HOLIDAY SCIENCE: Crafts for kids at home
The holidays are here and soon kids will be out of school across Eastern Carolina.
Award-winning science teacher Covey Denton shared two holiday crafts that are great for kids with an educational component on WITN News at Sunrise Monday.
-Cut paper into strips about 1 inch wide. Cut one strip so it is about 3 inches long and the other so it is 5 inches long.
-Tape the paper into hoops, overlapping the edges a bit to help it stay nice and round.
-Tape the paper loops to the ends of the straw as shown.
Now hold the straw in the middle with the hoops on top and throw it in the air similar like you would throw a dart.
How does it work?
The two sizes of hoops help to keep the straw balanced as it flies. The big hoop creates air resistance which helps keep the straw level while the smaller hoop in at the front keeps your flyer steady and flying straight.
Make it a family challenge!
Can you affect the flight distance?
- Change the length of the straw—which flies farther, long or short gliders?
- Change the position of the hoops—what happens if they aren’t at the end? What if they are closer together?
-Add more loops—can a three looped glider fly farther?
You will need: 1 cup of milk, 4 TBSP white vinegar, strainer (paper towels work very well), bowl, small cookie cutters.
How to do it at home:
Heat the milk in a microwave until it is hot, but not boiling. Carefully pour the milk into the bowl and add the vinegar. Stir for about a minute. Now, pour the milk through the strainer.
In the strainer are a bunch of lumpy blobs. Rinse the blobs in water and press them together and mold it into a shape or press into a cookie cutter. It will harden in a few days!
Those blobs are made of casein. In the early 20th century, milk was used to make many different plastic things like beads, ornaments or even buttons! Queen Mary of England even had jewelry made from Casein plastic.
If you would like to make colored ornaments, use food coloring to tint the milk before you add the vinegar.
