science project.

I suggest the good ol' fassion solar still.
It can be made several ways, but the outcome is always the same: Make drinkable or clean water from saltwater or water with food coloring in it. It will function either outside under sunlight, and can also work indoors under a halogen lamp. Easy to build, usually worth a solid A.

If you need plans, PM me.

-Nick

Get a decent battery. Even a 9 volt will work. Attach two leads and put the in a glass of water. Explain that the bubbles are hydrogen. With a bigger battery, you could put a balloon over the jar, let it fill up and with a match, watch it burst into flames.

Dave

Have him build a potato battery.

Aurel

My eldest daughter just did her 3rd grade science fair project. Last year she and a friend measured the thermal conductivity of different house-hold materials by measuring how much mass an ice-cube lost via melting after sitting for 1 minute on each substance. They used such things as a ceramic bowl, a glass bowl, ( all with little conductivity), an aluminum pizza pan (lots of conductivity) and a steel pot (some, but less then the aluminum). They were selected from their grade and school to present at the town's science fair. My assistance was to let them use my parts scale, showing them how to use it and helping them to follow something resembling "scientific process". They had already learned something about that in class, but it was still a new idea for them.

This year they tried to see how well eggs floated in different liquids. Things like olive oil, water, milk and (at my wife's and my suggestion) salt water. In each case they measured the weight of the liquid, how far the level of the liquid increased when the egg (and salt) was put in, and if the egg floated or not. Being their second time around, they were much more familiar with the process.

...Or get him kicked out of the Daytona 500. ;)

How about have a boiled egg sink in warm tap water, remove the egg, add LOTS of salt (thereby increasing the density) and replace the egg and it floats. Try it at home to make sure you have enough salt for the egg to float - measured for the container.

Edit - darnit - didn't see the last half of Jon's post above.

Re: Mini-Science Experiment Ideas Needed (for a 2nd grader)
 

Make some biodiesel with veg oil, drano and methanol. If you can't get MeOH maybe you can use EtOH. Easy and fun. Show the separation of glycerine and biodiesel in final product. Put a wick in it and make a lamp.

Build a gererater.

Light Peanuts on fire, and show how the oils burn because of the calories or something like that....aww heck just do some fun stuff with dry ice or Liquid Nitrogen and bannanas.

Woohoo! That one never gets old does it? :D

Lubey, my wife pulled out our "Science Experiments & Amusements for Children" book. It was mine when I was a kid. Here is a selection... If you like any, I can send you the details..

1. Using convection to route smoke down into a shobox and up through a chimney
2. Making a compass with a cork, needle, bowl of water...
3. Making a simple electric motor (this was MY science experiment 30 years ago)
4. Rust uses up oxygen
5. A smiple 3-D viewer (stereoscope)

Not sure if these are at an appropriate level.