Supplies! and Lesson Planning
We have lots of kits and supplies for experiments in our Project S.E.E.E. locker in the SSB student organizations center. You'll need to check in with the front desk first with a valid ID. We now have a list of general supplies that we usually have in stock for UT group members to check out. Sometimes we run out of materials and have to re-stock, but many times items are hiding behind or inside of things, so double check before you buy extra things! We can reimburse up to your semester's membership fees should you need or want to buy anything separately. Keep in mind though that some things like glue and mentos are very popular and expendable so those are things you likely will have to buy for each experiment. There is also a stack of books/packets with tons of experiment ideas and instructions as well, so if you can't find ideas online you can look at them there.
Also, it often comes in handy to do a demonstration/mini lesson at the beginning of the class, and then split off into groups for the experiments. This works best when you can get 4 or so kits/copies of everything for each group to use, with a Project Seee member heading each group of kids. So keep that in mind when looking up/buying supplies -some experiments won't need this and you can of course tailor this to fit your group/class size/teaching style. In my groups, I liked to do a quick (2-5 minutes) review at the end to discuss what happened and why. It's a great chance to hear what the kids did and didn't like, too ;)
Here are 2 great sites I found with fun little experiment ideas. They look cheap and easy, so you could combine 2 or 3 of these in a lesson if you wanted to. We've found that a lot of the kids past 2nd grade had done project s.e.e.e. before, so we want to expand the types of experiments so that we aren't repeating the same things each year. These are all great concepts to demonstrate other physics and chemistry principles and are fun too :)
Check them out!
http://www.kids-science-experiments.com/index.html
http://www.sciencekids.co.nz/experiments.html
P.S: Also!! it may be worth investing in a pack of stickers for your group for the semester, or for the older kids, some cheap prizes like glowstick bracelets at the dollar store. They work as great incentives to get the kids participating and remembering key terms from the previous week's lesson! ;)
Also, it often comes in handy to do a demonstration/mini lesson at the beginning of the class, and then split off into groups for the experiments. This works best when you can get 4 or so kits/copies of everything for each group to use, with a Project Seee member heading each group of kids. So keep that in mind when looking up/buying supplies -some experiments won't need this and you can of course tailor this to fit your group/class size/teaching style. In my groups, I liked to do a quick (2-5 minutes) review at the end to discuss what happened and why. It's a great chance to hear what the kids did and didn't like, too ;)
Here are 2 great sites I found with fun little experiment ideas. They look cheap and easy, so you could combine 2 or 3 of these in a lesson if you wanted to. We've found that a lot of the kids past 2nd grade had done project s.e.e.e. before, so we want to expand the types of experiments so that we aren't repeating the same things each year. These are all great concepts to demonstrate other physics and chemistry principles and are fun too :)
Check them out!
http://www.kids-science-experiments.com/index.html
http://www.sciencekids.co.nz/experiments.html
P.S: Also!! it may be worth investing in a pack of stickers for your group for the semester, or for the older kids, some cheap prizes like glowstick bracelets at the dollar store. They work as great incentives to get the kids participating and remembering key terms from the previous week's lesson! ;)
Some of the Supplies:
Kits: 2 Simple Machines Kits 1 Inflatable Solar System 1 Food Pyramid Giant Plastic Mat with Exercise Activities 4 Plant Cell Foam Models 1 Brain Model 1 Prisms Kit 4 Snap Circuits Kits (older kids) 3 Magnets Kits 4 Human Torso Kits 2 Brain Cross-Section Foam Head Models 2 "My-Size Insides" Velcro Body Kits 1 Geology Rocks & Minerals Kit (be very careful with this!!) Craft Supplies: 1 microscope 1 bucket of tangrams 1 add&subtract bingo 1 effervescent launcher pvc pipe with instructions 2 window rainbow prisms 9 thermometers 1 mini scale 4 giant plastic mixing bowls with big plastic spoons (for slime, etc.) acrylic paint elmer's glue plastic (drinking) cups and bowls test tubes petry dishes tornado tube connectors magnifying glasses glue sticks cotton balls marshmallows (not for eating) paper plates construction paper salt baking soda plastic spoons, forks & knives yarn measuring cylinders cling wrap aluminum foil ziploc bags rulers toothpicks rubber bands tiny water balloons fishing line white vinegar borax mini cups/containers for slime coffee filters chalk |