Observing Sound Vibrations

Elijah finally finished up his energy unit with sounds and hearing. Elijah carried out his last experiment.


Take a can and remove both ends and attach a balloon that has been cut so it can fit over one side of the can tightly. Place a small amount of foil on the balloon. You can make it stick with a bit of glue.





Hold the can to your mouth and speak, scream, hum, etc. through the open end as you shine a flashlight onto the foil. The light should bounce to the wall you are standing near. As you speak the light will move.

Spooky Science #2 - Ghost in the Castle

We had our second spooky science experiment today! :)

Equipment: This photo...

If you have need of a larger photo click HERE.

Instructions:

You can of course SEE the black ghost, but did you know a white ghost will also haunt these ruins? In order to see him you must stare fixedly at the black ghosts mouth in bright light for 1 minute. After a minute you will need to quickly look in the doorway of the castle and you should see the white ghost. :)

How it works:

When you are looking at the black ghost part of your retina is NOT exposed to the light from the black surface. The rest of your optic nerves are LIKE WHOA and dazzled by the bright paper and they tire very quickly. When you look in the doorway of the castle the tired optic nerves do not see the white of the paper to its full brightness. They see it as more grey. The rest, on the other hand, see the white tint of the paper all the more clearly now. An exchange of black and white surfaces is produced and you can now see a white ghost! Once the nerves adjust themselves the white ghost disappears.

I had the boys sit on the couch under a light. Elijah could see it, but Remy couldn't.

He still couldn't see it, no matter what we did!

Once I had it on the computer I think the bright light from the computer helped his retinas see it better. Just some tips for those with younger children. The computer enabled us to see the ghost more clearly on the walls, ceiling, etc.

Have fun!

Spooky Science #1 - Ghost in a Bottle

I came up with an idea to share spooky science experiments with my boys. I have been through all of our science books and found quite a few. :)

Feel free to try them yourself! Excuse my video...I don't know what was up. Matthew said it was picking up EVP, LOL!

Ghost in a Bottle

Materials: Glass Bottle, water, coin or the metal top to the bottle

Instructions:

Place the glass bottle in the fridge and allow it to cool. Before you remove it from the fridge moisten the rim of the bottle with water and place the coin or top upside down on the opening. Have the child place their hands around the bottle to warm the ghost up. As he warms up he tries to get out.

Why it works:

The cold air warms up and expands. It has to go somewhere, so it tried to escape, since the air has outgrown it's bottle. The result is the coin or lid lifting.

Bird study

We have really enjoyed learning about birds again this year. I found the sweetest book at the library.

Crinkleroot's Guide to Knowing the Birds

It show how to feed the birds and how to create a bird yard.

We learned how LIFT helps birds to fly and we learned how lift works.

We borrowed some of our Dakota Bird's feathers that he had discarded and we looked at them under the microscope and we found all of the parts. We also unzipped and zipped back the feathers the way the birds do.

We also learned that there are different feathers and they each serve a purpose to the bird. The little down feather is under the long feathers and they help to keep the air under the bird and they help warm the air close to the birds body.

We are going to create our own bird yard for the fall. Now to find a CHEAP way of doing it!

Plants With Remy

Remy had to do the celery experiment...again...

Yes, it is fun.

And he likes to do it.

And since we were on plants and it suggested this little gem of a homeschool experiment, we did it, again. *snicker*

We are just beginning to see the red in the leaves...seems that plants still bring water up through little tubes within them and deposit the it throughout the leaves so they can make food...since the last time we did it. HA HA!

Now we can really see it!

Next he wanted to see if he could make a root grow...

And then we HAD to make this little silly plant hair-do guy. I had managed to talk Elijah out of it. You don't talk Remy out of ANYTHING!

All the experiments have been thrown out now besides the celery, and he grows redder everyday.

Oil and Water

Remy learned in science that a duck has an oil sac by his tail and that this oil is what coats his feather and keeps him water proof.

He then put some olive oil on a sheet of paper.

And then he put water on the the oil.

And he saw that oil and water doesn't mix. :)

So that is why water rolls off of a duck's back. ;)

Lots of Science Fun!

I was too busy playing my new game my husband bought me last Friday. This meant all free time that didn't include school time, cleaning, cooking, email, puppy care, or doula stuff was spent on this new game. That is why I was missing here! HA HA!

During school one day Eli took a break to walk the "twin wolf" puppies (that is what I call them) and he brought back in the first fall leaf.

Look at how LONG Piper is now! LOVE that little doggie!

I found him later that day reading during school time in his bed and I ran for that camera. I swear these kids will have the best documented school and home life ever! The school board will never be able to say that I didn't school them. HA HA!

Remy is loving the little cherry tomatoes that are FINALLY showing themselves. I told them that they had better hurry because fall is pretty much here! The first day of fall is so close!

In science we have talked about minerals, how they make it to the sea, and what creatures use them to do neat things. The limewater project was great in showing a few different things. Breathing carbon dioxide into the limewater made it cloudy and it formed little particulates in the water that rose and settled on the bottom showing sediment. The first one did not work so we had to redo that one, gotta love being a scientist. *wink* We also talked about how the corals take limestone from the seawater and build reefs with it.

We talked about how the Ocean is becoming saltier. Remy is in love with this topic now. And can tell you all about it. Small part of dissolved minerals come from the land to the rivers to the oceans. The water evaporates and leaves most of the salt. To show that this is indeed true we did an experiment. :) Of course!

We dissolved our own salt minerals into 1 cup of water. The salt was 4 Tbs. Now cook the mess out of it! *cough* I mean induce the evaporation! HEE HEE!

Ta-Da!

The salt stayed behind, but some traveled in the air and landed on the stove, and our lips tasted salty. Which lead to me talking about how when we are at the beach our lips taste salty even if we don't swim. :) I know when I arrive in Pensacola, Florida (my hometown) and open the car door I smell that salty ocean I love so much. :) It is truly one of the biggest things I miss from there and that time in my life. :)

Hope everyone I know here is enjoying a great weekend!