Density test

Ours consisted of 4 liquids: light corn syrup (sunk to the bottom), dish soap, water dyed red, and the vegetable oil settled on the top! Pretty neat! I was babysitting when we did this, and couldn't remember all of the layers, but it still made the point.

The following information is from: http://www.stevespanglerscience.com/experiment/seven-layer-density-column

How does it work?

The same amount of two different liquids will have different weights because they have different masses. The liquids that weigh more (have a higher density) will sink below the liquids that weigh less (have a lower density).

Material	Density
Rubbing Alcohol	.79
Lamp Oil	.80
Baby Oil	.83
Vegetable Oil	.92
Ice Cube	.92
Water	1.00
Milk	1.03
Dawn Dish Soap	1.06
Light Corn Syrup	1.33
Maple Syrup	1.37
Honey	1.42

To test this, you might want to set up a scale and measure each of the liquids that you poured into your column. Make sure that you measure the weights of equal portions of each liquid. You should find that the weights of the liquids correspond to each different layer of liquid. For example, the honey will weigh more than the Karo syrup. By weighing these liquids, you will find that density and weight are closely related.

** NOTE: The numbers in the table are based on data from manufacturers for each item. Since each manufacturer has its secret formula, the densities may vary from brand to brand. You’ll notice that according to the number, rubbing alcohol should float on top of the lamp oil, but we know from our experiment that the lamp oil is the top layer. Chemically speaking, lamp oil is nothing more than refined kerosene with coloring and fragrance added. Does every brand of lamp oil exhibit the same characteristics? Sounds like the foundation of a great science fair project.

The table shows the densities of the liquids used in the column as well as other common liquids (measured in g/cm³ or g/mL).

Density is basically how much "stuff" is smashed into a particular area... or a comparison between an object's mass and volume. Remember the all-important equation: Density = Mass divided by Volume. Based on this equation, if the weight (or mass) of something increases but the volume stays the same, the density has to go up. Likewise, if the mass decreases but the volume stays the same, the density has to go down. Lighter liquids (like water or rubbing alcohol) are less dense than heavy liquids (like honey or Karo syrup) and so float on top of the more dense layers.

Marshmallow towers

Today we made marshmallow towers with mini marshmallows and tooth picks! Great activity for a day that is too cold to go outside.

This was right before it tipped over... haha

I don't know why these photos are smaller. Here is J with his marshmallow structures!

Reading

Reading to my nieces and nephews and cous

ins.

I love these kids:-)

Quiet/Busy books

This year for Christmas I made Quiet Books (or busy books) for my 3 year old niece, and 1 1/2 year old nephews. I got the idea from a friend who made them for her great grandchildren. I got online and found many ideas for the pages. In the end, they turned out great but were very time consuming. Most of the pages were the same, but a few I made specific for the boys, and specific to my niece. Here they are!

I love the boys' covers. Cute material from Hobby Lobby.

A mitten to put your hand in:-)

A little house.

Peek behind the curtain, door, and bush for a surprise!:

Learn to tie the cat's collar:

Fall leaves:

They velcro on. I painted the velcro for 2 reasons; because otherwise it is too

strong and all that pulling will ruin it. Also, they are color coordinated to the leaves for matching!

A touchy-feely bird's nest.

Peek inside to see the eggs!:

A camping page. This has a zipper for learning to zip.

Unzip and find a sleepy camper!:

A dog house, with a scotty dog peeking out:-)

Pull him out and take him for a walk!:

The barn (possibly one of my favorite pages!):

Open the barn doors to find 2 farm animal finger puppets!:

Also hidden you will find a chicken on top, a cow, and a chick on a bail of hay:-)

I cut those out of some farm animal material and fabric glued them in.

Another favorite page. The boys got tractors with tires that unbutton:

The boys got a little lad to dress up (Velcro on the clothes, and I again painted the

rougher velcro so the hold wouldn't be as strong):

My favorite boys page. The last page is a little car mat!

In the pocket you will find a sail boat, and 2 little felt cars

I made with button wheels:-) I think it's so cute!

The boys got a fishing page. The fish hook onto fish hooks (hook and eyes). My friend

Megan suggested tying them on with embroidery floss because the fish kept getting unhooked and falling out of the books.

After "catching the fish" they can stick them in the boat if they want:

The girl's button page has flowers to unbutton:

The girl's book has a little girl and dress-ups made from bits of trim and lace I bought at the craft store. I finished the edges by melting them carefully with a match. Sewed on velcro.

Instead of the fishing page the girl's book has a laundry page.

I had tiny clothes pins to hang the clothes on the line! This is my favorite girl's page:-)

The last page in the girl's book has 2 pockets to stick a pad of paper and crayons

to keep a little one entertained some more!

Now for the facts:

•I made 12 pages each.

•I used flannel fabric.

•I made the pages about 10 by 12 or so (I think).

•I used lots of fabric glue (I think a whole bottle between the three books!), but I also sewed allot in that would be handled and need better secured.

•I used allot of felt which I bought. Also allot of scrap fabric which I had on hand.

•I sewed everything onto the fabric pages before I sewed the pages (like front and back) together. Then I sewed the 2 pieces (which equaled four pages),with the right sides facing, together. I turned them right side out and finished all around the edge. When all the pages were finished I assembled them in order, laid them on the cover, and sewed right down the middle through all of the layers.

•I don't know that I would make another anytime soon, but it was fun and I have allot of leftovers!

Boys: slingshot

When you need a project for a little guy, this is easy and very entertaining! All you need is a Y shaped stick, 2 rubber bands, and something like fabric, felt, or in our case (they don't have fabric on hand) the top cut off from a zip lock bag:-) Oh, and some acorns for launching.

Preschool: A day with the little one

First we work on learning to read, with our good friends: Dick and Jane

We play games for math: Colors Bingo and Numbers Bingo

And art is essential: Painted popsicle sticks and acorns:-)

Good, Clean Fun!!

One of my favorite activities to do with the kids I babysit is shaving cream fun. We go outside, they each get a cookie sheet, and I squirt on some inexpensive shaving cream. They go at it squishing it between their fingers, trying to gather it up in their hands, spreading it around, writing in it, adding food coloring and mixing colors... getting as "messy" as they can! But it's just soap, so the clean up is easy:-)

Preschool: Queen Anne's Lace experiment

I remember doing this when I would go to my Aunt's house for the cousin's sleepover each Summer! It's so simple, but it was always so exciting:-)

Pick a bunch of Queen Anne's Lace flowers.

Fill up cups of water, and add several drops of food coloring to each cup.

Then put in the stems of Queen Anne's Lace.

After a few hours (or a day) the flowers will have drunk the colored water

and will be the color of the food coloring!

So pretty:-)