Hi, I'm doing some scientists-in-school program and I need some ideas for a short-term (~1day) intermediate experiments that are fun for the kids and can excite them to science.

 

I've thought of some ideas but I can't seem to find simple protocols for them. I don't have a lot of time on my hands to design a new protocol, so I'm seeking some help for those who may have experiences in these.

 

1. Simple fragrance extraction from flowers

2. Ag photo development

3. Creating some polymer/biomaterials for artificial limbs

4. Oohbleck (I got this from some website) - which can exhibit different surface properties depending on impact

 

Hope someone can help. Any other ideas would be good too!

You can do a DNA extraction from some veggies. All with stuff from the local drugstore or supermarket.

Can make some Prussian Blue blueprints, "canned heat" - dissolve CaCl2 in minimum water, add alcohol and it gels. Burn the gel.

A very rewarding and easy to perform experiment is the making of a simple cyanotype, using daylight for exposure of the ferricyanide/ferric citrate mix.

 

This is non-toxic and can be done by the pupils/kids.

Your students will most likely enjoy any experiment involving dry ice or foam try either

http://www.cci.ethz.ch/mainmov.html?expnum=30&ismovie=0&picnum=-1&control=0&language=1&exchap=3+-1&exlist=-1

Or

http://library.thinkquest.org/10429/high/cool/labs/elephantlab.htm

1. Simple fragrance extraction from flowers

 

Actually I'll be happy to read about this if anyone has a nice technique.