Using two baby food jars, food coloring, and an index card, you'll 'marry' the jars to see how hot water and cold water mix. Besides illuminating the cool fact that an index card can act as a lid (with no water gushing out), this activity also teaches about the differing densities of hot and cold water.

In this "Sid the Science Kid" activity, learners make applesauce to explore irreversible change. Learners compare and contrast apples that have been changed by heat with apples that haven't been changed. This activity includes a "Sid the Science Kid" video showing how to conduct the investigation. Safety note: adult supervision required.

This open-ended art project allows learners to create their own colorful ice sculpture by using rock salt and food coloring on a solid block of ice. The entire activity is like a mini-science lesson because it teaches learners the physical reaction of salt on ice.

In this activity on page 5 of the PDF, learners mimic the process for making bricks. Learners shape and bake creations from a dough that is made from flour, salt, and water. Use this activity to introduce learners to chemical changes. Safety notes: Follow Milli's safety notes (on page 2) and do this activity with an adult.

In this chemistry activity, learners will explore the concept of entropy. When learners stretch and unstretch a balloon, they will notice a change in temperature. This change is caused by the transferal of energy required to change the entropy, or internal disorder, of the material. This is an excellent way to explain a difficult-to-grasp scientific concept.

In this activity, learners explore Boyle's Law and discover that water will boil at room temperature if its pressure is lowered. Learners conduct an experiment using a plastic syringe and water and then have the option to repeat the experiment with carbonated water and compare the results.

Learners follow directions to construct a solar oven that really cooks! The solar oven uses aluminum foil to reflect sunlight into a cooking chamber, which is painted black. The black surface absorbs the sunlight and produces heat which can be used to bake brownies, cookies, vegetables, or even warm soups and pizza. Use this activity to introduce learners to renewable energy and the Sun as a source of energy. Main webpage includes links to other related resources. Note: Solar ovens can get very hot. Oven mitts or gloves and adult supervision required.

In this activity about states of matter, learners get to witness firsthand the awesome power of air pressure. They watch as an ordinary soda can is crushed by invisible forces. This activity is only to be done with adult supervision, as it involves very hot water.

In this activity (on page 1), learners role play as atoms to explore how atoms can be rearranged to make different materials. Learners group together and link arms or hold hands to form chemical bonds and act out the processes of photosynthesis and respiration. Use this activity to introduce the carbon cycle and follow this activity with two associated activities from the same resource.

In this activity (on page 7), learners explore the meaning of a "carbon sink." Using simple props, learners and/or an educator demonstrate how plants act as carbon sinks and how greenhouse gases cause global warming. This activity is the second in a series of three activities that introduce learners to the carbon cycle (see related sources), although it is not mandatory that all three activities are completed as a set.

In this activity, learners explore the human influences on the carbon cycle and examine how fossil fuels release carbon. Learners role play as miners, power plant operators, car drivers, and home owners in a city. Learners will act out how each member of society contributes to the carbon cycle and then create a classroom mural depicting the path of carbon. Learners can reflect on this process as well as brainstorm ways to lower their carbon footprints. This activity is the third in a series of three activities that introduce learners to the carbon cycle (see related sources), although it is not mandatory that all three activities are completed as a set.

In this activity, learners explore the concept of density-driven currents (thermohaline circulation) and how these currents are affected by climate change. Learners use colored ice cubes, water, and salt to explore density as it relates to salinity. This activity helps learners to understand the impact of glacial melt on sea level rise.

In this edible experiment, learners pour "Magic Shell" chocolate into a glass of cold water. They'll observe as pillow shaped structures form, which resemble lavas on the sea floor.

In this weather activity which requires adult supervision, learners will get a chance to make a cloud right here on Earth! They learn about the different ingredients a cloud needs in order to form, and then duplicate the process that usually takes place thousands of feet above their heads.

In this activity, learners observe colors in the flame of a burning candle to explore connections between matter, light, color and temperature -- basic concepts of matter and energy. Then, learners elaborate on these basic concepts in a new context of astronomy by drawing scale models of stars. This activity involves an open flame; adult supervision is recommended.

