Shopping List for Unit Zero

Sunday May 1, 2011

How many of these items do you already have? We’ve tried to keep it simple for you by making the majority of the items things most people have within reach (both physically and budget-wise).


If you find you don’t have something, simply add it to your next errand or shopping store list.


Shopping List for Unit Zero: Overview of eScience


Click here for Shopping List for Unit Zero.


  • Ball (any size)
  • Garden hose attached to a faucet
  • 4 sheets of paper
  • Ping pong ball
  • Small funnel (you can even make one out of a cone of paper)
  • A couple of large latex balloons, un-inflated
  • Assortment of magnets, including two that are rectangular (you’re going to break one)
  • Large nail (at least 2 inches long)
  • Spool of magnet wire
  • D-cell battery
  • Paper clips
  • Compass (any cheap one will work)
  • Glass of water
  • Glow-in-the-dark toy
  • Cup of hot coffee
  • Can of soda

Shopping List for Unit 1

Saturday August 15, 2009

How many of these items do you have?

You'll find dozens of experiments with every lesson, so you can pick and choose the experiments you want to do. This program has hundreds  of experiments, projects, and activities to choose from depending on your child's interest, your family budget, and what's available to you in your area. You don't need to do them all to get a great science education!

 

 

Focus on quality, not quantity when planning your activity list.

Here's how to use this shopping list:

  1. Look over the list and circle the items you already have on hand.
  2. Browse the experiments and note which ones use the materials you already have. Those are the experiments you can start with.
  3. After working through the experiments, your child might want to expand and do more activities. Make a note of the materials and put them on your next shopping trip OR order them online using the links provided below.

We've tried to keep it simple for you by making the majority of the items things most people have within reach (both physically and budget-wise). We'll be re-using these materials in later units as well.

Shopping List for Unit 1: Force, Gravity, & Friction Click here for Shopping List for Unit 1.

NOTE: Radio Shack part numbers have been replaced. Click here for full chart.

Force Experiments
Balloon (7-9" Latex works great)
Ping Pong Ball
Tissue paper or newspaper
Handful of packing peanuts or paper confetti
Bubble juice (make your own with 12 cups cold water and 1 cup liquid dish soap)
Ball (any size)
Compass (or make your own from a needle, cup of water, magnet, and a cork)
Paper clips (10-15)
Magnet
String or yarn (about 2 feet long)
O-shaped cereal (any brand is fine)
Milk (or water)
Spoon and bowl
Rope (about 3' long)
Paper (copy paper is fine, but if you can find at least one sheet of heavy paper like cardstock, that would be even better)
Two pencils or sticks
Index cards
Blocks
Straws
Disposable cups
Clay

OPTIONAL: (These are not required, but still nice to have...)
Fluorescent bulb
Wool sweater
Plastic bag (like from the grocery store)

Gravity Experiments
Ball (any size)
Stopwatch or timer
Pencil
Paper
Ruler
2 quarters
Ping Pong Ball and Golf Ball (or two different kinds of balls that are the same size but different weight)

OPTIONAL: Hovercraft Project

  • 1 wood skewer
  • 1 wood popsicle stick
  • 1 straw
  • Two 3VDC motors (use this motor for the thruster and this motor for the hover motor)
  • 2  propellers (the ones in the video are 3" diameter, so check your local hobby store and get a variety to test out) - read over the comments below for ideas on where to find props!
  • 9V battery clip with wires
  • 9V battery (get a good kind, like Duracell or Energizer)
  • 1 SPST switch
  • 16 oz. styrofoam cup (the kind used for sodas). Note that waxed paper cups will not work!
  • 1 foam hamburger container (the one in the video is 5.5? square and 3? high when closed)
  • 1 foam meat tray (the one in the video is approx. 10" x 12" x 1" – it does not need to be these exact dimensions – try a few different sizes out to see what happens! You can get them for free if you ask for a clean one from your grocer. 

 

Friction Experiments:

  • Paper
  • Pencil or pen
  • Shoes (any shoes with treads will work fine)
  • Yarn or string (about 2’ long)
  • Rubber band
  • Ruler
  • Heavy book
  • 2 magnets (preferably the flimsy business-card style)
  • Rope (3’ or longer)
  • Dowels or round pencils
  • Handful of marbles
  • 2 cookie sheets
  • A board (about 2 feet by 12 inches) or propped up table
  • protractor
  • A board (about 2 feet by 12 inches, but anything about that size will do - watch the video first so you can see what it's used for. You can also use a table propped up on one end.)

Additional Materials for Advanced Students:

  • Index card or scrap of cardboard
  • 2 small mirrors (like from a craft store)
  • 2 rare earth magnets
  • Nylon filament (thin nylon thread works, too)
  • 4 donut magnets
  • Laser pointer (any kind will work - even the cheap key-chain type)
  • Water glass (or cleaned out pickle jar)
  • Wooden spring-type clothespin
  • Hot glue gun

Shopping List for Unit 2

Monday September 7, 2009

How many of these items do you already have? We’ve tried to keep it simple for you by making the majority of the items things most people have within reach (both physically and budget-wise), and even have broken down the materials by experiment category so you can decide if those are ones you want to do.


Here’s an easy way to decide which materials to get: look over the list, and if the group of materials seems to difficult to obtain, just skip it for now and go onto the next group within the unit. Most items are obtainable from the grocery store, hardware store, and online! You do not need to do ALL the experiments – just pick the ones you want to do!


Shopping List for Unit 2: Velocity & Acceleration Click here for Shopping List for Unit 2.


NOTE: Radio Shack part numbers have been replaced. Click here for full chart.


Velocity
Vehicle with a licensed driver
Small ball (ping pong, golf ball, tennis ball, bouncy ball, etc.)
Wagon or skateboard
Friends
Hardcover book
Toilet paper tube
Plastic cup
A ball that is larger than the end of the toilet paper tube but smaller than the plastic cup
Stop watch or clock with a second hand
Feathers, small pieces of paper, plastic bag or anything light and fluffy (cotton or dust bunnies will work, too)
Tape measure or ruler
Calculator


Optional: broom


Acceleration
NOTE: YOU DO NOT NEED ALL THESE ITEMS! WE’RE POSTING A LOT OF ACCELERATION EXPERIMENTS, SO YOU CAN PICK AND CHOOSE THE ONES YOU WANT TO DO. JUST GATHER THE ITEMS YOU CAN GET EASILY RIGHT NOW AND SAVE THE REST FOR LATER. AGAIN – YOU DO NOT NEED TO DO ALL OF THESE! (Unless you are an over-achiever like Aurora…) Don’t stress – this is supposed to be fun!


At least 3 feet of fairly smooth board (a slightly sloping driveway works well too)
Books, wood chunks, something to prop one end of the board up on
A hard smooth ball (a golf ball, racket ball, pool ball etc.)
A timer
Pencil, paper (or your journal)
Measuring tape or yard stick
Chalk or masking tape to mark off distances
Empty 2-liter soda bottle
Clean wine cork (use the one from your compass from Unit 1)
Water
Hot glue gun with glue sticks
Bicycle wheel
Rope (about 3′)
Office chair that spins freely
10 balloons (get a pack that has the round 7-9″ ones as well as the long balloon-animal kind)
6 straws
6 thin, round, wooden skewers
1 sheet of copy paper
1 index card
Scotch tape and scissors
8 small, round film canister or milk-jug lids (anything round about the size of a quarter that you can punch a hole through the center and use for wheels)
Small piece of stiff cardboard (about 4″ x 6″) – you can use an old cereal box, too
2 foam cups
Fishing line (or heavy thread) – you’ll need to span a room in your house, so about 20′ is typically a good estimate
Heaviest rock you can throw safely
Baking soda (about 1/4 cup)
Distilled white vinegar (about 1/4 cup)
Alka seltzer (get a pack of 24 tablets)
Film canister or small M&M container with the snap-on lid (or use a plastic bottle with a tight-fitting cork)
Campbell’s Chicken broth soup in a can – make sure there’s no pieces, just broth (unopened – you won’t be eating this)
Campbell’s Clam chowder soup in a can (unopened – you won’t be eating this one, either)
Long (4’+) table or slightly slanted driveway


Additional Items for Advanced Students:

1/2″ or larger clear diameter tubing, 12-18″ long
Nylon (or metal, but it’s more expensive) barbed union – check the plumbing aisle in the hardware store
Food coloring (3 drops, any color)
Permanent marker


Shopping List for Unit 3

Wednesday September 16, 2009

How many of these items do you already have? We’ve tried to keep it simple for you by making the majority of the items things most people have within reach (both physically and budget-wise), and even have broken down the materials by experiment category so you can decide if those are ones you want to do.


