Have you ever huffed in frustration when someone mentions anything science-y? That is understandable; science can be quite intimidating, but it does not need to be anymore. Science is embedded in the fabric of our existence: from the ground that we walk on, to the food and drink we consume daily, and to the sky above our head and beyond it. We are all the subject of science.
It still sounds daunting? Do not fret!
What if you, dear parent, try incorporating simple science experiments into your parenting style? But what kind of experiment you can conduct with your child? Let us set the scene…
Your child refuses to wash their dishes after having their meal. After relentlessly persuading them, they do as you say. You enter the kitchen hours later in hopes to find a utensil to use, but the one you are holding is very, very greasy. You recall telling your child they must wash their own dishes and this is not supposed to happen! Your child was supposed to use the dishwashing liquid. Probably getting angry is not the preferred way to teach your child, so what is the best way to educate them?
Conduct an experiment with your child! Hands-on experiments are able to stimulate their curiosity; it makes them interested in learning new things every day. By conducting an experiment, you are able to encourage your child to think creatively and outside of the box. Here are the steps you can follow:
- Materials
You will need two empty bottles (label each bottle as Bottle A and Bottle B), tap water, oil, and dishwashing liquid. Is everything set? Let’s carry on with the next step.
- Steps
Fill the bottles with tap water. No, not too much, a quarter of the bottle will do. Next, add oil into both bottles. Everything looks great so far! Now, here comes the fun part. For Bottle A, add more water in it, and for Bottle B, instead of water, add dishwashing liquid.
Close the lids tightly and… shake the bottles! Shake it as vigorously as you and your child can.
- Observation
Now, place the bottles on the table to observe. What did you see?
In Bottle A, which has only water and oil, the two liquids do not mix… but in Bottle B, everything is mixed!
- Explanation
What happened to each bottle?
An emulsifier—the dishwashing soap—is added in order to break down and mix the two liquids. Water is not an emulsifier, but dishwashing liquid is an emulsifier. Therefore, the contents in Bottle B mix together, and the contents in Bottle A did not!
Did you and your child have fun? That is good, glad to hear that you had fun! It does not sound as daunting as it was, does it? Did you say your child is asking you for more science facts? Do not panic. Here are three random science facts you can share with your child:
- The Challenger Deep, located at the south of Mariana Trench in the Pacific Ocean, is the deepest trench in the world. In 2014, researchers discovered that the depth of The Challenger Deep is 10,984 metres! Hollywood director James Cameron dived into The Challenger Deep in 2012. That is very impressive, yes?
- A photograph of a black hole was revealed for the first time ever on April 10th, 2019. Since its revelation, a Hawaiian linguist suggested naming the black hole ‘Powehi’ (po-weh-hee). What does ‘Powehi’ means, you ask? It means ‘embellished dark source of an unending creation’. Oh, goose pimples.
- Have you ever looked up at those fluffy white cotton floating in the sky? Due to the density of water, clouds are actually very heavy. An average-sized cumulus cloud can weigh as heavy as 200 tonnes, whereas a cumulonimbus cloud’s density could weigh as heavy as 1 million tonnes! Clouds are not so fluffy now, huh?
There you have it! Hopefully through this experiment, you are able to teach your child science and a life lesson in the most effective and fun way.
By the way, did you know that learning science at Q-dees is beneficial for your child? In order to ensure that your child is learning from the best at a very young age, Q-dees kindergartens have the most dedicated teachers, with systematic and interactive syllabuses. Q-dees science classes provide access for your child to engage interactively using sophisticated multimedia programs. At the end of each module, students will participate in experiments conducted in their classrooms. Do not worry, science experiments at Q-dees are conducted safely with the supervision of our teachers.
What are you waiting for? Enrol your child at a Q-dees kindergarten near you today by calling 1700-81-5077 or visit Q-dees website!
Reference List
The Art of Scientific Thinking: Why Science is Important for Early Childhood Development https://www.canr.msu.edu/news/art_of_scientific_thinking_in_early_childhood_development
So, How Deep Is the Mariana Trench? https://ccom.unh.edu/sites/default/files/publications/Gardner-et-al-2014-Challenger-Deep.pdf
James Cameron Completes Record-Breaking Mariana Trench Dive https://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2012/03/120325-james-cameron-mariana-trench-challenger-deepest-returns-science-sub/
The First Black Hole to be Photographed Now has a Name https://edition.cnn.com/2019/04/12/world/black-hole-name-powehi-scli-intl/index.html
How Do You Weigh a Cloud http://www.bbc.co.uk/guides/zsbwjxs