In this quick SciGirls activity (page 1 of the PDF), learners will be introduced to the concept of thermal conductivity. A metal knife and a plastic knife are each poked into slices of cold butter then placed handle-first into a glass of warm water. Learners predict which butter slice will fall first and watch carefully for the result. Relates to the linked video, DragonflyTV GPS: Doghouse Design.

In this quick activity (located on page 2 of the PDF), learners will see the effects of convection and understand what makes hot air balloons rise. Learners will fill a bottle with hot water colored red and another bottle with cold water colored blue, then lower both into a container of water and observe the interaction of liquids of different temperatures/densities. Relates to the linked video, DragonflyTV GPS: Balloon Fiesta.

In this outdoor activity/game, learners use thermometers to simulate how lizards survive in habitats with extreme temperatures. Learners are challenged to keep their thermometer-lizard "alive" by keeping its temperature within a five-degree safe range. While regulating their pretend lizards' temperatures, learners must move the lizards through a course of sun and shade, trying to reach the finish first. Through the game and followup discussion, learners come to understand different ways that exotherms, or "cold-blooded" animals, regulate their body temperatures and how they differ from endotherms, or "warm-blooded" animals, such as humans. Activity must be done on a warm, sunny day in a site with areas of deep shade, bright sun, and broken or partial shade.

In this two part activity, learners become draft detectives by constructing their own draft catchers to detect drafts around windows or doors. Next, they make draft stoppers to reduce air flow and conserve energy. This activity helps learners understand the importance of reducing drafts and preventing heat or cold air loss. Note: the second part of this activity requires the use of a sewing machine (not included in cost of materials).

In this activity, learners explore how hot and cold water move. Learners observe that temperature and density affect how liquids rise and fall. Learners also discover that although they can't see molecules with their eyes, they can demonstrate that molecules are always moving.

In this activity, learners discover that the way a material behaves on the macroscale is affected by its structure on the nanoscale. Learners investigate the properties of a heat sensitive liquid crystal and make their own liquid crystal sensor to take home. This is a fun and engaging activity, especially since liquid crystals are used in many consumer products, including cell phone displays, laptop computer screens, strip thermometers, and even "mood" rings! SAFETY: learners must be supervised when doing this activity. They must wear safety glasses to protect their eyes. Before doing this activity, read through the Material Safety Data Sheets.

In this activity, learners conduct an experiment to find out if steel wool will weigh more or less when it is burned. Learners will explore the effects of oxidation and rusting on the steel wool. This activity should be conducted in a well-ventilated area.

In this design challenge activity, learners design and build a solar hot water heater. Their goal is to create a heater that yields the highest temperature change. In the project guide, learners are encouraged to think about this problem within the context of space and space travel. This activity encourages learners to explore the design process and the scientific method.

In this online interactive, learners investigate fires, particularly the causes and behavior of forest fires, as well as how the National Park Service deals with fires. Learners modify conditions (density of forest or "fuel", weather, and terrain slope) to see how fast a simulated fire spreads.

In this activity, learners build a tiny but powerful flashlight out of simple materials. Use this activity to introduce learners to electrical circuits and conductivity.

In this "Sid the Science Kid" activity, learners observe reversible change while thinking about ways to make ice melt. Learners freeze a piece of fruit in an ice cube and then explore ways to get the fruit out of the ice (using warm water to melt the ice, microwaving the fruit cubes, or just waiting). After, learners can enjoy their healthy snack! This activity includes a "Sid the Science Kid" video showing how to conduct the investigation.

In this up-cycling activity, learners recycle plastic bags and repurpose them into useful wallets. Learners cut and iron grocery bags into new shapes and designs so that they can be reused as wallets. Use this activity to introduce learners to polymers, biodegradable materials, and up-cycling.

Up, up and away! Take to the skies in a hot air balloon and try to beat the other balloonists' times.