Here’s an easy way to decide which materials to get: look over the list, and if the group of materials seems to difficult to obtain, just skip it for now and go onto the next group within the unit. Most items are obtainable from the grocery store, hardware store, and places like that. You do not need to do ALL the experiments – just pick the ones you want to do!


Shopping List for Unit 3: Matter (Density & Solids) Click here for Shopping List for Unit 3.
Shaping Matter
Piece of bread
Scale
Pennies
Marbles
Cereal (about 20 pieces of anything)


States of Matter
Microwave
Grape (green, red, and/or black)
Ivory soap bar
Water bottle
Cooking oil (about ½ cup)
Two water or empty 2L soda bottles
Food coloring/dye (two colors: red, blue, etc.)


Crystals
10 cups of granulated sugar (any cheap brand)
Wooden skewer
Black construction paper
1 cup vinegar (distilled white)
Paper towel or coffee filter
Cleaned pickle, jam, or mayo glass jar
20-50 pennies
2 cups cornstarch
2 cups sand (yes, from the playground is fine)
Clean egg shell
1 full box of Borax
4-6 cups Epsom salts
10’ string or yarn
3-6 pipe cleaners


Optional: Nylon fishing line
Optional: Alum (check spice section or gardening aisle)


Additional Items for Advanced Students:

Electrolysis
2 test tubes or something clear and closed at one end
2 two wires, one needs to be copper (12 inches long)
1 cup
9 volt battery
Long match or a long thin piece of wood
Rubber bands
Masking tape
Salt (table salt is fine)


NOTE: KEEP CHEMICALS OUT OF REACH OF CHILDREN. **STORE THE AMMONIA SEPARATE FROM EVERYTHING ELSE.**


BBQ Crystals
Uniodized salt (sodium chloride)
Ammonia (clear, no additives)
Laundry bluing (you can find it at Amazon, WalMart, and some drug stores)
Charcoal briquette, sponge, brick, cork, or porous rock
Non-metal pie plate (an old glass pan works great)
Food (dye) coloring


This next experiment is completely optional!
Optional Additional for Advanced Students: Advanced Crystals
Sodium silicate


Select one (or more) of the following for the Advanced Crystals Experiment (the colors indicated are the colors your experiment will grow…)
Calcium Chloride (white crystals)
Iron Chloride (yellow crystals)
Cobalt Chloride (red crystals)
Copper Sulfate (blue crystals)


Store these chemicals out of reach of children and in a dry, cool location. We’ll be using these for the rest of the year in different experiments. DO NOT mix these chemicals with anything other than what we indicate, as you can generate lethal gases such as HCN.


Shopping List for Unit 4

Wednesday September 16, 2009

How many of these items do you already have? We’ve tried to keep it simple for you by making the majority of the items things most people have within reach (both physically and budget-wise), and even have broken down the materials by experiment category so you can decide if those are ones you want to do.


Here’s an easy way to decide which materials to get: look over the list, and if the group of materials seems to difficult to obtain, just skip it for now and go onto the next group within the unit. Most items are obtainable from the grocery store, hardware store, and online! You do not need to do ALL the experiments – just pick the ones you want to do!


Shopping List for Unit 4: Pulleys, Levers, and Mechanical Advantage Click here for Shopping List for Unit 4.


NOTE: Radio Shack part numbers have been replaced. Click here for full chart.
Pulleys
50’+ Rope (use nylon rope with >200 pound tensile strength that fits through your pulleys)
Pulleys (at least 6 small ones)
Fishing line
Two broomsticks (or use a tree)
Pen (any size)
Large, heavy nut
6” length of ½” PVC pipe
Wire coat hanger
Thread spool
Vice grips and pliers


Optional: Thick slab of wood to make a pulley-swing
Optional: Roller skate (the old-fashioned kind with a wheel at each corner) and a large rubber band


Levers
Stud (2x4x96” or other long, strong piece of scrap wood to play with)


Hydraulic/Pneumatic Earth Mover
Disposable plastic cup
20+ tongue-depressor-size popsicle sticks
6 syringes (anything in 3-10mL size range will work)
6 brass fasteners
Thin wire or narrow zip ties
5’ of flexible tubing (fits over the nose of syringes)
four wheels (use film canister lids, yogurt container lids, milk jug lids, etc.)
4 rubber bands
two naked (unwrapped) straws
skewers that fit inside your straws
hot glue gun (with glue sticks)
sharp scissors or razor (get adult help)
drill with small drill bits (you’ll be drilling holes large enough to fit the stem of a brass fastener)


Optional Additional Items For Advanced Students:

Trebuchet (review shopping list on experiment page so you can watch the video and see how long to cut the wood)


Shopping List for Unit 5

Wednesday September 16, 2009

How many of these items do you already have? We’ve tried to keep it simple for you by making the majority of the items things most people have within reach (both physically and budget-wise), and even have broken down the materials by experiment category so you can decide if those are ones you want to do.


Here’s an easy way to decide which materials to get: look over the list, and if the group of materials seems to difficult to obtain, just skip it for now and go onto the next group within the unit. Most items are obtainable from the grocery store, hardware store, and online! You do not need to do ALL the experiments – just pick the ones you want to do!


Shopping List for Unit 5: Kinetic & Potential Energy Click here for Shopping List for Unit 5.


NOTE: Radio Shack part numbers have been replaced. Click here for full chart.


Ramp Races
Several small balls of different weights (golf ball, racket ball, ping pong ball, marble etc.)
Good size container or mixing bowl
Flour or corn starch or any kind of light powder
Pie tin or other shallow container
Tape measure or yard stick
Optional: Spring scale or kitchen scale


Roller Coasters & Bobsleds
3 pieces ¾” pipe insulation (non-adhesive, black foam)
20 marbles
1 roll masking tape
Aluminum foil
Scissors
Gift wrap tube or clear fluorescent-lamp tube
Stopwatch, yardstick


Catapult
6 rubber bands
2 plastic spoons
9 tongue-depressor popsicle sticks
14 regular-size popsicle sticks
Hot glue gun and glue sticks
wooden clothespin
straw
wood skewer or dowel
Marshmallows, wadded up paper sheets or aluminum foil balls


Pendulums
Yardstick
A washer or a weight of some kind
Stopwatch
4 index cards (any size)
10 Thumb tacks (or brass fasteners)
Big, heavy hex nut
10’ string or yarn
6 strong donut-shaped ring magnets


P-Shooter
Mechanical pencil (cheap kind)
2 thin rubber bands
Razor (get adult help)


Additional Items for Advanced Students:

Baking potato (raw)
Protractor
Straw
String
Rock or key (to use as weight)
Stopwatch
Acrylic tubing (approx 1/2” diameter)
¼” wood dowel (should fit inside acrylic tube)
Washer (make sure that the inner diameter of washer smaller than outer diameter of acrylic tube, so the washer cannot slide up the tube)


Shopping List for Unit 6

Wednesday September 16, 2009

How many of these items do you already have? We’ve tried to keep it simple for you by making the majority of the items things most people have within reach (both physically and budget-wise), and even have broken down the materials by experiment category so you can decide if those are ones you want to do.


Here’s an easy way to decide which materials to get: look over the list, and if the group of materials seems to difficult to obtain, just skip it for now and go onto the next group within the unit. Most items are obtainable from the grocery store, hardware store, and online! You do not need to do ALL the experiments – just pick the ones you want to do!


Shopping List for Unit 6: Energy: Sound, Vibration & Resonance Click here for Shopping List for Unit 6.


