We’re doing a sink or float experiment to find out how the secret of dancing beads in water. Also, look at my page 4 Weeks Free Physical Science Unit Study & Best Hands-on Ideas for more activities.
This science experiment is colorful, fizzy, and super fun.
Besides by using water beads in this dancing beads experiment, your child that loves sensory play with love the squishy beads. Water beads are tiny, dry balls that grow into soft, squishy spheres when you soak them in water.
Just remember if you have small children around that the beads should not be put in your child’s mouth.
Next, the best sink or float experiments are ones that involve a few items and are not too complicated.
You’ll want to introduce words like density, buoyancy and scientific thinking like predicting, testing, and observing.
PHYSICAL SCIENCE BOOKS FOR KIDS
First, add these books to your reading day.
I prefer living books when we find them.
10 Books About Physical Science
Physical science varies in topic. It can cover states of matter, forces and motion like push and pull, forms of energy like simple circuits, light and sound to earth and space.
Can you make an ice cube disappear? Put it on a hot sidewalk. It melts into water and then vanishes! The ice cube changes from solid to liquid to gas. This Level 2 Let's-Read-and-Find-Out picture book is a fascinating exploration of the three states of matter. This clear and appealing science book for early elementary age kids, both at home and in the classroom, uses simple, fun diagrams to explain the difference between solids, liquids, and gases. This book also includes a find out more section with experiments designed to encourage further exploration and introduce record keeping.
In Matter: Physical Science for Kids, kids ages 5 to 8 explore the definition of matter and the different states of matter, plus the stuff in our world that isn’t matter, such as sound and light! In this nonfiction picture book, children are introduced to physical science through detailed illustrations paired with a compelling narrative that uses fun language to convey familiar examples of real-world science connections. By recognizing the basic physics concept of matter and identifying the different ways matter appears in real life, kids develop a fundamental understanding of physical science and are impressed with the idea that science is a constant part of our lives and not limited to classrooms and
laboratories
Why did Gandhi hate iodine (I, 53)? How did radium (Ra, 88) nearly ruin Marie Curie's reputation? And why is gallium (Ga, 31) the go-to element for laboratory pranksters?The Periodic Table is a crowning scientific achievement, but it's also a treasure trove of adventure, betrayal, and obsession. These fascinating tales follow every element on the table as they play out their parts in human history, and in the lives of the (frequently) mad scientists who discovered them. The Disappearing Spoon masterfully fuses science with the classic lore of invention, investigation, and discovery.
Jeanne Bendick, through text and pictures, admirably succeeds in bringing to life the ancient Greek mathematician who enriched mathematics and all branches of science. Against the backdrop of Archimedes' life and culture, the author discusses the man's work, his discoveries and the knowledge later based upon it. The simple, often humorous, illustrations and diagrams greatly enhance the text.
Charles Ludwig retells Michael Faraday’s remarkable life story in fictionalized form. Here is the father of the electric motor, the dynamo, the transformer, the generator. Few persons are aware of the brilliant man’s deep Christian convictions and his determination to live by the Sermon on the Mount. For ages 12 to 15.
Book about electricity for children.
Did you know that energy comes from the food you eat? From the sun and wind? From fuel and heat? You get energy every time you eat. You transfer energy to other things every time you play baseball.
Have you ever wondered why a prism turns ordinary sunlight into a rainbow? Isaac Newton knew why. How can a magnet be used to generate electricity? Michael Faraday could have told you. Can you explain how a toaster toasts bread? In this book, author Paul Fleisher answers these and many more questions as he looks at the laws that describe how waves behave. Through simple experiments, detailed illustrations and concepts that are easy to understand, readers are introduced to the basic principles of light, electricity and magnetism in a fun, exciting way.
Have you ever wondered why a 10-tonne boat floats but a tiny pebble sinks? Archimedes knew why. How does a basketball or tennis ball bounce? Robert Boyle could have described how! Can you explain why a hot-air balloon rises but a balloon you blow up drops to the ground? To answer these questions and many more, author Paul Fleisher explains the laws that define how and why liquids and gases behave the way they do. Through simple experiments, detailed illustrations and concepts that are easy to understand, readers are introduced to the basic principles of fluid mechanics in a fun, exciting way.
Explains the concepts of simple and complex machines and mechanical advantage, and describes how wheels, including gears and ball bearings, work
Next, look at more sink or float experiments
MORE SINK OR FLOAT EXPERIMENTS
- The Easy Sink Or Float Orange Density Experiment For Kids
- Quick Unit Study & Easy Salt water Density Ocean Science Experiments For Kindergarten
- Learn about the layers of density in this How to Make a Cool Fibonacci Lemonade and 8 Things to Learn about Fibonacci activity.
- How Do Sharks Float STEM Activity Free Shark Unit Study & Notebooking Pages
- Easy Kids Earth Day Activity & More Water Density Experiments
Finally, look at how this beads appear to be dancing through this experiment.
DANCING WATER BEADS (ORBEEZ)
First, heads up:
Prepare water beads by placing the new beads in water and soaking them for at least 12 hours.
Then look at this list of supplies:
- Wide-mouthed clear jar or cup
- Water
- Water beads (orbeezs – prepared 12 hours before)
- Alka-Seltzer tablets
After soaking beads, proceed with the experiment.
Fill a wide-mouth jar ¾ of the way full.
Pour ½ cup of water beads into the water.
Let the water beads settle to the bottom of the jar.
Break 1 Alka-Seltzer into pieces.
Drop all the pieces into the jar at once.
Watch the water beads dance!
*This experiment can be done over and over again by just dropping another Alka-Seltzer in!
*You can also add oil to the water before dropping in the water beads for more of a “lava lamp” appearance.
Why does this happen?
Alka-Seltzers produce a carbon dioxide chemical reaction when added to water.
The carbon dioxide (CO2) bubbles attach to the water beads and lifting them up.
This gas forms bubbles in the liquid — and those bubbles can actually lift and move the water beads, making them dance up and down!
Floating and Sinking: The bubbles make the beads float. When the bubbles pop at the surface, the beads sink again — and the cycle continues.
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