Learners investigate one factor affecting reaction rates: temperature. In a darkened room, two identical lightsticks are placed in water -- one in hot water and one in cold water. The lightstick in the hot water glows brighter than the lightstick in the cold water since the light-producing reaction is faster in hot water. This activity, located on page 2 of the PDF, is one of three activities in the Take Home guide for the Chemical Reactions unit in OMSI's Chemistry Lab. Also included on the PDF are two additional activities: Cloudy Globs and Gas Production.

In this activity, high voltage is applied across a pickle to emit a yellow glow. This activity should only be conducted by skilled adults and is best suited as a demonstration. Optional extensions to this activity include soaking the pickle for week in brine to emit a pink glow and using several pickles at once.

In this activity, learners construct a simple electrolysis device. With this device, learners can decompose water into its elemental components: hydrogen and oxygen gas. Bubbles emanating from submerged stainless steel electrodes can be collected and tested for their makeup. These experiments require adult supervision and proper eye protection.

Learners conduct an experiment to determine the rate at which two materials, sand and water, heat up and cool down. Then, based on their observations, they make hypotheses about why materials heat up and cool down at different rates. Learners conduct experiments with new materials to test their hypotheses and share their results with the group. Use the Science Flowchart to help learners examine their scientific process.

In this activity on page 8 of the PDF, learners make three of Harry Potter's essential school supplies: quills, ink, and color-changing paper. Learners use supplies from the grocery store to make ancient iron tannate ink (permanent), color-changing paper, and a feather quill pen. Safety notes: Wear eye protection and be careful with hot liquids. The ink is permanent and will stain clothes. Follow Milli's safety tips on page 3 of the PDF.

In this activity, learners set up an experiment to investigate the effects of hot air on the path of a laser beam. They observe the wandering position of the laser beam spot on the wall after the light travels through hot air rising from the candle flame. Learners produce a table of observations from both the Cool Air and Hot Air experiments, and answer questions using evidence from their experiment. Apply what learners discover in this experiment to real-life by discussing why stars "twinkle."

In this activity, learners build a hot air balloon using just a few sheets of tissue paper and a hair dryer. Use this activity to demonstrate how hot air rises due to density and how the volume of gas increases with temperature (Charles's Law).

In this activity, learners model hot spot island formation, orientation and progression with condiments. Learners squirt a thick condiment sauce on a coarsely woven fabric to model how volcanic island hot spots form.

In this activity, learners discover that sand is the major ingredient in glass. They carry out a guided investigation involving chocolate to see what happens when heat is applied to a material that appears solid at room temperature. They learn that glass has special physical properties that allow it to be formed into many different and beautiful objects. At the end, learners can eat the outcomes of the investigation! This activity is featured on pp.32-34 of the "Fireworks of Glass: The Art of Dale Chihuly" unit of study for grades 3-5.

In this chemistry challenge, learners discover that many chemical reactions involve heat loss or gain. With this understanding, they try to find a combination of chemicals that could be used to make an instant cold pack. They are given baking soda, ammonium nitrate, calcium chloride, and potassium chloride, along with vinegar and water (3% hydrogen peroxide and yeast can also be used). Learners combine chemicals into calorimeters, then use thermometers to measure how the temperature changes. Calorimeters can be made by pushing a heated test tube into home insulation foam (instructions in PDF) or can be purchased (one source is Flinn Scientific). The water and ammonium nitrate, and vinegar and baking soda, are candidates for making a cold pack.

In this activity, learners explore temperature changes from chemical reactions by mixing urea with water in one flask and mixing calcium chloride with water in another flask. They observe that the urea flask gets cold and the calcium chloride flask gets hot. The main idea is that some chemical processes release heat energy and are exothermic, while some chemical processes absorb heat energy and are endothermic. This activity is currently used in the Nature of Matter Unit in OMSI's Chemistry Lab. Cost estimates are per 100 learners.

In this physical sciences activity, learners explore how passive solar design increases energy efficiency. Learners test paperboard models of different building designs to discover how the design affects the amount of heat that enters the house.