Hands-on Science

Maple Seed Models

presenter

Kengo Yamada
Associate Director of Early Childhood Education Programs
​Liberty Science Center

activity description

Explore how the maple seed gets the space it needs to grow and survive in this exploration that will have you creating your own maple seed model.

​The program was designed to allow students of all levels to participate.

materials needed

• One (1) piece of paper
• One (1) pair of scissors
• One (1) marker
• One (1) paper clip

​Molecular Modeling of our Eye's Vision Protein

Presenter

Dr. Daniel Fried
Chemistry Professor
Saint Peter's University
Biochemistry Literacy for Kids

Activity description

Students can download a free-for-educational-use software called PyMol, which will allow them to follow along with my video activity. Students can then download a structure of rhodopsin from the Protein Data Bank. Rhodopsin is the protein responsible for vision in our eye. I will take them on a "molecular field trip" of the molecule, showing them how to tumble, zoom, and modify the structure to highlight the retinal, the derivative of vitamin A, which is bound at the core of the rhodopsin protein, and which changes shape when a photon of light excites it. The students will get a feel for high-level biochemistry, and answer some questions they may have about how vision works at the molecular level.

materials needed

• A free download of PyMol
• A laptop
• A mouse (strongly recommended)

What's in The Air We Breathe

presenter

Linda Lara-Jacobo
PhD Candidate in Toxicology/Toxicogenomics
Institut National de la Recherche Scientifique (INRS)

activity description

Seven glass bottle caps are placed on a white sheet of paper, each labeled number 1 to 7. Seven glass bottle caps are placed on a white sheet of paper, each labeled number 1 to 7. The white sheet with the caps is left outside the house in a place where it will not be blown away by the wind or get wet. One cap is removed each day. The first day the cap number 1 is removed, after two days the cap number 2 is removed, and so on. The objective is that after 7 days you will see on the paper the amount of dust that has passed the 7 days (Progressive accumulation of dust in the air).

materials needed

• (1) White sheet
  
• (1) marker
  
• (7) sticker labels
  
• (7) glass bottle caps

Elephant Toothpaste

Presenter

Sienna Martinez
Student
UCLA

activity Description

Create an exothermic reaction by adding yeast (a catalyst) to hydrogen peroxide. The yeast quickly breaks down the hydrogen peroxide into water and oxygen gas. The Oxygen would escape if we didn't add dish soap to provide enough surface tension to trap the bubbles and create foam. 

materials needed

• Empty plastic bottle
• Dry yeast (found in the baking section of the grocery store)
• Warm water
• Liquid dish soap
• 3% hydrogen peroxide
• Measuring cups 
• Measuring spoons
• Safety glasses
• Large tub or tray to catch the foam 
• Location for the activity that can tolerate spills (of hydrogen peroxide as well as possibly food coloring), such as a kitchen or bathroom—or an outdoor location 
• Liquid food coloring (optional)
• Different-shaped bottles or glasses (optional)