Science Club

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Home : 2002 : March : 8

Science Club
By Robert Christensen

I finished a Unit on Inventors. It is difficult to engage the students in inquiry however. They mainly learn what Science the inventor did, rather than do the Science themselves. The children did enjoy taking apart old machines
and electrical devices, and then making simple "Owners' Manuals." They made a timeline where they researced an inventor/invention and placed it on a clothesline.
A popular Science activity I have done is discovering what happens to living organisms duing an oil spill. Boiled eggs/plastic sealed bags/Mix oil (used motor oil from a garage because its black) and water in the bag.

Try two eggs. Take one out after 15 min. Wash with detergent. Clean hands (gloves) peel the eggs and the oil is discovered to have penetrated the shell. Try at 30 min and it has penetrated more. Do over a tray. Kids loved it. Read "Oil Spill" (by child author--?).