In my class, I do not demonstrate chemistry experiments and have my students watch. This is not the best way for them to learn science! My students have to actually DO the science experiments themselves, they have to be scientists! And they love being scientists! They are soooo excited when it is experiment day. I have a quote on my door that they see as soon as they walk into my classroom:
When we do chemistry experiments, we use plastic labware only. I started off my career as a research scientist. I was a biochemist at a large pharmaceutical company and I used beakers, graduated cylinders, test tubes, Erlenmeyer flasks, etc. I always remind my students that they are using equipment found in real chem labs. The only difference is theirs is plastic so they can knock over the beakers and graduated cylinders all they want, nothing breaks! If your classroom does not have labware, you can always use Dixie cups & call them beakers, use measuring cups and call them graduated cylinders, swim goggles are safety goggles, etc. - just improvise!
My third graders just finished up a unit on Cabbage Chemistry so they know all about acids, bases and chemical reactions. This was a fun culmination to the Cabbage Chemistry unit.
They started off by carefully measuring 80 mls vinegar (they use the proper scientific name "acetic acid") using the graduated cylinders. The kids work in pairs and they take turns. So rather than just one person adding 80 mls, I have each student add 40 mls:
Then they poured the acetic acid into bottles:
Using funnels, they filled a balloon with 2 tablespoons baking soda (they call this sodium bicarbonate, they love knowing the big science words!):
They attached the balloon to the bottle, picked up the balloon and watched the chemical reaction occur! Many screams & loud laughter from all!!
Everyone measured the circumference of their balloon in centimeters and we recorded our data:
We discussed gases and they had to guess the name of the gas inside of the balloon (carbon dioxide).
Happy Weekend!
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