NOTE: Radio Shack part numbers have been replaced. Click here for full chart.
Wave Demonstrations
3’ & 10’ string or rope
Weight that can be tied to the end of the string
A timer or stopwatch
Masking tape
2 slinky toys (both are the same size)
Optional: Bathtub, water, ball


Noise Makers
3 popsicle sticks (tongue depressor size)
2 index card (3×5”)
Scissors, tape, hot glue gun
2 film canisters (or plastic snap-lid M&M containers)
Straw
Three 7-9” balloons
2 water balloons
3’ string
Rubber bands (four 3”x 1/8” and four 3” x ¼” )
Disposable cup (plastic, foam, paper…)
Hexnut (1/4” or smaller)
Razor or drill to make hole in the film canister
Optional: Violin rosin (it’s worth it if you can find it!)


Properties of Sound
Empty glass bottle AND plastic water bottle
Metal fork
2 sheets of stiff paper
3 feet of each: yarn, string, thread, and/or fishing line
Disposable cup
Empty soup can
7-9” balloon
Flashlight or laser (if you have it)
Scissors, tape
Small mirror (from a compact or makeup kit, or use a 1” mosaic mirror from the craft store)
Sand (10-12 cups)
5’ string
Dish towel


Optional Speaker Project:
Record player (turntable)
Margarine tub
Tack
Old record that can be scratched


For Advanced Students:

Build Real Speakers
You’ll be making three different kinds of speakers here.
Foam plate (paper and plastic don’t work as well)
Sheet of copy paper
3 business cards
Magnet wire AWG 28
2 neodymium magnets**
Disc or donut shaped magnet 
Index cards or stiff paper
Plastic disposable cup
Tape
Hot glue gun
Scissors
1 audio plug or other cable that fits into your stereo (iPODs and other small devices are not recommended for this project – you need something with built-in amplifier)


OPTIONAL: Chladni Resonance
(Hint – this experiment has the potential for a jaw-dropping science fair project.)
Salt (get two containers, both with a pour spout)
Scrap of metal plate (anything that’s flat will work that’s at least 6” square, preferably 12”)
Clamp (to hold your plate to the table)
Bass fiddle bow (rent or borrow one if you can – this experiment is totally worth it!) with lots of violin rosin


**Special Note About Magnets** If you’re ordering magnets, here’s a list for future projects we’re covering this year as well. (Keep these FAR AWAY from anything electronic!! And be very careful not to let them jump together, or they will crack and fracture because they are so powerful, especially the gold-plated ones!) Here’s a list of the magnets we will be using this year:


9 nickel-plated ball bearings (NSBA) for the Linear Accelerator
Two 5/8” x ¼” high (DA4) for the Speakers
Four ½” gold plated cubes (B888) for the Linear Accelerator
Two tiny bead magnets (R211 and/or R311) for the Curie Heat Engine
Two disc magnets (D21) for the Rail Accelerator
Two gold-plated disc magnets (D41G) for the Rail Accelerator
Five disc magnets (DC2) for the DC Motor
One ceramic magnet for the Curie Heat Engine


Shopping List for Unit 7

Wednesday September 16, 2009

How many of these items do you already have? We’ve tried to keep it simple for you by making the majority of the items things most people have within reach (both physically and budget-wise).


The shopping list for Astrophysics is small, as we don’t want you building a nuclear reactor in your garage… we’re going to be doing a lot of stuff online and in the reading for this unit. Subatomic particles moving near the speed of light are hard to work with anyway.


Are you ready?


Shopping List for Unit 7: Astrophysics Click here for Shopping List for Unit 7.


NOTE: Radio Shack part numbers have been replaced. Click here for full chart.


Material List:
2 sheets of paper
Tape
Small rocks
String
Magnet (any size)
Pencil
Radio that tunes near 100 MHz (the one in your car is perfect)
Black construction paper
Marble
Wire coat hanger (without insulation)
Aluminum foil
Clean, empty pickle jar
Hot glue gun, scissors, tape


For Advanced Students:
Clean, empty pickle jar (yes, another one)
Black felt
Small block of dry ice block (use gloves to handle very carefully)
Rubbing alcohol


YES, THAT’S IT!!


Shopping List for Unit 8

Wednesday September 16, 2009

How many of these items do you already have? We've tried to keep it simple for you by making the majority of the items things most people have within reach (both physically and budget-wise), and even have broken down the materials by experiment category so you can decide if those are ones you want to do. Here's an easy way to decide which materials to get: look over the list, and if the group of materials seems to difficult to obtain, just skip it for now and go onto the next group within the unit. Most items are obtainable from the grocery store and online (links provided below). You do not need to do ALL the experiments - just pick the ones you want to do!

Shopping List for Unit 8: Chemistry Click here for Shopping List for Unit 8.

We’re going to be using real chemicals in this Unit, some of which are corrosive, hazardous, and most are toxic. This Unit is NOT for small children or households with loose pets (so stick Rover outside while you work). As you gather your equipment for this section, please keep ALL chemicals out of reach and sealed until you need them. We’ll show you how to safely store, mix, and clean up your chemicals. You can order all your chemicals from the same supplier (links provided below). We’ll be using this chemistry set for the rest of the year.

Make sure you have goggles and gloves for all experiments, and protect your table (put it near a window for good ventilation) with a thick plastic tablecloth. You’ll be using clear, disposable plastic cups and popsicle sticks to do your experimenting, so grab a box of each to last the entire year.

Materials:

If you are planning to continue your studies in Chemistry by going on to the next Chemistry course after this one (Unit 15) and then later the Advanced Chemistry course, then you can save money by ordering the C3000 kit now to use for this lab as well. It doesn't have absolutely everything you need however - here's a couple of items you'll need to get in addition to the C3000 kit for the experiments in this course:

If you're not planning to purchase the C3000 because you only want to do this unit right now, here's the stuff you'll need for this course:

  • Chemistry Kit Most experiments in this unit use chemicals from this kit. You'll also need to get  Potassium Iodide with your kit and a set of metal tongs.
  • Glassware Set If you don’t already own glassware just for chemistry, we’ve found an inexpensive set you can use all the way through college. You’ll need to get denatured alcohol for the burner. 
  • 2 right-angle (90 degree) glass tubing: these are rare to find, since they break so easily in shipping. Instead, order a set of short tubing and hold it over an open flame for a few seconds until it's soft, and then use tongs to gently bend it into shape.

Can I use my kitchen glassware?

NO. Use either disposable plastic cups or glassware specifically designated for chemistry. Lots of chemicals will adhere to the glass and need to be etched off in order to get it ‘clean’ again. Don’t take chances…everything that comes in contact with a chemical – including the measuring spoons – is now part of your chemistry set.


Shopping List for Unit 9

Sunday November 15, 2009

How many of these items do you already have? We've tried to keep it simple for you by making the majority of the items things most people have within reach (both physically and budget-wise), and even have broken down the materimoals by experiment category so you can decide if those are ones you want to do. You do not need to do ALL the experiments - just pick the ones you want to do!

Don’t be afraid of this list! The materials are broken down by availability and expense. The items in the first list are low-cost materials you already have or can easily add to your next grocery store list. The second list includes mid-priced equipment for more in-depth projects, and the last list of items is appropriate for upper grades. We’ll be re-using the specialty items from this list (like lenses, lights, lasers, and electrical components) for future projects.

Shopping List for Unit 9: Light Waves Click here for Shopping List for Unit 9.

NOTE: Radio Shack part numbers have been replaced. Click here for full chart.

