Science research » Carbon Dioxide

Good Science Fair Projects – Plants Reaching For Light (Part Two)

admin — Sun, 23 May 2010 07:50:31 +0000

In our previous science fair project we had a look at chlorophyll and how plants use this chlorophyll, sunlight, water and carbon dioxide to produce glucose (a form of sugar.) What else, that is very important, is produced through photosynthesis? (In the process carbon dioxide is taken from the air, what is released back into the air?) Now we are going to do a good science fair project to demonstrate how plants actually reach for sunlight. We know by now that they cannot survive without light, which we proved in our previous science fair project. Now we are going to do a really fun science fair project. If you want to do a really good science fair project, it might be a good idea to combine these two science fair projects as it gives you a very clear and visual picture of plants growing and needing sunlight.

Today’s science fair project is a good science fair project for someone that is a little handy. We are going to make a maze in a shoe box to demonstrate how the plant searches and reaches for light.

What you will need for this science fair project:

* First you need a shoe box

* You will need a pair of scissors

* Stiff card

* Some sticky tape

* Black paint

* A paint brush

* A pair of gardening gloves to protect your hands

* A runner bean

* A plant pot

* Some good compost

* Water

Now for the fun part: making your maze in your shoe box!

1. To start cut a hole in the one end of the shoe box.

2. Making a maze in your shoe box is very easy, start by cutting eight flaps out of the stiff cards. The flaps must fit securely into your shoe box in the width.

3. Now paint your shoe box and the eight flaps all over with black paint. Do you know why we are doing that? Think about the light reflecting…yes, the black paint is to stop the light entering through the hole from reflecting inside the shoe box!

4. Now you can make a maze by sticking the eight flaps of card inside the shoe box with sticky tape. Cut slots into your flaps at a different place in each flap to form a maze (if you are not sure how to do this, ask for the help of an adult who knows what a maze looks like.)

5. Plant a runner bean in a small plant pot with compost.

6. Water the soil each day to keep it moist but, do not make it too wet. Keep it in a warm place until the bean has a shoot. Remember to keep the soil moist, depending on the temperature; it may not be necessary to water the bean everyday.

7. When your plant has a shoot place it at the bottom of your maze.

8. Close the lid and place the maze in a sunny spot.

9. Remove the lid once a day to see if your plant needs water.

10. Now you can observe what is happening.

11. If you did it right, the plant will grow and find its way through your maze to steadily move towards the light.

12. Eventually your plant will poke through the hole at the top of your shoe box.

13. For display purposes it is a good idea to take a photo of your plant growing zig-zag through your maze and out the hole at the top.

This is a good science fair project for someone interested in gardening. It is also a good science fair project for someone that loves crafts as this can double as a craft because of the maze you have to make. Good science fair projects can never be done too fast, so give yourself enough time.

By: Magrietha Du Plessis

Fun Science Projects

admin — Mon, 26 Apr 2010 05:23:33 +0000

Hello, I have prepared a couple really fun science projects that any student can do at home with household items.

These Fun science projects should be done with adult supervision.

The first fun science project is called “The Balloon Inflater”

MATERIALS:

A carbonated soft drink in a bottle, a balloon, and a twist tie from a bread or a garbage bag.

WHAT TO DO: 1. Place the balloon over the mouth of the bottle and securing it to the bottle with the twist tie. 2. Have the adult hold the bottle and place their thumb over the mouth of the bottle covered by the balloon. 3. Now shake the bottle for five seconds and release your thumb. 4. The balloon fills with carbon dioxide that was dissolved in the soda pop. That’s why they are called carbonated drinks.

This is a great fun science project that can give you that A you want in science class! Here is another great science experiment that anyone can do .

THE BALLOON ROCKET

MATERIALS: A balloon

WHAT TO DO: Simply blow up the balloon. Then, holding it between you thumb and forefinger, let it go and watch it fly.

EXPLANATION: You already know that the air escaped from the opening in which you blew up the balloon. You also noticed that the balloon flew in the opposite direction – this is action and reaction. The first force, air escaping, is the action. The balloon moving in the opposite direction of the air is the reaction.

We use this principle everyday. We push down on a chair to get up. We push our feet to the back to walk forward. A basketball pushes down onto the floor just before it bounces. You can probably think of many other examples.

I hope you have enjoyed these fun science projects. Please remember that these science experiments should be done with adult supervision.

By: Tyler Horvath

2nd Grade Science Fair Projects

admin — Sun, 07 Mar 2010 06:54:16 +0000

Science projects for second graders help them learn a scientific principle through an experiment or a series of experiments. The project helps them to apply the skills that they have been taught. Through the second grade science fair project, children learn to ask questions, collect relevant data, write conclusions and present their findings in an attractive and effective manner.

While choosing the topic for the second grade science fair project, the raw materials required should be kept in mind. Very good second grade science fair projects can be done using household materials and material, which are commonly and easily available. Expensive laboratory equipment is not necessary for a second grade science fair project.

The entire second grade science fair project has to be thoroughly planned. The reports that are written should be clear and to the point.

Presentation is the key factor in second grade science fair projects and the following should be kept in mind:

1.The child should understand the topic very clearly and should have absolutely no doubts.

2.The child should be able to explain the project without reading it out.

3.The child should be confident and enthusiastic.

4.The child should be able to speak knowledgeably.

5.The child should present the project in a well organized and clear manner.

6.The project should be original and unique reflecting the creativity of the child.

Topics for second grade science projects are innumerable. However, interesting and original projects can be based on these questions: -

- How far can an animal be heard?

- How are diseases transmitted?

- How long are the blood vessels in different animals?

- Do plants lose water through their leaves?

- Which side of a plant leaf takes in Carbon dioxide?

- How do different colored lights affect plants?

- How fast can a rat/guinea pig run through a maze?

- Why is the sky blue?

- How are rainbows formed?

- Why does ice cream melt?

The advantages of doing an experiment so early on are innumerable. Such projects arouse the curiosity of the student. They are also intellectually stimulating as the child searches for answers instead of being spoon fed information. The students conducts the experiment and gets the result and then explores the reason behind the result and the scientific principle or principles involved.

Some experiments are done in groups. In such cases, children learn to co-operate with one other and work together as a team. They learn the importance of team spirit and they learn to adjust and compromise. In case the project has to be done individually, the child learns to be independent and self confident, however, these projects must be very small in scale, because the students are still to young and disorganized to do anything too complex.

These experiments also strengthen the bond between children and parents. The parents and children sit together and discuss various topics and the options available to them. The child feels happy that the parent is involved in his or her school work.

The second grade fair science projects also enable a student to learn a topic thoroughly and as he or she has learn it on his/her own, the child will not easily forget the scientific principle involved. Also, these experiments encourage children to enjoy science and develop a love for the subject.

By: Jordan Matthews