Monthly Archives: July 2017

  1. Yeast Balloon

    Yeast Balloon

    Blow up a balloon with a chemical reaction

    Have some yeast friends blow-up a balloon for you!

    Suitable for kids aged 5+ with parental supervision

    You Need:
    • 1 packet of dry yeast
    • 1 cup of warm water (almost hot)
    • tablespoon of sugar
    • 1 balloon
    • A small empty juice or water bottle
    What to do:
    1. Mix the yeast, sugar and warm water together by stirring gently.
    2. Once the sugar has dissolved (after a minute or so) pour the mixture into the bottle. You may notice the mixture may have already started to bubble as the yeast produce carbon dioxide.
    3. Stretch the mouth of the balloon
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  2. Conductive Play-Dough

    Conductive Play-Dough

    Replace wires with play dough and circuit building becomes a snack for tiny learners. Watch them figure it all out and you'll see their little faces light up! up

    Suitable for kids aged 5+ with the help of an adult

    For Conductive Play-Dough You Will Need:
    • 1 cup Water
    • 1 1/2 cups Flour
    • 1/4 cup Salt
    • 3 Tbsp. Cream of Tartar (or 9 tablespoons of lemon juice)
    • 1 Tbsp. Vegetable Oil
    • Food Coloring (optional)



    For Circuit You Will Need:
    • battery pack
    • batteries
    • light emitting diodes/LEDS
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  3. Bending Water

    Bending Water

    An easy and fun way to learn about static electricity!

    Suitable for kids aged 5+

    You Need:
    • A nylon (plastic) comb
    • A narrow stream of water from a tap
    • A head of clean, dry hair

    What to do:
    1. Turn on the tap and slowly turn down the water until you have a VERY thin stream of water flowing.
    2. Take the plastic comb and brush it through your hair at least ten times.
    3. Now slowly bring the comb close the the running water, (without actually touching the water) If all goes well, the stream
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  4. Levitating orb

    Levitating orb

    Spook your friends out with this LEVITATING orb!

    A fun science trick that explores electricity - all you need is 5 minutes and a few dollars!

    Suitable for kids aged 5+

    You Need:
    • 2.5cm wide PVC Pipe about 60cm long.
    • Thin Mylar tinsel for Christmas trees. (l millimeter wide)
    • A head of clean, dry hair
    • Scissors

    What to do:
    1. Arrange 6 strands of mylar together and tie them together in a knot at one end.
    2. Tie them together again about
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  5. Dancing Sultanas

    Dancing Sultanas

    Watch your favourite school snack dance in soda water!

    Suitable for kids aged 5+

    You Need:
    • 10 x Sultanas
    • 1 x Litre of Soda Water
    • 1 x Transparent Contrainer

    What to do:
    1. Pour the soda water into the container.
    2. Gently add the sultanas one at a time to the soda water.
    3. Watch them float to the surface and then sink down to the bottom.
    4. How long will this dancing go on, and why?



    Read more »
  6. Balloon Hovercraft

    Balloon Hovercraft

    Balloon Hovercraft

    Make your own simple hovercraft out of an old CD and a balloon. Then watch it glide over the floor on a cushion of air. Make a few and have some races with friends which design outperforms them all?

    Suitable for kids aged 5+ with parental supervision

    You Need:
    • Balloon
    • Old CD (youre not listening too anymore)
    • Strong craft glue or super glue
    • Pop-top lid from a drink bottle
    What to do:
    1. Ensuring that the pop-top lid is closed, glue the bottom of the lid to the centre of the CD. The base of the lid needs to be completely covering the hole in the centre of the
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  7. Hairdryer Hover Ball

    Hairdryer Hover Ball

    Hairdryer Hover Ball

    Hairdryers are not only good for drying hair. Impress your friends and float a ping pong ball in mid-air for minutes.

    Suitable for kids aged 7+ with parental supervision

    CAUTIONThis science activity should only be done under adult supervision as it requires the use of an electrical hairdryer. Ensure the hairdryer is always on its coolest setting.
    You Need:
    • Hairdryer
    • Ping pong ball
    • Toilet roll, or cardboard tube (optional)
    • Pencil (optional)
    What to do:
    1. Plug the hairdryer in at the wall, and put it on its coolest setting.
    2. Place the ping
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  8. Floating Paper Clip

    Floating Paper Clip

    Floating Paper Clip

    Paper clips sink in water, right!? Using a piece of paper towel and a steady you can get them to float. Its all about the surface tension of the water. Try adding a drop of liquid detergent to upset the balance. Or floating the paper clips in different liquids. Lots of fun!

    Suitable for kids aged 5+
    You Need:
    • Container or bowl of water
    • Paper towel
    • Paper clips
    What to do:
    1. Drop a paper clip in the water, and watch it sink to the bottom. Why does it sink?
    2. Tear off a piece of paper towel about half the size of a dollar note (size doesnt matter, as long as its bigger than the paper clip).
    3. Place the piece of paper towel gently on to the water so it floats.
    4. Carefully place a paper clip on
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  9. Egg In A Bottle

    Egg In A Bottle

    Egg In A Bottle

    This classic science demonstration never ceases to amaze. Get a hard-boiled egg through a small bottle neck opening and into the bottle without touching it. A great way to learn about air pressure.

    Suitable for kids aged 10+ with parental supervision

    CAUTIONThis experiment requires the use of matches and a small flame. Please exercise caution, and only perform under adult supervision.
    You Need:
    • A hard-boiled egg with the shell removed
    • A glass bottle with a mouth slightly smaller than the egg (fruit-drink bottles work well)
    • Small piece of newspaper about 10cm square
    • Matches
    What to do:
    Read more »
  10. Straw Rocket

    Straw Rocket

    Make this rocket quickly and easily out of drinking straws. Then blast it high into the air using air pressure. Fun and completely safe!

    Suitable for kids aged 5+ with parental supervision.

    You Need:
    • A drinking straw (preferably one that bends near the end)
    • Half a wider drinking straw (with a large enough diameter to slide easily over the other straw) Note: you can always make one of these out of paper
    • Masking tape
    What to do:
    1. Pinch one end of the wide half-straw and stick a piece of masking tape over it, to seal the end closed. This is your straw rocket.
    2. Slide your rocket straw over the straight end of the
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