Mad scientist party

(or Science Magic / Science Lab)
Give them a science lesson they'll think is cool!

Invitations:
Ooze on over to "Child's Name" Wild Lab
Use graphics of test tubes or lab equipment

Decorations:
Black and Silver for a high tech lab or green for ooze and slime.

Cake:
Any cake covered with green frosting to look like slime.

Goodie Bag:
Add goodies like face mask, lab Dr. stuff, magnifing glass and they will have the things they make.

Activities

Chemical Lab:
Ooze
Need 3/4 cup cornstarch
1/2 cup water
Mix together.  Add green food coloring to look like ooze.

Is it a solid or a liquid?
Both water and cornstarch (one liquid one solid) have long and floppy molecules allowing them to take on different shapes.  Gravity or you can pull on the molecules.

SLIME   (need: cups, popsicle sticks, glue, water and borax)
Need the following per child.
1sturdy disposable cup
popsicle stick
2 oz white glue
2 oz water
Put both the glue and water in cup and mix up.
Mix together 1 1/2 teaspoons borax per each 1/2 cup water.
Add 2 oz of this mix to each childs cup.  Have them stir, it will instantly began to cling together.

What happens?
Glue molecules are long and stringy.  Borax hooks them together.

Electric Lab
Static Electricity (need:  balloons, aluminum soda can)
1.  Have them blow up their balloons and rub them in their hair to make their hair rise with the electricity.
2.  Set soda can on a hard surface so it can roll.  Use one of the rubbed balloons and move it closer to the can.  Does it move the can?
3.  Will the rubbed balloon stick to a wall?

Why?
Molecules are charged (+ and -).  Normally, the amounts equal each other, they are neutral or have no charge.  When one type moves, it makes electricity.  Objects with the opposite charge will be attracted to each other.  Objects with the same charge will move apart.

A Shocking Experience
Need one per child,
1 penny
1 lemon
1 paper clip
Cut slit 1/4 inch in to the lemon to fit the penny, then another for the paperclip, close to but not touching the penny.
Let the kids touch their tongues to each of the metals.  Can they feel the electricity?

What the heck happened?
The childs tongue serves as a bridge to allow electricity to flow in a complete circuit or cycle.

Motion
Falling Coin (or why we need to wear our seat belts)
Need:
1 glass
1 index card
1 coin
Place card over glass evenly.  Place coin in center.
Flick the card end with your finger to send it flying.  What happens to the coin?   It should fall into the glass.

What's going on?
The Law of Inerta:  An object in motion will tend to stay in motion, while the object at rest will tend to stay at rest.
This is why we wear seatbelts...if a car we rode in were to stop suddenly, we would go flying.

It's a Gas
Suck an Egg into a Jar
Need:
1 hard boiled egg, peeled and at room temperature
1 narrow top jar (most baby food jars work well)
HOT water
Show the children how the egg will not fit into the jar on it's own.
Now, fill the jar with the hot water for 2-3 minutes.  Pour this out and set the egg on the opening.  The egg will end up inside the jar.

What's happeining:
Hot air exands and takes up space.   When the jar begins to cool, the air inside cools.   This cooler air contracts, pulling down, while the outside air pushes down.   The egg is sucked into the jar.

Please relay any questions or suggestions to the following e-mail address  boardlr@coupeville.net

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