Science FUNdamentals
Activities/Demos
For the 2022-2023 academic year, we are offering the option of in-person or online programming. As such, there are 2 versions of the PowerPoint slides for each demo. Please be sure that you are accessing the correct version for your presentation format.
Check back soon for new demos!
Note: We are not currently offering one-time demos.
Volunteers, please note there are two icons that have been added to most demo docs. The atom is a suggested interactive
component and the microscope is more science background, for your own knowledge, but feel free to use it in your presentation as you see fit.
Acids and Bases
In this demonstration students will be taught what makes an acid and a base and how these two can be differentiated using an indicator. Students will then identify common acids and bases found in their homes. Students will also be shown how the reaction between an acid and base leads to the erosion of an egg shell and the classic baking soda volcano experiment. NOTE: Volunteers must read the egg preparation instructions for a part of this demonstration. The egg must be prepared at least one week in advance..
Aerodynamics
In this demonstration students will be taught that air is a compressible fluid that takes up space and exerts pressure. Students will explore how lift is created and how the speed of moving air affects air pressure. Students will have the opportunity to race balloon rockets to explore factors that affect the speed of rockets. Students will also be introduced to the structures of planes that allow them to fly and maneuver through the air.
Bacteria and Viruses
In this demonstration students will not only learn what bacteria and viruses are, but the importance of hand washing, the dangers of antibiotic resistance, and the ease with which a cold virus can spread between students. They will play a game to mimic how bacteria gain antibiotic resistance, use Glo Germ cream to learn the importance of thorough hand washing, and simulate how the cold virus can be transmitted between students when personal objects such as cups are shared.
Kindergarten Friendly
Buoyancy and Surface Tension
In this demonstration students will better understand buoyancy, Archimedes principle, density, and surface tension. Students will be shown how density can be changed by increasing the mass of a given volume of liquid, how an object’s buoyancy can be altered by varying the density of liquid it is immersed in, and how density creates the beautiful affects of lava lamps. They will then be given a chance to put their knowledge of Archimedes’ Principle to the test in a group based competition.
Kindergarten Friendly
Four Seasons
In this demonstration, Students will explore the main events and major holidays during the four seasons. This demonstration includes a worksheet, where the students will have a chance to share their birth season and what activities they do during the season with the class.
Kindergarten Friendly
Light
In this demonstration, students will learn about the various aspects of light, including the basic characteristics of light, the splitting of white light, and Ultraviolet (UV) light. Students will be briefly lectured on the characteristics of light, then shown some examples of the splitting of white light, shown how UV light can reveal hidden messages.
Strawberry DNA
In this demonstration students will learn about DNA and how it is the fundamental coding system for all life. This is a highly interactive demo will allow students to work in pairs to extract and see the DNA contained within the strawberry. Students will also learn how their DNA makes them a unique individual with different traits than other people via multiple activities.
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CSI
In this demonstration students will conduct multiple reviews of common crime scene investigation techniques and learn how they apply to real world crimes. Students will become familiar with interpreting handwriting samples and learn how to use chromatography skills to identify ink samples. Students will also have the opportunity to examine their own fingerprints up close and see how each fingerprint is unique. At the end, the students get the opportunity to solve their own mystery.
Hearing and Sound
Test your ability to identify mystery sounds without the benefit of seeing what made the sound. Examine the challenges between memories of familiar sounds versus unknown sounds. Create vibration waves using pop bottle resonance to understand the difference between high and low frequency sounds. Use tuning forks to further examine resonance patterns of pure sounds. Test your ability to locate where certain sounds are coming from. Finally, explore problems that loud sounds can cause on our auditory system.
Magnetism
In this demonstration, students will learn about the various aspects of magnetism including how magnetism is created, magnetic lines of force, functional uses of magnetism in the real world such as the MagLev train, and electromagnetism. Students will be shown the properties of magnetism by creating their own magnet, work with ferrofluid to understand magnetic lines of force, discover how magnetic repulsion is the cornerstone of the MagLev train, and the concept of electromagnetism by creating current to light a light bulb via rotating magnets.
Weather
In this demonstration, students will explore the various aspects of weather systems including how clouds are created and shown how they can be created in class. Students will have the chance to play with artificial snow, learn how tornadoes develop, and gain an understanding of weather instruments. If the classroom has a supply of water bottles, students will also be able to make their own thermometers.
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CSI (K-Friendly)
In this demonstration, students will learn about different types of evidence that can be collected at a crime scene. Students will learn about fingerprints, footprints, and handwriting analyses. Students will also have the opportunity to examine and compare their own fingerprints and footprints. At the end, students will have the opportunity to work as detectives and solve their own mystery using their newfound knowledge.
Kindergarten Friendly
Hearing and Sound (K-Friendly)
From pitch to volume to using your hearing to locate objects, students will learn about how we can use our hearing to explore the world around us. Students will also have a brief and simple introduction to how our ears work to allow us to hear things. The presentation will wrap up with strategies to protect our hearing.
Kindergarten Friendly
Psychology
In this demonstration, students will be provided a PowerPoint presentation to examine many types of visual illusions. Different videos and pictures will show students the limits of their perception in certain cases. Students will also play games that require memory matching, as well as conduct a psychological taste test.
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Electricity
In this demonstration students will learn about the various aspects of electricity including static electricity, current electricity, and electromagnetism. Students will learn about the triboelectric effect, charge separation, and induced charge separation. They will also learn about current electricity, voltage, and resistance by creating a light bulb using only batteries, wires, and a pencil lead. Students will then learn how magnetism and electricity are connected and will be shown using a homopolar roller that electricity creates magnetism.
Simple Chemical Reactions
In this demonstration, Students will be able to learn about simple chemical reactions that occur in our daily lives, including how we use chemical reactions to cook and digest food, and acid-base reactions. NOTE: Volunteers must read the egg preparation instructions for a part of this demonstration. The egg must be prepared at least one week in advance.