By: Ishika Desai
This Labor Day, enjoy STEM-related activities to learn educational concepts and have fun simultaneously!
The first activity is elephant toothpaste. This experiment requires adult supervision due to the chemicals being used. It will also take 10 minutes to complete this experiment. The experiment requires an empty water bottle, dry yeast, warm water, liquid dish soap, food coloring, 3% hydrogen peroxide, measuring tools, and a large tray. First, make sure the bottle is in the tray, and then add ½ cup of hydrogen peroxide to the bottle. Then, swirl a large dollop of dish soap into the bottle to gently mix it. After that, add some food coloring to make the experiment more unique! Then, in a separate mixing cup, add one tablespoon of yeast and three tablespoons of hot water, mixing them for 30 seconds. Then, pour the yeast mixture into the bottle and watch the reaction! After the reaction is done, pour the foam down the sink. This reaction is a result of hydrogen peroxide breaking down into water and oxygen. The dish soap then turns this into foam.
The second activity is the classic slime experiment. This experiment needs mild adult supervision due to the chemical reactions happening in the experiment. For this experiment, students need Elmer’s Glue, water, baking soda, contact lens solution (must contain boric acid and sodium borate in ingredients), food coloring, measuring spoons, measuring cups, mixing bowls, mixing tool, and resealable plastic bags or reusable containers. In a mixing bowl add ½ a cup of water and glue along with a few drops of food coloring. Then, add ½ teaspoon of baking soda and mix completely. After that, add two tablespoons of contact lens solution and stir vigorously until the mixture starts pulling away from the ends of the bowl. Then, begin to mix and knead the slime until it begins to form into a lump. Add any contact solution if necessary. Once the slime is not sticky, it is ready to play with! As the glue is activated, the polymers form crosslinks which then lead to the slime consistency.
The third activity is making a cloud in a jar. This experiment will need mild supervision. For this experiment, you will need a jar with a lid, ⅓ cup hot water, ice, and hairspray. First, you would pour the hot water into a jar and swirl it around to heat up the sides. Then, you would take the lid of the jar, turn it upside down, and place ice cubes on it for 20 seconds. After that, remove the lid, spray hairspray into the jar, and place the lid with the ice still on it back on the jar. Once you see condensation begin to form, remove the lid to see the cloud release into the air. The water vapor coming in contact with cold air from the ice condenses with the ice and forms a cloud.
These activities are a great way to incorporate a theme of STEM with the Labor Day holiday!
Works Cited:
“Elephant Toothpaste | STEM Activity.” Science Buddies, https://www.sciencebuddies.org/stem-activities/elephant-toothpaste. Accessed 14 September 2024.
“How to Make Slime | STEM Activity.” Science Buddies, https://www.sciencebuddies.org/stem-activities/how-to-make-slime. Accessed 15 September 2024.
“Weather science: How to make a cloud in a jar (2 different methods!).” Gift of Curiosity, https://www.giftofcuriosity.com/weather-science-how-to-make-a-cloud-in-a-jar/. Accessed 15 September 2024.
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