Light Waves

  • Water glass
  • Clean pickle jar
  • Cooking oil, such as canola (approx. 4 cups – use a cheap brand)
  • Two pennies, dollar bill
  • Flashlight
  • 1 teaspoon of milk (soy, cow…) OR white flour
  • 2 hand held magnifying lenses
  • Old CD you can scratch (used in two experiments)
  • Paper towel tube
  • Feather (any size)
  • Index cards
  • Crayons
  • Bar of Ivory soap (get a pack of 3)
  • Sharp pencil
  • String (about 3’)
  • Scissors, tape
  • Television with a remote control
  • Ziploc bag full of water
  • Black plastic trash bag
  • Piece of plastic (like a plastic spoon or cup)
  • Metal pot or pan (not Teflon coated)
  • Clean piece of white paper
  • UV beads
  • Sunblock
  • Sunglasses
  • Two pairs of sunglasses (the polarizing kind rated for UV protection work well)

Light Waves Part 2

  • Small box with lid (like a shoe box)
  • Tracing paper (1 sheet)
  • Microwave
  • BIG bar of Hershey’s chocolate (any type)
  • Water in a shallow glass baking dish
  • Mirror (like a hand mirror from the bathroom)
  • Optional: UV Fluorescent Black Light
  • 2 yardsticks (AKA meterstick)
  • 10-20 popsicle sticks
  • Index cards or pieces of cardboard
  • Set of lenses with extra double-convex  lenses (this is the kind in a hand-held magnifying glass). Pick one of these to get as an extra, or get all 4: 50mm, 150mm, 300mm, 500mm) ...OR… instead of buying lenses, simply use eyeglasses and magnifiers that you already have around the house.
  • Optional: if you want to make the Newtonian telescope, then pick up a concave mirror AND a small mirror (like a mosiac mirror from the craft store, or mirror from a compact).
  • Diffraction grating (you can use an old CD in a pinch)
  • Sheet of mylar (5” x 8” or larger) and cardboard OR use three rectangular mirrors approx. 8” x 1”
  • Scissors, tape
  • Optional: wooden clothespins (about 4)
  • Optional: red, green, and blue colored light sticks (Make sure the light inside the red stick really glows RED, not the usual green liquid enclosed in a red-colored tube.)
  • For the last few items on this list, you can select from either group:

Group A: Three flashlights, three colors of nail polish (red, green, and blue), clear tape (or plastic wrap) OR…

Group B: Three ‘party bulb’ lights (green, blue, and red colored incandescent light bulbs) in clip-on lamps

Lasers

  • Red laser pointer (NOT GREEN!)
  • Small mirrors (mosaic mirrors are cheapest)
  • 3 large paper clips
  • 3 brass fasteners
  • 5 index cards
  • 2 pins
  • 2 razor blades
  • 4 clothespins
  • Scissors, tape
  • White wall (or white paper stuck to the wall)
  • PLUS materials from Light Waves 1 & 2

For Advanced Students:

 

Laser Light Show

  • Red laser pointer
  • 2 3VDC motors
  • 2 gears** or corks (you’ll need a solid way to attach the mirror to the motor shaft tip)
  • 2 1” round mirrors (use mosaic mirrors)
  • 2 DPDT switches with center off
  • 20 alligator clip leads
  • 2 AA battery packs with 4 AA batteries
  • 2 1K or 5K-ohm potentiometers
  • Zip-tie (from the hardware store)
  • ½ " or ¾ " metal conduit hangers (size to fit your motors from the hardware store)
  • 3 sets of ¼ " x 2" bolts, nuts, and washers
  • 1 tupperware container (at least 7” x 5”) with lid
  • Basic tools (scissors, hot glue gun, drill, wire strippers, pliers, screwdriver)

**If you have trouble finding these parts (with the ** next to them), just send us an email.

 

 

Laser Communicator

This project requires soldering. We’ll teach you how to solder, but you need a soldering iron. If you don’t have a soldering iron, save this project for another time.

 

 

 


Shopping List for Unit 10

Friday January 22, 2010

How many of these items do you already have? We've tried to keep it simple for you by making the majority of the items things most people have within reach (both physically and budget-wise), and even have broken down the materials by experiment category so you can decide if those are ones you want to do.

Don’t be afraid of this shopping list! The materials are broken down by availability and expense, and you can order online. The items in the first list are low-cost materials you already have or can easily add to your next grocery store list. The next lists include mid-priced equipment for more in-depth projects, and the last list of items is appropriate for upper grades.

We’ll be re-using these items for Units 11 and 12 (like motors, lights, battery packs, wires, and electrical components). The materials listed here are for building five different robots (with remote control), six burglar alarms, and a handful of sensor circuits.

Shopping List for Unit 10: Electricity Click here for Shopping List for Unit 10.

NOTE: Radio Shack part numbers have been replaced. Click here for full chart.

Basic Electricity

  • Regular sized latex balloon
  • 1 sheet of tissue paper
  • Fluorescent bulb (borrow the long ‘tube’ kind from your house, or get a burnt out one from the recycling)
  • Plastic grocery bag
  • Wool sweater, socks, or mittens to wear
  • Wire coat-hanger (not insulated)
  • Packing peanuts (about 20)
  • Yard stick (AKA meter stick)
  • Soup spoon (bigger is better)
  • 2 tablespoons dill
  • Vegetable oil (or mineral oil)
  • Lid from a jar (jam, pickle, mayo…)
  • Bubble solution (store-bought, or use our recipe:
    (12 c cold water + 1 c clear Ivory dish soap)

Electric Circuits & Burglar Alarms

  • 2 wire coat-hangers (not insulated)
  • 1 sheet of tissue paper
  • 3 shiny copper pennies
  • 25 large popsicle sticks (tongue depressor size)
  • Brass (use brass fasteners, wood screws or keys)
  • Iron (find two uncoated nails if you can)
  • Silver (‘real’ silverware)
  • Zinc (find two galvanized nails)
  • Graphite (from a mechanical pencil)
  • Baking soda (2 tablespoons)
  • Film canister (or other small container with lid)
  • 2 pcs cardboard (or 6”x 4”x 2” wood scrap)
  • 4’ length aluminum foil (used for several experiments)
  • 1” square sponge square of squishy foam (or thin sponge) that reforms into shape when released
  • 10 small paper clips
  • 12 large paper clips
  • 12 brass fasteners
  • 2 wooden spring-type clothespins
  • 5 unpainted steel thumbtacks
  • Thin bare wire (28g) or rip open an alligator clip
  • 2 index cards
  • Salt (about 8 tablespoons)
  • Skillet and stove
  • 2 clean glass jars (pickle, jam, mayo…)
  • 8 AA battery packs
  • LEDs (Bipolar or Tristate)
  • Neon Lamp
  • Buzzer
  • 3VDC motor
  • 10-20 alligator clip leads
  • SPST push-button switch
  • 1K-ohm potentiometer 
  • CdS cell
  • Red laser pointer (from Unit 9) or flashlight
  • AA batteries for your battery case (Cheap dollar-store “heavy duty” type are perfect. Alkaline batteries are NOT recommended.)

Robotics & Remote Controls

You'll need the parts from 'Electric Circuits' and these items:

  • 6 3VDC motors
  • 7 wheels (tops from film canisters, small yogurt containers, milk jugs, orange juice, etc.)
  • 4 straws
  • 1 long bolt (2" or longer) with nut
  • 2 toothbrushes or plastic spoons
  • 2 blocks of foam (2” x 4” x 6” or larger)
  • 1 wooden spring-type clothespin
  • 20 wooden skewers (for 3 different robots)
  • 1 propeller that fits onto the motor shaft (read over comments below before purchasing!)
  • 2 gears** or cork
  • Plastic soap container (optional)
  • Basic tools (scissors, tape, hot glue gun, and drill with bit the size of the motor shaft)

**If you have trouble finding these parts (ones with ** next to them) just send us an email.

For Advanced Students:

You'll need the parts from the lists above and these items:

Digital Multimeter - You'll need one of these for the rest of your projects.

Air Battery

Alien Detector

  • LED (any regular LED works fine)
  • MPF 102 – buy 2, because these are the first things to burn out in your circuit
  • 9V battery clip and a 9V battery – you should have a spare from the Laser Communicator project in Unit 9 you can use

Tools: Wire strippers, pliers, scissors, soldering iron, solder, stand

Superfast Bug Bot

Tools:

  • Wire strippers
  • Pliers, scissors
  • Soldering iron, solder, stand

Underwater Remotely Operated Vehicle

The underwater robot (R.O.V.) is a much larger-scale project than usual. Expect to spend at least 14 hours on building this ultra-cool remotely operated underwater vehicle that swims in lakes and pools.

