3 3 12 fun with science (science)

Fun with

SCIENCE
by Abe Beaker

H O UG H T O N M IF F L IN H ARCO URT


Fun with

SCIENCE

by Abe Beaker
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ISBN-13: 978-0-547-25293-3
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A science fair is a good place to learn
about science. Students set up their
projects at the fair. Judges give an award
certiicate or a trophy to students who
have the best projects.
A winning project is educational and
gives a lot of information.

2


Science fairs are fun. You might see a
presentation about a plant or animal.
Many science fairs take place every
year. But you don’t have to wait for the
next fair.
You can have fun with science all year!

3


You may have seen a model volcano
at a science fair. It looks impressive
when something sprays out the top of the
volcano.
You can make your own volcano at
home or in class. You can even make the
kind that will erupt!

This volcano was made by students your age.
It is not the kind that erupts.

4


First, get a clean plastic bottle. Put it
on a large baking pan. Then use clay to
make a volcano shape around the bottle.
Don’t build above the top of the
bottle. Be creative and add colors to your
volcano. Be careful not to get clay inside
the bottle.

These boys are learning about volcanos.

5


Next, mix together one-half cup
of vinegar, three drops of soap, and a
teaspoon of red food coloring. Pour the
red mixture into the plastic bottle.
Quickly add three tablespoons of
baking soda to the bottle.
Your volcano will erupt when you
mix the baking soda and vinegar.
Together they make a gas. As the gas
rises to the top of the bottle, it pushes the

red mixture over the sides. This looks
like the volcano is erupting.

6


You can do experiments to learn about
the world around you. Experiment with
static electricity.
Here is one experiment. Rub a
balloon on your hair. Then lift up the
balloon.

A balloon can teach you a lot about science.

7


You will see that your hair sticks to
the balloon. Rubbing the balloon against
your hair caused electrical charges to
build up on your hair and on the balloon.
If two things have the same kind of
charge, they push away from each other.
If they have different charges, they pull
toward each other.
The balloon and your hair have
different charges, so they pull toward
each other.

You can use
different materials
to experiment with
balloons.

8


Static Electricity, Balloon Experiment
Object

Sticks

For How
Long?

wall

✔

2 minutes

Does Not
Stick

desk

Keep track of your experiments in charts like
this one.

Here is another balloon experiment.
Rub a balloon on a piece of fuzzy cloth.
Rub only in one direction. Rub ten times.
Then hold the balloon up to a wall. The
balloon will stick to the wall.

9


Then rub the balloon on the cloth
again. Rub ten times. Now hold the
balloon up to your desk. Keep track of
whether it sticks or not. Write down how
long it sticks.
Tell your friends about your
experiments. Report your results to
them. Together you can have fun with
science.

10


Responding
Word Builder
What words do you know that mean the
same as creative? Copy this word web and
add more words.
TARGET VOCABULARY

artistic

creative

Write About It
Text to Self You have just read about some
fun science projects. Write a paragraph
about a creative science project that you
would like to do. Include at least two words
from the Word Builder in your description.

11


TARGET VOCABULARY

certificate
charts
creative
educational

erupt
impressive
presentation
report

Visalize As you read, use
selection details to picture what is happening.
TARGET STRATEGY

Which vocabulary word can you make
if you rearrange the letters in starch?

12


Level: L
DRA: 24
Science
Strategy:
Visualize
Word Count: 433

3.3.12 Build Vocabulary

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