Chemistry

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Science Sisters Light Up a Homemade Laboratory and Bring Science to Life

By Blog Editor Susan Wells Sisters Keira and Shaylie are student scientists with a real knack for chemistry. They live in Bend, Oregon and along with friend Caroline, have turned a bathroom in their home as well as a playroom into science labs. We…
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Borax Magic Crystal Snowflake Christmas Tree Ornaments

Are you looking for a fun indoor activity that uses both creativity and science? Make these beautiful Crystal Snowflakes to decorate your tree using a little kitchen science.   Using a pair of scissors, cut a pipe cleaner into three…
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Are Some Science Educators Playing with Fire? When Does Sharing an Experiment Cross a Line?

By Blog Editor Susan Wells I am frustrated. As our children grow up, they want to experiment. Explore. Discover. The internet is a wonderful tool to use in their education and growing independence. Growing up, I had to use encyclopedias,…

Participate in a Global Experiment During The International Year of Chemistry

"The International Year of Chemistry 2011 (IYC 2011) is a worldwide celebration of the achievements of chemistry and its contributions to the well-being of humankind." The International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC) is the oldest…

Seven-Layer Density Column: Stacking Liquids

Oil and water don’t mix. Everyone knows that. What is the scientific reason behind why don’t they mix? Answer: Oil and water don’t mix because of how their molecules are constructed. Water is what is known as a polar molecule. A water…

It's a Periodic Table of Elements that a Kid Might Actually Read

Just mention the Periodic Table of Elements to a high school student, and you're likely to see them break out in a rash. Being forced to memorize the elements is just cruel and unusual punishment. Companies like BP are coming along and trying…

Wild About Tie Dye

Lots of kids learn how to do tie dye, but the fifth graders at Wilder Elementary got a dose of art and science today when yours truly and art teacher extraordinare, Jill Day, approached the activity from a slightly different angle. You won't…

Exploding Watermelons

I love Halloween. One of my favorite activities is to "carve" pumpkins using a simple reation inside the fruit. First, you carve the face then carefully replace pieces. After creating a reaction by generating a gas inside and igniting it (ask…
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Mad About Science Week – Wally Keesecker

Our week-long salute to amazing science teachers wraps up with a visit to Heritage High School in Littleton, Colorado, where chemistry teacher Wally Keesecker gets students fired up about science. Wally is well-known for his attention-grabbing…