  • ½” PVC pipe (6 pieces: 1.5” long, 4 pieces 2.5” long, 4 pieces 3” long, 2 pieces 4” long, 2 pieces 4.5” long, and 2 pieces 12” long… total length is roughly 6 feet of pipe.)
  • 2” diameter (two pieces 6” long each)
  • Four 2” PVC end caps
  • Four ½” PVC tees (slip-slip-slip)
  • Ten 90 deg. Elbow (slip-slip)
  • Coarse sand paper
  • Three 1” pipe clamps (U-shape with 2 mounting holes)
  • Three propellers that fit onto the motor shaft
  • Three 12VDC motors
  • Three film canisters (black Kodak canisters work great if you can still find them)
  • Three DPDT switches with a center OFF
  • 30 ft. of “CAT-3” (or “CAT-5”) telephone/network cable (8-conductor or 4-pair, AWG 24)
  • Project box (you’ll need a plastic box: tupperware, soap dishes, or plastic project box)
  • 6-10 zip ties
  • Wire (or plastic) mesh screen, 12” x 8” piece

Tools:

  • Soldering iron with solder
  • Pliers, screwdriver
  • Drill with drill bits
  • Silicone or toilet seal wax (and old mug to liquefy it in)
  • Vaseline
  • Power supply (12VDC car battery or car charger)

Shopping List for Unit 11

Friday January 22, 2010

How many of these items do you already have? We've tried to keep it simple for you by making the majority of the items things most people have within reach (both physically and budget-wise), and even have broken down the materials by experiment category so you can decide if those are ones you want to do.

Don’t be afraid of this shopping list! The materials are broken down by availability and expense, and you can order online. The items in the first list are low-cost materials you already have or can easily add to your next grocery store list. The next lists include mid-priced equipment for more in-depth projects, and the last list of items is appropriate for upper grades.

We’ll be re-using these items for Units 12 and beyond (like motors, lights, battery packs, wires, and electrical components).

Shopping List for Unit 11: Magnetism: Click here for Shopping List for Unit 11.

NOTE: Radio Shack part numbers have been replaced. Click here for full chart.

Basic Magnetism

  • Compass (at least one, but more is better)
  • Needle or thin nail
  • Cork or foam piece
  • Cup (non-metal)
  • Shallow baking dish (non-metal)
  • Caps from water bottles or milk jugs
  • 2 strong magnets (KJ Magnetics)
  • Assortment of magnets, one larger than the rest
  • Iron filings (you can take a metal file to a nail)
  • Disposable plate
  • Paper and pencil
  • Magnet wire
  • 8 donut-shaped magnets
  • Packing peanuts (about 10)
  • Film canisters (2)
  • Long nails (2)
  • Sand paper (small 2" x 2" piece, fine grit)
  • D-cell battery
  • Bare wire OR aluminum foil
  • 2 large paper clips
  • 1 rubber band
  • String (3’)
  • Tape, scissors
  • Optional: Clay (small piece)

Ferrofluid

  • Old laser printer cartridge (get these for free from a place that recycles them, like an office supply store)
  • Oil – vegetable or baby oil (only a few teaspoons)
  • Popsicle stick and disposable cup

Ultra-Cool Magnet Projects

In addition to the items from Basic Magnetism, you'll need these items from Unit 10: Electricity:

AND you'll also need:

  • Small paper clips
  • Empty soup can or 2 large paper clips
  • 6 large paper clips
  • 4 brass fasteners
  • 12VDC motor
  • Wooden ruler with groove down the center
  • 8 strong rubber bands
  • 9 nickel-plated ball bearings (NSBA)
  • Four ½” metal plated cubes (B888)
  • Screw (at least 1½” long)
  • 5 disc magnets (DC2)
  • Aluminum sheet (like a cookie sheet)
  • Reed switch
  • Two large grapes
  • Straw
  • String (3’)
  • Sticky tape (Scotch Magic tape works well)

For Advanced Students:

Buzzer:

Curie Engine:

  • Two tiny bead magnets (R211 and/or R311)
  • One ceramic magnet
  • Thin wire (28-32g)
  • Votive candle and lighter (keep out of reach)

Rail Accelerator:

  • 9V battery clip & 9V battery
  • Aluminum foil (3’ length)
  • Posterboard
  • 1 wire coat-hanger (not insulated)
  • Two disc magnets (D21)
  • Two metal-plated disc magnets (D41G)
  • Vice grips or cutters (to cut a wire coat hanger)

Listening to Magnetism

  • Bolt (2 ½” long and ¼” diameter) and 2 washers and a nut that fits the bolt
  • Amplified Speaker (iPod Speaker) from the Laser Communicator in Unit 9.
  • Audio plug
  • Wire
  • Strong magnet (borrow one of the ½” metal plated cubes from above list)
  • Cookie sheet (made from steel, not aluminum)

Speakers

You’ll be making three different kinds of speakers here. If you haven't made these yet from Unit 6, NOW is the time to make them. Here's what you need:

  • Foam plate (paper and plastic don’t work as well)
  • Sheet of copy paper
  • 3 business cards
  • Magnet wire
  • 2 neodymium magnets (DA4)
  • 1” donut magnet
  • Index cards or stiff paper
  • Plastic disposable cup (not paper)
  • Tape
  • Hot glue gun
  • Scissors
  • 1 audio plug or other cable that fits into your boombox (iPODs and expensive stereos are not recommended for this project, as they will be damaged by the low resistance of the speakers)

Shopping List for Unit 12

Tuesday February 9, 2010

This Unit is a bit different from the rest. While we usually try to keep the materials simple for you, some of these materials are not your everyday items. The projects in this unit are more intensive and expensive - you'll want to pick which ones you want to do before buying the materials.

We've broken the materials down in this list by project, so you'll find overlap between the different projects.  Most projects take a bit of time to do - they're not like the quick 5-minute activities you have seen so far.

How the shopping list works: The first lesson are simpler and less expensive projects. The second lesson includes mid-priced projects for more K-8th students, and higher-end items (like the fuel cell and BEAM robots) which are appropriate for upper grades (5th-12th). We’ll be re-using items from Units 10 and 11 here, like motors, lights, battery packs, wires, and electrical components. If you already have these parts, simply scratch them off this list.

Shopping List for Unit 12: Alternative Energy Click here for Shopping List for Unit 12.

NOTE: Radio Shack part numbers have been replaced. Click here for full chart.

Lesson 1 Experiments:

  • Bags (zipper-close and plastic)
  • balloon
  • batteries, AA-size
  • bottle, plastic two-liter
  • bowl, plastic
  • clay, modeling
  • corn syrup
  • measuring cups and spoons
  • cups (paper, plastic, and Styrofoam)
  • earphone or headset
  • Epsom salt
  • Small electric fan
  • Flowerpot with saucer (unglazed ceramic)
  • Aluminum foil
  • funnel
  • grass clippings, freshly cut
  • hole punch
  • ice chest or cooler or freezer
  • glass jars or water glass
  • lamp with incandescent bulb
  • Lysol spray
  • magnifying lens
  • match or lighter
  • mitt, insulated
  • newspaper
  • oven
  • black paint with paintbrush or black spray paint
  • paper clips
  • white copy paper
  • peanut (shelled)
  • penny
  • aluminum pie pan
  • pinwheel
  • plate
  • pliers
  • shoebox
  • silicon solar cell
  • sink
  • aluminum
  • soft drink can
  • spoons
  • straw
  • string
  • tape
  • tea bags
  • thermometer
  • tomato juice
  • watch or clock
  • water
  • wires with alligator clips

Lesson 2 Experiments:

Solar Battery

  • ½ sq. foot of copper flashing sheet (check the scrap bin at a hardware store)
  • Alligator clip leads
  • Multimeter
  • Electric stove (not gas)
  • Large plastic 2L soda bottle
  • ¼ cup salt
  • Sandpaper & sheet metal shears

Solar Oven

  • Two large sheets of poster board (black is best)
  • Aluminum foil
  • Plastic wrap
  • Black construction paper
  • Cardboard box
  • Pizza box (clean!)
  • Tape & scissors
  • Reusable plastic baggies
  • Cookie dough (your favorite)

Marshmallow Roaster

  • 7x10” page magnifier (Fresnel lens)
  • Cardboard box, about a 10” cube
  • Aluminum foil
  • Hot glue, razor, scissors, tape
  • Wooden skewers (BBQ-style)
  • Chocolate, marshmallows, & graham crackers

