Experiment
Descriptions
Chemistry-in-the-Library (http://mdchem.org/citl/citl_main.html) is a hands-on science activity for kids (grades 1-9 – younger kids’ parents are encouraged to stay & help them participate) staffed by volunteer scientists from the local section of the American Chemical Society, Kids & Chemistry Program, & the U.S. Army Research Laboratory at the Aberdeen Proving Grounds.
You are Contagious! - Chemistry of Germs/Bacteria
Aahhhhchooo! And as simple as that germs and bacteria are spread. While germs and bacteria live all around us, on us, and even in us sometimes they run amok and we can become really sick. This important session we will examine through experimentation how germs can get into places that we think are protected, how germs are spread (easily!), how germs can be transferred from one person to another, and where germs are.
Totally 'Gross' Chemistry (of Your Body)
Grossology is a new topic among kids because of 'Totally Gross Chemistry' but not really new in the realm of science. During this session we will be examining how dehydration affects your body tissue, making mucus (snot), examining fluids and determining why a doctor asks you to pee in a cup when you go to their office when you are sick, and examining how ear wax works.
Acid-Base Chemistry
We often hear about Acids & Bases in the newspaper or on the news when talking about food or chemicals but what are they really? Scientist from the Army Research Lab/American Chemical Society will do a number of hands on experiments with kids that examine what acids & bases are, what is pH?, why do we take antacid when we have indigestion?, and how does acid rain affect materials in the environment?
Summer Session: Fun with Electronics!
Electronics are here, there, and everywhere – from TVs to radios to cars to toys … But we don’t often understand how they work or sometimes even how to use them. Today we are going to walk through a series of experiments using common electronic gadgets and examine how they work and what they do that we might enjoy or make our life easier somehow. We will examine how a motion detector works, make and test a simple amplifier, and make and test a simple microphone.
Summer Session: What you see isn’t what you get – the Science of Optics
How does a camera or binoculars focus on an object? How is a telescope able to focus on something in space (far away) for us to be able to see it? We will be exploring these issues and more using optical discs and prisms and looking into how basic optical illusions work.
Summer Session: Magnetism: Chemistry of Attraction
From a young age, children play with magnets – from ABCs and numbers on the refrigerator to the magnetic poetry for older kids. We will be exploring: How do magnets work? What makes something magnetic? Are magnets reserved just for solid materials?
Experiment: KaPow! - Chemistry is Reactive
Take Home Experiment: America Recycles Day – Nov 15th
When kids think of chemistry they often think of reactions, explosions, fire, chemicals, and danger. In all of our sessions, we discuss the importance of safety and awareness but that chemistry and science does a lot of good things for people and a lot of really neat things too! In this session, we will explore reactive chemistry – from simple reactions giving off gases - to hydrogen peroxide reactions making things glow - to color changing reactions – Reactive chemistry is all around us!
Chemistry-in-the-Library Celebrates National Chemistry Week
In October, we are celebrating National Chemistry Week (October 16-22) and the theme for 2005 is ‘The Joy of Toys’. When someone says ‘toys’ the word brings a lot of ideas to mind but often these things do not naturally include chemistry. Yet, the market is flooded with materials made by chemists and numerous science kits, allowing kids to make everything from slime to glowing solutions to growing crystals. The scientists will be leading 3-4 experiments where the kids will make hands-on some ‘toys’ of their own including making our own superballs!
If you are interested in the Maryland Section of the American Chemical Society, please see their Website.
If you have any questions/comments regarding this website, please e-mail us
at chemists4fun@yahoo.com
