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Open Source Hardware
Forum Practical Science Ideas for Primary School Kids
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  • education help
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Practical Science Ideas for Primary School Kids

shabaz
shabaz over 7 years ago

Hi,

 

I thought I'd ask on the community, long story short, I have a family member in another country who is a primary school teacher. Resources are tight, and she's looking for the best way to teach children science. She was thinking of Youtube videos, but I'm thinking practical experiments using easy-to-find objects like batteries, wires, thermometer, multi-meter, calculator, ruler, magnets, LEDs, bicycle pumps and coca-cola bottles, etc.

 

I noticed there are very few Kindle books on the topic, and the few seem just "average" from the previews. It actually seems a major shortcoming. There are plenty of schools in less fortunate parts of the world, and science experiments would really get kids excited I think.

 

If it doesn't already exist, I'm thinking of preparing a 'primary school lab' list of simple experiments and the items that could be useful, or a URL to more information. I can think of dozens of experiments (perhaps a hundred experiments) but surely there are good resources with this already. I'd rather just point her to a book or website if resources like this already exist.

 

Cost is an issue, so no experiments needing (say) large heavy microscopes, but a magnifier lens is ok. No bunsen burner connected to a supply, but a candle or ethanol burner is fine, and so on.

What are some good websites, or books, for such experiments? For sub-10-year-olds.

What resources do you use for teaching kids? If youtube videos, which ones?

 

Is it worthwhile maintaining such a list? If so, perhaps we can do so in the comments below, as an in-progress list.

Here are some examples for such a list:

 

electromagnet - wire, battery

radio transmitter - wire, battery, AM radio as receiver

flashing fire engine light - wire, battery, lamp, foil, toy fire engine

compass - pins, magnet

mini xmas tree lights - bag of LEDs, some resistors and a (say) 12V battery

intercom communication - two speakers and twin wire

electrostatics - balloons

generator - toy motor and lamp

 

Many thanks!

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Top Replies

  • jw0752
    jw0752 over 7 years ago +3
    Hi Shabaz, Experiment 1 Requires an ice cube, a string, and some salt. Question to the children: How can you pick up the ice cube without touching it using just the string and the salt? Answer: Place the…
  • shabaz
    shabaz over 7 years ago +3
    Hi ntewinkel jw0752 djfraz gecoz beacon_dave @DAB thanks so much for this detailed information. I'm sure all this will help her devise some great lessons in her school - the ideas here are so fantastic…
  • ntewinkel
    ntewinkel over 7 years ago +2
    That sounds like a great idea, Shabaz! I wonder if a wikipedia type setup would work well for that? Or maybe working with an existing platform like Instructables or Hackster. Then it just comes down to…
Parents
  • beacon_dave
    beacon_dave over 7 years ago

    I seem to recall that the Hamlyn's "All Colour Science Encyclopaedia" I had as a child used to have some practical experiments. Probably long out of print though image.

     

    However this more recent Dorling Kindersley "101 Great Science Experiments" book may be of interest:

    https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=N8EbBgAAQBAJ&printsec=frontcover#v=onepage&q&f=false  

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  • beacon_dave
    beacon_dave over 7 years ago

    I seem to recall that the Hamlyn's "All Colour Science Encyclopaedia" I had as a child used to have some practical experiments. Probably long out of print though image.

     

    However this more recent Dorling Kindersley "101 Great Science Experiments" book may be of interest:

    https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=N8EbBgAAQBAJ&printsec=frontcover#v=onepage&q&f=false  

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