Travelling Teacher - WONDERLAB The Statoil Gallery

London's Science Museum is a must see if you are visiting the city. It's outstanding collection is well known around the world and attracts a lot of visitors each year. One of the newest additions to the Museum's collection is the WONDERLAB The Statoil Gallery.

 

The Gallery offers over 50 hands-on exhibits which allow you to explore different concepts in science.

I wish you great lessons!

Karolina

Candle making session

 

There are times in the year when your science club students may ask you to do something different than a typical chemistry experiment. In those moments I like to do a candle making session.

I use paraffin wax pellets as they melt easily. Beeswax is also an option but it will already give you colour.

Add wax crayons for colour. I also use soft drink cans to melt the wax in as this safes me trouble of spending hours to wash the glass beakers.

If you want, you can aslo add essential oils to your melted wax.

 

Once the wax is melted, use the hot glue gun to secure the wick and pour the wax in. If you decide to have layered candles, ensure you have enough time for each layer to cool.

 

As you can see in the pictures, I use splints to make sure the wick stays straight. 

How can you introduce science to this session?

- wax is a hydrocarbon
- lighted wick melts the wax
- capillary action draws the liquid wax up the wick
- burning candle = complete combusion

More information - click here

I wish you great lessons!

Karolina

Year of the Periodic Table

 

2019 has been declared as the International Year of the Periodic Table. One of the most important achievements in Science, the Periodic Table is the most recognizable resource in the world. I cannot imagine a Science classroom without having one! To help you celebrate, I gathered together links and resources you can use in your classroom.

The official website (click here)

The official website is full of information about the upcoming events around the world. It's worth checking out to see what's happening in your country.

YouTube: Periodic Videos

This is by far my favourite channel on YouTube. The quality of the videos is superb and the content is interesting and engaging. Loads of videos for your students to learn more about the periodic table.

Year of the Periodic Table (in Paris and Moscow)

Royal Society of Chemistry (click here)

As always, RSC does not disappoint with the amount and the quality of material. Loads of experiments, resources and opportunities for grants.

Compound Interest (click here)

I already mentioned this website before (click) when I discussed their brilliant infographics posters which are perfect for displays. To celebrate the IYPT they are publishing informational posters for individual elements in the periodic table.

Social media

If you decide to get involved in the celebrations, use #IYPT2019 to tag your work. You can also check out the following:
Facebook: www.facebook.com/IYPT2019
Instagram: www.instagram.com/IYPT2019
Twitter: www.twitter.com/IYPT2019

I wish you great lessons!

Karolina

Coca Cola under investigation

Today I would like to introduce you to a series of simple experiments you can do with your science club students. The main focus of the investigation is Coca Cola which you can easily get in a shop.

1. Label analysis

Start by looking at the labels and ask your students to compare sugar content in different types of Coca Cola.

2. Heat it up to make caramel

Heat up your samples to see if they are going to caramelize. Ask your students to link their observations to the sugar content they read about on the labels.

3. Check what gas makes Coca Cola bubble


Test the gas in Coca Cola by heating the sample up gently and passing it through limewater.

4. Testing for sugars

Use Benedict's solution to test for the presence of sugars.

5. Filtration


Use activated charcoal to see if you can filter out the colourings.

6. Exposure for a longer period of time

Set up an experiment to see how the exposure to the acidic conditions over longer period of time is going to affect an egg and a dirty coin.

Poster from Compound Interest with additional information (click here)

Hope you try some of these experiments!

I wish you great lessons!

Karolina