BristleBot

  • Old toothbrush
  • Tiny vibrator motor (you can also rip one out of an old cell phone) or use a disk motor
  • Small watch battery

Solar Vehicles

Wind Turbine

Fruit Batteries

  • Apple, lemon, grapefruit, lime, potato, or other fruit/vegetable
  • A digital Multimeter
  • Alligator clip leads
  • Zinc plate or galvanized nail
  • Copper plate (1/2” x 2”) or shiny copper penny (you can scrub a tarnished penny with ketchup to shine it up)

Steamboats

  • Copper tubing (1/8”-1/4” dia x 12” long)
  • Votive candle
  • Foam block
  • Scissors or razor (with adult help)
  • Bathtub

For Advanced Students

Stirling Engine

  • three soft drink aluminum cans (Pepsi work best because of their unique rim shape)
  • old inner tube from a bicycle
  • super glue and instant-dry accelerator
  • electrical wire (3-conductor solid 14g copper wire)
  • water bottle cap
  • 7-9" latex balloon
  • fishing line (we used 15 lb. test, but any strength will work fine)
  • 3 old CDs
  • Penny
  • Nylon bushing
  • Votive candle and lighter
  • Wooden base and wood screws (optional)
  • Tools: tin snips or stainless steel scissors, pliers, can opener, hammer, drill and 1/16” bit, wire cutters, razor, push pin, electrical tape, permanent marker, swiss army knife

Crystal Radio

Fuel Cells

Fuel Cell Car Kit (Item# KT-FUELCCK from www.hometrainingtools.com). This kit is a bit expensive, but if you want to build a car that runs entirely from sunlight and water, this is the one you want to get.  The company that makes this particular model also sells the conversion kits for (real!) cars. Great starter kit for kids interested in fuel cell technology - after kids get the hang of how it works, they can up the power and perhaps use it on a go-cart?

Beam Robots

  • Tiny eccentric vibrating motor (or Solorbotics, or you can also rip one out of an old cell phone)
  • Vibrating disk motor from Solarbotics (you can also rip one out of an old cell phone) or get one from Jameco
  • Two 2.2k-Ohm resistors (or Solarbotics)
  • Six 4700 μf electrolytic capacitors (or Solarbotics)
  • Two PNP 3906 transistors (or Solarbotics (get a few extras, as these are the first things to burn out
  • Twp NPN 3904 transistors  (or Solarbotics) and get a few extras, as these are the first things to burn out)
  • Two voltage triggers from Solarbotics (get the MCP112-315)
  • Two 37x33mm solar cells from Solarbotics (we won't be using the circuit on the back - just the solar cell)
  • Paper clips (a few of each: small and large)
  • Hot glue gun, soldering iron with solder, electrical tape
  • Pliers, wire cutters, diagonal cutters (if you have them)

Optional Beam Robots: After you've built the BEAM robots above, you can move onto more advanced designs.  Here are the parts you'll need for them:


Shopping List for Unit 13

Friday February 26, 2010

This Unit builds on the projects from Unit 12: Alternative Energy. If you haven’t already built the Steam Boat, Solar Ovens, or Stirling Engine (this engine is just for advanced students), you’ll want to go back and do those projects first.  The focus of this unit is on temperature, heat transfer, how to use these ideas to build super-cool inventions in thermodynamics.


How many of these items do you already have? We’ve tried to keep it simple for you by making the majority of the items things most people have within reach (both physically and budget-wise), and even have broken down the materials by experiment category so you can decide if those are ones you want to do.


Shopping List for Unit 13: Thermodynamics Click here for Shopping List for Unit 13.


NOTE: Radio Shack part numbers have been replaced. Click here for full chart.


Temperature Experiments

  • 2 water or soda bottles
  • food dye
  • index card
  • pot, stove
  • pepper
  • ice cubes
  • black paper, white paper
  • aluminum foil
  • rubbing alcohol
  • dime, penny, and/or nickel
  • gum wrapper (must be metallic on one side)
  • index card
  • six 7-9” balloons
  • cooking oil (about a cup of the cheap kind)

OPTIONAL:


  • 1 quart whole milk (do not substitute, unless your child has a milk allergy, then use soy or almond milk)
  • 1 pint heavy cream (do not substitute, unless your child has a milk allergy, then skip)
  • 1 cup sugar (or other sweetener)
  • 1 tsp vanilla (use non-alcohol kind)
  • rock salt (use table salt if you can’t find it)
  • lots of ice
  • freezer-grade zipper-style bags (you’ll need quart and gallon sizes)

Heat & Thermodynamics Experiments

  • clear plastic (needle-less) syringe, 5– 20mL
  • can of soda (leave unopened)
  • four votive candles or tealights
  • large glass jar (like a clean empty pickle jar)
  • matches with adult help
  • aluminum pie plate or cookie sheet
  • liquid crystal sheet
  • silver highlighter marker or aluminum foil
  • block of foam (any scrap piece will work)
  • 1/4-1/8” diameter x 12” metal tube (copper)
  • thermometer
  • bathtub
  • stopwatch, ruler, tape, scissors
  • drinking bird
  • black paint and silver (or white) paint
  • mug of hot water

For aAdvanced sStudents:

  • fresh peanuts
  • test tubes and test tube clamp
  • large paper clips

Shopping List for Unit 14

Sunday February 28, 2010

This Unit is different. While normally, we try to stick to everyday items, this advanced electronics course requires ordering from an online electronics store.

We're going to need additional supplies to those used in Unit 10. Keep both sets of electricity materials together (both from this Unit 14 and the previous Unit 10) until you need them, as there are lots of small parts! These two sets are the ones your kids will be using until they hit college and beyond.

Note: All the parts for these projects are included in Science Mastery Diamond.

Shopping List for Unit 14: Electronics: Click here for Shopping List for Unit 14.

NOTE: Radio Shack part numbers have been replaced. Click here for full chart.

Beginner (Grades K-4)

For younger students, we do NOT recommend this unit.  Instead, hop on over to a more appropriate Electricity course for your students here in Unit 10.

Lesson 1: Intermediate (Grades 5-8)

For Lesson 1, you’ll need the following parts that can be found by clicking the links next to each part below.

The "Electronics Fundamentals" kit from FutureVision Research contains all the electronic parts (and more) needed for Lesson 1. Click here to order from FutureVision Research.

There are TWO books recommended (not required) for this unit. Here they are:

Lessons 2 is for advanced students, and advanced 5-8th graders:

For Lesson 2, you’ll need the kits listed below. Most projects take a few hours to complete. I recommend starting with the Police Siren first.

  • Police Siren This is the first kit you'll build to practice your soldering. The layout is larger than the rest, so it's easier to build. Click here to order.
  • Touch Door Alarm An annoying alarm sounds when a person touches the knob! Click here to order.
  • Rolling Clock Build your own clock with date display. Be sure to pick up the wall transformer if you want your clock to plug into the wall and not just run on batteries. Click here to order.
  • FM Transmitter Picks up sounds or voices in the room and transmits them to a nearby FM radio. This is the 'Bug' from our spy kit series. Click here to order.
  • Tools: You'll need a soldering iron (with a stand and plenty of solder), wire strippers, needle-nose pliers, diagonal cutters, and helping hands to hold your board as you work.

For Lessons 3 & 4 is for advanced students and advanced 5-8th graders:

  • Electronic Learning Lab by Radio Shack This is the best learning lab I’ve found – it comes with tons of experiments that cover both basic and digital electronics projects! It includes everything you need for all the projects in Lessons 3 and 4, and covers the fundamentals of computer technology.

If you find your students are thirsty for more reading content that is provided in the project kit, then these are my three favorites. These books are recommended (not required) for this unit at the 9-12 grade level. Here they are:


Shopping List for Unit 15

Monday March 1, 2010

This Unit is different. While normally, we stick to everyday items, this advanced unit on chemistry requires a full chemistry set.  The good news is, you only have to buy one item, as it includes the glassware, safety gear, workbook, chemicals, and equipment. The downside?  Don't eat any of these things, and store far out of reach from small kids and pets.

