CONTENTS 5 Notes for helpers 6 What is matter 7 What are materials 8 Using this book 10 Scientist kit A material can be described by its properties such as its color or strength Experiment time 12 Ice to water to steam 14 Create crystals 16 Mixing like magic 18 Can you mix it 20 Splitting the mix 22 Salty to freshwater 24 Color separation 26 Cabbage colors 28 Bubbles and froth 30 Electric bubble maker What shape are salt crystals Find out on page 15 32 Glossary and Index Do oil and water mix Find out on page 18 What does bleach do to colored water Find out on page 27
Notes for HELPERS Help and hazards Help needed All of the experiments are suitable for children to conduct but they will need help and supervision with some This is usually because the experiment requires the use of a stovetop or oven a knife or scissors or food coloring These experiments are marked with a Help needed symbol Read the instructions together before starting and help to assemble the equipment before supervising the experiment It may be useful to carry out your own risk assessment to avoid any possible hazards before the child begins Check that long hair and any loose clothing are tied back Also check that materials such as bleach are disposed of safely and that the oven or stovetop is turned off after use Extra experiments Also try You can also help children with the extra experiments in this book or search the Internet for more similar ideas There are hundreds of science experiment websites to choose from www lovemyscience com This website is packed with simple fun experiments for children to enjoy www sciencebob com experiments index php Engaging science experiments with clearly explained instructions will keep kids busy for hours www sciencefun org kidszones experiments You will find lots of entertaining and informative experiments on this colorful interactive Publisher’s note to educators and parents Our editors have carefully reviewed these websites to ensure that they are suitable for website students Many websites change frequently however and we cannot guarantee that a site’s future contents will continue to meet our high standards of quality and educational value Be advised that students should be closely supervised whenever they access the Internet 5 pop pop pop bubbly
What is MATTER Matter makes up everything you can see from the water in your glass to the chair you are sitting on It also makes up some things you cannot see such as the air you breathe There are three states of matter which make up nearly every substance in the universe Diamond molecule The three states of matter Everything around us is either a solid liquid or gas made up of billions of units called atoms Atoms are some of the smallest objects that exist and are invisible Two or more atoms joined together make up a molecule Groups of molecules make up a substance Atom Changing state A substance can change from one state to another by gaining or losing energy in the form of heat If a liquid is cooled it turns into a solid This is called freezing If a gas is cooled it turns into a liquid This is called condensing Solid Atoms or molecules in a solid cannot move They are tightly packed together so they keep their shape and feel firm Liquid In a liquid atoms or molecules can move or flow but they stay the same distance apart The links between the molecules are weaker than in a solid A liquid can flow and fill the shape of its container Gas Atoms or molecules in a gas move quickly and in all directions The molecules bounce around because the forces between them are not strong enough to keep them together 6 If a solid is heated it turns into a liquid This is called melting If a liquid is heated it turns into a gas This is called evaporation
drink bottle Rubber bands Chair What are MATERIALS Every substance is made from a material or a combination of materials A material’s properties such as strength or flexibility bendiness make it useful for different things Modern materials can be natural or synthetic chemically man-made Natural resources Since ancient times a large number of everyday materials have been made from plants such as cotton and wood Natural materials such as these need to be recycled made into new things and reused so they do not run out Wood There are many different types of wood varying in strength color and weight Wood comes from trees and is mainly used for fuel or in construction building Synthetic substances Plastic steel and glass are examples of synthetic materials Sometimes a mixture of both natural and synthetic materials can be used for example in clothing Rubber Natural rubber is made from milky sap called latex found in some tropical trees However it can also be made synthetically Rubber is flexible tough and waterproof which makes it useful for making car tires Plastic Waterproof long-lasting and strong this synthetic material is mainly made from substances found in petroleum crude oil Plastics can be easily shaped and molded and thus are used in many everyday products Polyester This synthetic material is often used to make clothing as it dries quickly and holds its shape well Rope is also often made from polyester because it is very strong Rope 7
