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“PLASTIC TUBES AND pots and pans, magic from the hand – we’re making… Weird science!”
Yep, Oingo Boingo said it best. We’re here today to go through some extremely fun, easy and educational science experiments you can do at home with the little ones.
Just don’t tell them they’ll learn anything, and they’ll be all for it. Check out science.ie if these experiments have tickled your fancy for lots more info on how to get the youngsters into all things science.
Each experiment listed has a video to show you what to expect, plus a link to a full information sheet with instructions.
Lab coats on please…
As if our Irish weather outside wasn’t enough, now you can bring a little bit inside. We jest, don’t worry. This experiment is all about the flow of water within the bottle, and children (and indeed adults, let’s be real) will have lots of fun messing around with the rotation and motion between the bottles. Full information sheet here.
This one certainly has a fancy-sounding name, doesn’t it? Just imagine yourself at the school gates tomorrow, saying in an off-hand manner: “Oh yes myself and the kids just kicked back and experimented with a bit of chromatography last night, you know yourself.” Here’s how to do it.
This one is dead simple – all you need to get going is some water, a just-opened fizzy drink and some raisins. Ideal if you suddenly need an activity to occupy the little ones. It’s all about comparing the motion of the raisins between the still liquid and the carbonated one and observing the results. And eating the raisins afterwards, obviously. In the name of science. Instructions here.
The learning objective in this one is teaching children how the air can make things move. A basic introduction to energy and forces – for children and adult who love rockets. So that’s everyone then. Oh, and impress the kids by letting them know that this experiment actually comes from the International Space Station’s education kit. Info here.
A simple density experiment – and no, that’s not a veiled insult. This is about showing the kids about the density of liquids and why oil floats on top of water, while syrup sinks. It can also be expanded to other transparent everyday liquids and objects to float. Full instructions can be found here.
And if that’s whetted your appetite for all things science, then check out the full event listings below to find lots of fun events in your area – there are hundreds and hundreds all around the country. Science Week is 13 – 20 November nationwide.
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The public are against multinational commercial wind farms where the energy is sold to us, not wind energy itself.
Cooperatives like cloughjordan are an example of how beneficial and sustainable these community wind farms are
Nice soundbites, pity you don’t care about policy or facts. Millions will die from global warming but you’d rather stick to your narrow ideology than embrace change.
You mentioned the public are cautious of multinationals selling electricity to us from wind farms. Did you know ESBI is a multinational and owns quite a few wind farms outside of Ireland?? AND, who do you think really owns ESBI??
When the weather turns really bad and the price of electricity goes through the roof, they’ll be begging for the turbine to be erected.
We need change there is no doubt about that but wind turbines are not the way forward.
So what would you propose should be the way forward?? Let us all understand one thing. At this point any renewable energy is an alternative energy, not a primary energy. And please please don’t start with Nuclear energy is the way to go. That’s crap
That’s real internet hard talk David. Community participation is standard in the more civilised energy economies in Europe.
Any chance we could think outside the box for our energy in the future???? What’s the obsession with wind when we have other alternatives, looking more like cartels want to keep renewables to themselves instead of promoting this….. https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=839925169365885&id=728257720532631&post_id=728257720532631_839925169365885#
Stanley. There are plenty of renewable energy sources that are miles ahead of wind. Wave energy being one. There are two irish companies pioneering ocean based renewable technology which far exceeded expectatioms and is far ahead of wind aswell. They had to go to scandinavia to test it because the irish government wouldn’t give them permission to test in irish waters. Osmosis is another one which is far ahead of wind energy.
Oh and btw nuclear is a much more efficient option than wind energy.
Eamon Ryan refused to do the legally binding SEA and CBA for windfarms. He is ignorant of engineering and while he may have good intentions at heart his policies have brought disaster to Ireland.
It’s a pity they didn’t cut their prices two !
Yes, it is a pity they didn’t cut their prices in two.
We are subsidising these wind turbines in a PEAK OIL market – despite all the waffle of the past decade… we need renewables because peak oil will put the price of energy beyond reach… to cloak the huge gap between the price of turbine energy and fossil fuels, they applied a carbon tax.
Remove the carbon tax and you would hardly notice the $100 barrel price.
I’d say Eamon Ryan is a wow at parties
He’s a great cure for insomnia!
If they could cut the ESB bills, like the Co2 emissions we be happy!
Eamons dream is a nightmare for the ordinary Joe soap. Cut carbon emission by what…with led technology and cfc bulbs coupled with A rated appliances most house holds have reduced their energy consumption. Wind farm did not reduce the carbon bill on its owen and that’s what’s wrong with Eamon he only sees the top level and always did. What anoys most is reduced energy consumption by the individual and carbon material intake equals an ever increasing energy bill. Why.
Every house hold has to stump up how much for this crap?
Is that why my PSO is going up again
PSO is 2 thirds gas and Peat, 1 third wind.
Wind is Ireland’s second cheapest electricity generation technology (after hydro).
59% of PSO due to wind
Hi, I think it is 28% for next year.
94m out of 335m.
Alan M.
If that much has been saved, where is the reduction in the pso levy or electricity tax????
“serious about transitioning to 100% decarbonised energy in Ireland.”
This statement proves Eamon Ryan does not know anything about energy systems. Its no wonder we are we are now.
have your say