We’re going to be using real chemicals in this Unit, some of which are corrosive, hazardous, and most are toxic. This Unit is NOT for small children or households with loose pets (so stick the dog outside while you work). When your materials arrive, please keep ALL chemicals out of reach and sealed until you need them. We’ll show you how to safely store, mix, and clean up your chemicals.

Make sure you have goggles and gloves for all experiments, and protect your table (put it near a window for good ventilation) with a thick plastic tablecloth. You’ll be using real glassware for these experiments (included in the set) to do your experimenting.

 

Beginner Chemistry (Grades K-4)

For younger students, we do NOT recommend this unit.  Instead, hop on over to a more appropriate Chemistry Level for your students here in Unit 3 and Unit 8.

Intermediate Chemistry (Grades 5-12)

There are now TWO Versions of each of the kits. Please make sure you select the correct version in order to make sure the videos in the curriculum line up with the experiments in your box.

(You can no longer purchase the original C3000. This kit was discontinued in 2018. Some families still have the original C3000, so we are keeping up the old videos in case they are needed.)

For Grades 5 - 8th: Thames & Kosmos C1000 v2.0 

For Grades 9-12th: Thames & Kosmos C3000 v2.0 PLUS the items on THIS LIST.

TIP: Don't buy both the C1000 & C3000. There is a lot of overlap (at least, at the beginning of the C3000) between the two. If you know your child is going to continue their studies in Chemistry, then just get the C3000 and start your chemistry studies there. The C1000 is more for students who only need a bit of chemistry, not an entire, rigorous year-long course. 

One box of the C3000 can be used for 2-3 students before refilling. In most cases, you can purchase individual refills here.

 

 

 

 


Shopping List for Unit 16

Monday May 2, 2011

How many of these items do you already have? We've tried to keep it simple for you by making the majority of the items things most people have within reach (both physically and budget-wise).

You do not need to do ALL the experiments - just pick the ones you want to do!

Shopping List for Unit 16:

Click here for Shopping List for Unit 16.

  • Food coloring
  • Sugar
  • Ruler
  • Graph paper (or regular paper)
  • Potato
  • Salt (a few tablespoons)
  • Water
  • Several water glasses
  • Grass
  • Compound Microscope
  • Blank slides
  • Cover slips
  • Baking yeast
  • Cotton balls
  • Dried beans
  • Cookie sheet
  • Six stalks celery
  • Three carrots
  • 12" string
  • Four paper towels
  • Candle and Matches with Adult Help
  • Six Petri Dishes (or something similar)
  • Cotton swabs
  • Pumpkin OR apple OR squash OR bananas OR carrots OR anything else you might have in the fridge
  • Dishwashing detergent
  • 91% isopropyl alcohol
  • Coffee filter and a funnel (or use paper towels folded into quarters)
  • Paper
  • Crayons
  • Two different coins
  • Scissors
  • Tape

Optional: Iodine solution and caustic soda (sodium hydroxide) Keep this away from children!


Shopping List for Unit 17

Thursday August 25, 2011

How many of these items do you already have? We’ve tried to keep it simple for you by making the majority of the items things most people have within reach (both physically and budget-wise).


You do not need to do ALL the experiments – just pick the ones you want to do by first checking out the experiment videos. Note the activities that you already have the supplies for and start with those. When you are ready for more, make a note of the supplies from this list.


Shopping List for Unit 17: Click here for Shopping List for Unit 17.


  • Bread
  • Pie Tin
  • Tupperware or Petri Dish
  • Handful of grass
  • Water
  • Mason Jar
  • Paper towel
  • Plastic wrap
  • Yeast
  • Sugar
  • Ziploc bag (sandwich size)
  • Air purifier
  • Large plastic crate
  • Hobby knife
  • Regular knife
  • Tissue
  • Isopropyl alcohol
  • Keyhole saw or jigsaw
  • Drill
  • Agar
  • Plain Yogurt
  • Microscope with slides and coverslips
  • Clean Plastic Cup
  • Petrie Dishes with agar
  • Cotton Swabs
  • Tap water, bottled water, and water from an outside source
  • Toothbrush
  • Three types of toothpaste
  • Four small potted houseplants
  • Four light bulbs of different colors
  • Lettuce seeds
  • Gibberellic Acid
  • Two green bananas
  • Once very ripe banana
  • Two paper lunch bags
  • Two liter soda bottle
  • Razor with adult help
  • Gravel or sand
  • Spanish or Spaghnum moss
  • Potting soil
  • Seeds you wish to plant
  • Carnivorous plant seeds
  • Peat moss
  • Sand or silica

Shopping List for Unit 18

Friday October 21, 2011

How many of these items do you already have? We’ve tried to keep it simple for you by making the majority of the items things most people have within reach (both physically and budget-wise).


Here’s how to use this shopping list: First, look over the list and circle the items you already have on hand. Browse the experiments and note which ones use the materials you already have. Those are the experiments you can start with. After working through the experiments, your child might want to expand and do more activities. Make a note of the materials and put them on your next shopping trip OR order them online using the links provided below.


We’ve tried to keep it simple for you by making the majority of the items things most people have within reach (both physically and budget-wise). Are you ready?


Shopping List for Unit 18: Click here for Shopping List for Unit 18.


Material List:


  • Chicken egg
  • Vinegar
  • Glass
  • Roasted chicken
  • Variety of bird feathers (collected from nature)
  • Dead insects of your choice
  • Birdseed
  • Poster board in a variety of colors
  • Water bottle
  • 2 flexible straws
  • Fifteen clean and empty 2-liter soda bottles with caps (check your local recycling center)
  • One small plastic lid that fits inside the soda bottle (like from a yogurt or butter tub)
  • Aluminum foil (12” piece)
  • Plastic vial (like an M&M container or a film canister)
  • 1 yard (or meter) of cotton twine or rolled up paper towel
  • Brown paper grocery bag
  • Newspaper
  • fast-growing plant seeds (radish, grass, turnips, Chinese cabbage, moss, etc.)
  • Flexible or clip-on style lamp with fluorescent bulb
  • Soil, twigs, leaves, and organic plant material
  • Live predators (praying mantis or spiders or carnivorous plants)
  • Live red worms (about 20)
  • Small piece of fruit
  • White and black spray paint
  • 20 feet of rope
  • Graph paper (optional)
  • Non-flexible straw
  • Salt
  • Glass
  • Distilled water or filtered water
  • Permanent marker
  • Clay (about the size of a marble)
  • Paint can (we’ll use the lid for the secchi disk and the pail for the waterscope) OR plastic gallon-size jug
  • Large rubber band
  • Plastic film (like saran wrap)
  • Lizard in a terrarium (borrow one?)
  • Video camera
  • Male betta fish
  • Fish bowl
  • Mirror for fish bowl

Tools:


  • scissors
  • razor with adult help
  • hot glue gun
  • masking tape

Optional Dissection Materials:


Shopping List for Unit 19

Thursday November 17, 2011

How many of these items do you already have? We’ve tried to keep it simple for you by making the majority of the items things most people have within reach (both physically and budget-wise).


Here’s how to use this shopping list: First, look over the list and circle the items you already have on hand. Browse the experiments and note which ones use the materials you already have. Those are the experiments you can start with. After working through the experiments, your child might want to expand and do more activities. Make a note of the materials and put them on your next shopping trip OR order them online using the links provided below.


We’ve tried to keep it simple for you by making the majority of the items things most people have within reach (both physically and budget-wise). Are you ready?


Shopping List for Unit 19: Click here for Shopping List for Unit 19 Online Experiments.


Material List:


Note: These materials listed here are only for the experiments listed in Unit 19 online. (There are different experiments listed in the downloadable Lesson Plan.) If you’d like to do the additional experiments within the Lesson Plan, download the Unit 19 Lesson Plan document and you’ll find the materials list inside.


