Science at home - rainbow flowers

Rainbow flowers

You will need:

• two glasses
• food colouring
• a white flower with a long stem
• sticky tape
• knife
• chopping board
• water

Method:

1. Take a long-stemmed flower – a carnation works well – and lay it out on a chopping board. Ask an adult to slice the flower’s stem in half lengthways.
2. The cut should extend about halfway up the stem. Wrap a piece of tape around the stem where the split stops, to prevent it from splitting any further.
3. Fill two glasses with water and add food colouring to one of them. Place the flower in the glasses, with half of the stem in each.
4. Note down your observations after 1 hour.

How does it work?

Research: xylem and water transportation in plants

Outstanding work from our partner school students

Greetings fellow Scientists!

Today we have the pleasure of sharing with you some of the amazing photos sent to us by the wonderful young Scientists from our partner school, Gimnazjum no 4 in Stargard Szczeciński, Poland, who took part in our Science Challenge. 

Investigating air

Paulina Andrzejewska 2A

Weronika Kwiecień 2A

Density tower

Anita Wowk 2A

Colourful balloons

Aleksandra Łuka 2A

Anita Wowk 2A

Paulina Andrzejewska 2A

Weronika Kwiecień 2A

Volcano eruption

Aleksandra Badocha 3B

Joanna Spółczyńska 2D

Paulina Andrzejewska 2A

Weronika Kwiecień 2A

Feeling inspired? Check the "Experiments" tab and have a go yourself!

The effects of acid rain - our results

Greetings fellow Scientists!

Here are the results of our experiment aiming at investigating the effects of acid rain. Our prediction was that the seeds on the tissue soaked with acid rain are not going to germinate well. As you can see, we were correct.

Science at home - crystal creations

Crystal creations

You will need:

• clean jar
• hot water
• pack of powdered alum
• two spoons
• pipe cleaners
• paper clip
• pencil
• paper towel

Method:

1. Pour hot water into the jar until it is three-quarters full.
2. Drop in one tablespoon of powdered alum at a time, and stir with another spoon. Keep going until the solution is saturated and alum begins to collect on the bottom of the jar.
3. Bend your pipe cleaner into whatever shape you like and then twist the paper clip so that it forms an “S” shape. Hook one end of the paper clip around the pipe cleaner so that it is held firmly in place.
4. Hook the other end of the paper clip around the pencil and lower the pipe cleaner into the solution so it is suspended in the middle of the jar. Rest the pencil across the jar’s neck.
5. If the pipe cleaner touches the bottom or sides, your crystals will not grow properly. Leave it overnight.

How does it work?

Research: crystallisation

Science Challenge - Students' work

Greetings fellow Scientists!

Today we would like to share with you some of the fantastic photos of our readers doing the experiments as a part of the Science Challenge.

Density tower

Lewis Golby 7E

Daniel Velichkov 7H

 Investigating air

Aaron Nye 7E

Fizzy fountain

Aaron Nye 7E

  What are you waiting for?! Check the "Experiments" tab and do one yourself!

Science at home - volcano eruption

Volcano eruption

You will need:

• warm water
• distilled malt vinegar
• bicarbonate of soda/baking soda
• red food colouring
• empty plastic bottle (0.5 l)
• washing-up liquid
• tray

Method:

1. Place the bottle on the tray.
2. Pour warm water into the bottle until it is about three-quarters full.
3. Add two heaped tablespoons of baking soda. Cover the top and shake so that the baking soda fully dissolves.
4. Add five drops of red food colouring then a big drop of washing-up liquid.
5. Pour vinegar into the bottle until your volcano starts erupting. If it stops, pour in more vinegar.

Safety: be careful when your volcano starts erupting. Keep the vinegar out of your eyes.

How does it work?

Research: acid and base reactions

The effects of acid rain

Greetings fellow Scientists!

In our yesterday’s session we started an experiment which aims at investigating the effect of acid rain on germination and plant growth. This is what we have done:

First, we covered the bottom of the petri dish with some tissue.

Then, we soaked one petri dish with water and one with acid rain.

Lastly, we carefully placed 21 cress seeds on the top of the tissue paper.

Our prediction is that the seeds on the tissue soaked with acid rain are not going to germinate well. Visit us next week to see the results of this experiment.