Every great science teacher knows that to grab the attention of students and to reinforce critical concepts, hands-on experiments and teacher demonstrations are essential. Concepts and ideas in science are not always easy for children and teenagers to grasp. Seeing visual demonstrations and performing experiments go a long way towards clarifying these concepts and cementing new scientific knowledge. When you are at a loss for experiment ideas, turn to some of these excellent websites that offer projects on nearly every topic and for a range of grade levels.
Zoom
A teacher and tutor who loves bringing
science to life for his students, Bob offers up his best experiments on Sciencebob. He provides science
fair project ideas, experiment lists, a blog, a Q and A section, and videos
full of fascinating information useful for a wide range of students. The
experiments are fun and can be modified to accommodate elementary, middle
school, and high school classrooms.
Green-Planet-Solar-Energy
Green energy and alternative fuels are at
the forefront of both politics and science. To get students in on the
discussion, it is important to include these current topics in the science
curriculum. Green-Planet-Solar-Energy
is a site devoted to solar power with information on how it works, how to use
it in your home, and even more information on other types of green energy. The
site also lists several excellent experiments for different age groups. These
include building a solar still and galvanic cells as well as demonstrations of
radiant heat loss and color and light.
Kitchen
Science Experiments
Brought to you by the Naked Scientists, a
radio program that brings science to the public, Kitchen
Science Experiments is a great site for projects that can be done with
household items. A major setback for most science teacher is budget. It can be
tough to acquire science equipment when districts are suffering financial woes.
With sites like this one, you can find experiments to illustrate nearly any
concept using inexpensive items that you and your students have around the
house. From bouncing soap to potato arches, students will be thrilled by these
projects.
Science
Kids
Science
Kids is a comprehensive informational website for kids and teachers. It
covers a variety of subjects including dinosaurs, chemistry, astronomy,
animals, food, recycling, robots, and many more. With an image gallery,
experiments, lesson plans, and videos, Science Kids is a great resource. The
experiment list is extensive and provides clear, step-by-step directions for
simple demonstrations of many scientific concepts.
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