Författare: Björn Bergvall

Try to decide how to paint a bathroom wall using dice.

Starting with the first square, roll a dice to colour according to the table at the bottom of the page.

Continue in this way until all squares are coloured.

Compare each other’s results when you are finished.

From this you can think about probability.

To print: Måla badrummet med tärningar (PDF, 49kB)

WHAT IS AN AIR VORTEX CANNON?

You generally can’t see an air vortex unless there’s a good deal of particles in the air such as smoke. However, you can see the effects of it by making this fun air cannon! An air vortex cannon releases doughnut-shaped air vortices — similar to smoke rings but larger, stronger and invisible. The vortices are able to ruffle hair, disturb papers or blow out candles after travelling a short distance.

YOU WILL NEED:

• Plastic Bottle
• Balloon
• Paint or Stickers (optional)

HOW TO MAKE AN AIR CANNON

STEP 1: First, you want to cut off the ends of the bottle and balloon.

STEP 2: Decorate the bottle if desired! This step can be done before or after the next step depending on what you want to do to it.

STEP 3: Then you will want to stretch the balloon over the end of the bottle.

Done! You’ve made a super simple awesome air vortex cannon to blast out air.

HOW TO USE YOUR AIR CANNON

By using the end of the bottle with the balloon, to essentially suck air back, you can then aim and shoot that air out the front of the bottle. You can even knock over dominoes with that force of air! Amazing! Simply stretch out the end of the balloon and let it go.

What can you knock over with your own air vortex cannon? You can try making paper targets, setting up paper towel tubes, cups, and more! Ready aim fire!

HOW DOES AN AIR CANNON WORK?

This air vortex cannon may be super simple to make but it also includes some great science to learn too! If you really want to keep kiddos engaged with science, make it fun and hands-on!

As mentioned earlier, we can’t see air but we can see the effects of air moving through trees, the beach ball being blown across the lawn and even the empty trash can as it blows out of the driveway and down the street. You can also feel air when it’s windy! Air is made up of molecules (oxygen, nitrogen, and carbon dioxide) even if you can’t see them though on a windy day, you can sure feel them!

Why does the air move? Generally, it’s because of air pressure caused by temperature changes and moves from high pressure to low pressure. This is when we see storms pop up, but we can also see it on an ordinary day too with a soft breeze.

Although the temperature is a big part of the pressure change, you can also make that pressure change yourself with this cool air cannon project! The air blaster creates a burst of air that shoots out of the hole.  Although you can’t see it, the air actually forms a donut shape. The difference in air pressure from the fast-moving air through the opening creates the spinning vortex that is stable enough to travel through the air and knock over a domino!

• Thread a flower stick into the wooden wheel. Attach it with some glue if necessary.
• Thread on beads. Decide what number your character will represent and thread that number of beads onto the stick.
• Thread a wooden ball on top. This too can be attached with a little glue if needed.
• Cut a few pieces of yarn. Put some glue on the ends and thread into the hole on the top of the wooden ball.
• Paint the eyes, nose and mouth on the wooden ball.
• Also write the number your friend represents on the wooden wheel.
• Then try to see which friends belong together. Those who make 10 together belong together.
• Which one will be alone?
• Don’t forget to make two fives so that you can show the children that the twins five together make ten.

Thanks lekolar.se for the idea!

If you like dot-to-dot exercises have I collected some here. Even one dinosaur themed.

Dot to Dot (PDF, 229 kB)

Dinosaur Dot to Dot (PDF, 769 kB)

A simple experiment on how the colour from M&Ms mixes in water. Simple, fast, cheap and beautiful makes it an interesting experiment. Get the kids to think first what they think will happen. Questions are an important part of the scientific method, along with observation and investigation.

The Science Behind

The science behind why the colors do not mix is known as water stratification. Each color of M&Mhas a slightly different chemical make up which, when dissolved, creates a water solution that has slightly different properties such as density, salinity, and oxygenation. This creates a barrier that prevents the water from mixing and is why salt water and fresh water do not mix.

Another scientific property that is at work here is called concentration gradient. Simply put this is the process where molecules will move from high concentration to lower concentration areas. We see this as the colors move through the water.

HOW WE DID OUR EXPERIMENT

• Set out the supplies
  You will need a good sized white plate, lots of M&M , and water. Ensure you are set up in an area where the plate will not be disturbed. Any vibration or movement could affect your results.
• Arrange the M&M:s

Consider what you want your art to look like and start arranging your Skittles in a pattern around the plate that you think will work best for your Skittles colorful art creation.

Add water

Gently pour the water onto the plate.

Wait and watch

Very quickly you will start to see the colors travel. Watch to see how they move about the plate and what happens when they meet up with other colors. Depending on the size of your creation this will take about 10 minutes.

Repeat

Our favorite part of this experiment was creating a variety of different art pieces.

Analyze the Results

One way to analyze it is to create a timelapse movie. Set up your iPad to take a picture at a set interval and then combine it to a movie. For my movies did I use iMotion.

Two inspirational movies: Film 1 and Film 2

MORE IDEAS

• What happens if you use water at different temperatures?
• What happens if you use different types of liquids? Water, vinegar, juice, pop?
• We used Skittles, but what would happen if you tried different candies? Lollipops, M&Ms, Starbursts, etc.