How to Host a Family Science Night

Family Science Night can be something that you do as a family or it can be something that is done with a larger group of people. You can set up stations so that people can try out different experiments or you can do them as a presenter in front of a large group. Personally, I like to set up stations so that it is more hands on for the kids. These activities are geared for elementary aged children.

Activity number one called "explosion." Now, there is not really any explosion involved but it sure seems like it. Set this up by providing a dishpan or some other type of bucket, two a smaller container such as a measuring cup and a measuring spoon set. You will also need vinegar and baking soda. Instruct the user to pour about half of a cup of vinegar into a cup. Place the cup of vinegar into the larger dishpan or bucket. Add a tablespoon of baking soda and watch what happens! Discuss why the reaction takes place. Try the experiment again using water instead of vinegar. Try it again with vinegar but this time add a few drops of dish soap to the vinegar before the baking soda. Try adding different powders and see what happens.

The next experiment is about colors. Give the participants an ice cube tray, preferably a white one with each compartment filled with water. An eye dropper and food coloring are also needed for this experiment. Put one drop of red, yellow, and blue food colorings into separate compartments of the ice cube tray. Allow the child to then use the eye dropper to drop the colors into the clear water. Different colors can be dropped into each compartment, thus mixing colors to discover new colors. An adult should squeeze the initial food coloring as it can stain. Usually the watered down colors don't stain too badly but be careful.

Another experiment will require a bowl, water, pepper, and dish soap. Fill the bowl with water and sprinkle pepper on top of it. Gently add a drop or two of dish liquid and see what happens. Surface tension is at work in this experiment and children can discuss why it works and what it's effects are.

A sink and float station would also be appropriate for kids to play around with. Provide a dishpan full of water and various objects. Objects can include: paper clips, apple, toy boat, paper, pencil, toys, crayons, other food items, etc. Be sure to include small and big items and those that will and will not float. You may have to test them out ahead of time so that you have a balance. You may want to make sure that there are plenty of paper towels available and a place to put the wet objects as well. Let children predict which objects they think will sink and float and make generalizations. For example, all things that are red will float or whatever the children may say. Let children try different objects one at a time to see if their predictions are true. Let them make new generalizations based on the facts.

A neat experiment that teaches about washing hands and germs requires a sink area. One will also need cooking oil or cooking spray, cinnamon, and hand soap. Spray the participants hands with oil and sprinkle with cinnamon. Allow participant to wash hands with only cold water and discuss what happens. Next allow warmer water and see what happens. Finally allow participant to use warm water and soap to wash hands. You can spray oil an sprinkle more cinnamon between washes if necessary but you will find that the warm water and soap do the best job at cleaning hands. It will make children really think when they wash their hands. You can explain that the cinnamon represents dirt and germs on their hands and even when they think that their hands are getting clean with a quick run under the cold water, they are not really clean!

Some crafty nature science experiments will include different natural materials such as leaves, twigs, berries, pinecones, etc. Children can use these items to do many crafts. Pinecones can be decorated. Leaves can be used for rubbings and children can see the veins and structures of the leaves. Other materials can be glued as a collage.

Good luck with your family science night and remember to have fun. Making science fun for kids to explore is a key to success!!!