Robotic Hand
five flexible straws
scrap of cardboard (at least as big as your hand)
five rubber bands
5 feet of string or thin rope


Tasty Tastebuds
1 partner
1 blindfold
1 cup of water
1 plate
1 lemon
2 toothpicks
1 sugar cube
1 salty cracker
1 piece of dark chocolate
1 pencil


Chemical Fingerprinting
1 oz. bottle of baking soda
water
1 sheet of goldenrod paper
1 paper towel
1 magnifying lens


Nerve Tester
1 large paper clip
1 metric ruler
1 partner


Mapping your Tongue
4 cotton swabs
5 wax cups
1 bag of black tea
1 bottle of red vinegar
2 packages of sugar
2 packages of salt
1 microwave
water
1 spoon
1 partner


Detective Boxes
4 shoeboxes with lids
1 soup can
1 pair of scissors
1 sheet of sandpaper
1 sheet of wax paper
1 sheet of flannel fabric
1  plastic bag
1 glue gun
1 pair of gloves
Partners


Finger Thermometers
3 glasses
1 Celsius/Fahrenheit thermometer
1 clock with second hand
hot water
cold water
ice cubes (optional)
room-temperature water


Diffusion
1 onion
1 lemon
1 bottle of ground cinnamon
1 clove of fresh garlic
1 garlic press
1 pile of fresh coffee grounds
1 kitchen knife
1 cutting board
1 variable-speed fan
1 clock with a second hand


Foggy Hands
1 gallon baggie
1 string, 12 inches long
1 assistant
1 clock


Scent Matching
10 small containers with lids
10 cotton balls
1 bottle of lemon juice
1 cup of black coffee
1 bottle of vanilla extract
1 bottle of cinnamon oil
1 bottle of soy sauce
1 black felt marker
1 assistant


Sound Whackers
1 desk
1 metric ruler


Sound Speed
3 baggies, resealable
sand
water
air
1 desktop
1 spoon
1 partner


Big Ears
2 styrofoam cups, 12 oz.
2 styrofoam cups, 32 oz.
1 pair of scissors
1 kitchen timer


Sound Matching
10 film canisters (for 53 mm film rolls)
beans
rice
sawdust (or pencil shavings)
paperclips
pennies
1 black, felt marker
assistant


Water Lens
1 washer, 3/8 inch inside diameter
1 microscope slide
1 container of petroleum jelly
1 piece of newsprint with a lot of type
1 pipette or dropper
water


Camera Eyes
1 dark room
1 light switch
1 partner
1 pencil


Disappearing Frog Experiment
1 frog and dot printout
1 meter stick
1 scrap piece of cardboard


Eyeballoon
1 biconvex lens
1 round balloon, white, 9 inches
1 assistant
1 votive candle
1 black marker
1 book of matches
1 metric ruler


Detecting Temperature Changes
1 measuring cup
1 bottle of calcium chloride
1 bottle of ammonium nitrate
2 resealable baggies
water


Rubber Eggs
4 fresh chicken wing bones, meat removed
1-16 oz. bottle of distilled white vinegar
2-12 oz. plastic cups
1 fresh egg
1 spoon


Cooling and Heating
1 bottle of rubbing alcohol
1 cotton ball
1 liquid crystal thermometer strip
1 cotton glove


Inside Bones
1 toilet paper tube
50-100 straws
1 roll of tape
1 book


Tricking your Muscles
1 partner
1 clock with second hand


Testing Muscle Strength
1 bathroom scale
1 pencil
1 partner


Visual Reflex
1 metric ruler
5 volunteers


Tendon Reflex
1 knee
1 partner


Detecting Plaque
1 4-pack of red disclosing tablets (ask for dentist for a sample pack)
1 clear plastic cup
1 mirror
1 red crayon
water


Testing Spit Samples
1 package of soda crackers
1 5” pie tin
1 craft stick
1 0.5 oz bottle of iodine
1 pre-form tube
plastic pipette or dropper
water


Seeing Your Pulse
1 lump of modeling clay or plastic putty
1 stopwatch
1 coffee stirrer straw
1 partner


Swallowing
1 tennis ball
1 pair of old nylons
1 pair of scissors


Working Lung Model
1 2-liter soda bottle, emptied and cleaned
1 pair of scissors
1 Y valve hose connector
3 round, 9-inch balloons
1 #3 one-hole stopper
1 length of rubber hose, 8-inch
2 rubber bands
1 jar of petroleum jelly


PTC Testing
1 vial of PTC paper
family members


Human Levers
1 body


What’s Your Lung Capacity?
1 2-liter soda bottle
1 black marker, permanent
1 12” length of rubber hose
1 large plastic bowl
1 cup measure


Consuming Oxygen
1 aluminum tart pan
1 votive candle
1 book of matches
1 clear drinking glass, 12 or 16 oz.
1 dime
water
1 pair of goggles


Detecting Carbon Dioxide
1 1 oz. bottle of bromothymol blue
1 straw
1 reasealable baggie
1 bottle of ammonia
1 pipette
water


Heart Rate Monitoring
1 clock with a second hand
1 pencil


Stethoscope
3 12-inch lengths of rubber hose
1 “T” or “Y” connector
1 funnel


Shopping List for Unit 20

Thursday September 5, 2013

Here is the list of materials for doing ALL the experiments in the entire Unit 20 section on atmosphere and geology.


How many of these items do you already have? We’ve tried to keep it simple for you by making the majority of the items things most people have within reach (both physically and budget-wise), so you can pick and choose the experiments that fit with what you’d like to do. Since the lessons for Earth Science require very different materials, we’ve keep them in two separate itemized lists for you.


Here’s how to use this shopping list: First, look over the list and circle the items you already have on hand. Browse the experiments and note which ones use the materials you already have. Those are the experiments you can start with. After working through the experiments, your child might want to expand and do more activities. Make a note of the materials and put them on your next shopping trip OR order them online using the links provided below.


We’ve tried to keep it simple for you by making the majority of the items things most people have within reach (both physically and budget-wise). Are you ready?


Shopping List for Unit 20: Earth Science Click here for Shopping List for Unit 20.


NOTE: Radio Shack part numbers have been replaced. Click here for full chart.


Lesson 1: Atmosphere


  • activated carbon (found in a fish store)
  • alcohol burner or votive candle
  • alum (found in the grocery or drug store)
  • balloons (5)
  • black paint or spray (flat, not glossy)
  • black piece of paper
  • bowl
  • business card or index card
  • Celsius/Fahrenheit thermometer
  • cheese cloth
  • chemistry stand (optional)
  • clay
  • cotton balls (2)
  • Diaper Genie refill, or large plastic bags.
  • disposable cups (4)
  • disposable pie tin (2)
  • drill bits and drill with adult help
  • duct tape, masking tape
  • electric fan
  • film canister or soup can
  • food dye (red and blue)
  • funnel
  • garbage bag (lightweight, plastic)
  • glass jars (3)
  • glasses (2, identical)
  • gloves
  • goggles
  • hair dryer (hand held)
  • hair, single
  • highlighter (silver, or some aluminum foil)
  • hole punch
  • ice cubes
  • ketchup packet
  • lighter (with adult help)
  • lime (calcium hydroxide, found in gardening store)
  • marker
  • measuring cups
  • measuring spoons (1/4 and 1/2)
  • medicine dropper or syringe dropper
  • newspaper
  • paintbrush
  • paper
  • paper clips
  • pencil with eraser on top
  • pepper
  • ping pong ball
  • pinwheel (can be purchased or made from construction paper)
  • popsicle sticks (2)
  • right-angle glass tube inserted into a single-hole stopper (optional)
  • rubber tubing (optional)
  • rubbing alcohol
  • ruler
  • salt
  • saltwater
  • sand (clean sand)
  • scissors
  • shoe box  (small child’s size)
  • soda bottle (two liter)
  • soda cans (3, empty)
  • sodium acetate
  • stopwatch
  • stove or burner (with adult help)
  • straws (25)
  • string  (about 4 feet long)
  • Sun print paper or other paper sensitive to light
  • tacks or pins
  • tape
  • test tube (or medicine dropper)
  • test tube clamp
  • water bottles
  • wire screen

Lesson 2: Geology


Mineral & Rock Samples (These are the ones we used in the videos, but if you have your own collection, use those!)


Supplies:


  • acetic acid (plain distilled white vinegar)
  • ammonia (adult supervision required!)
  • baking soda powder
  • borax (sodium tetraborate)
  • calcium hydroxide (also known as “lime”)
  • calculator
  • copper sulfate crystals
  • dirt
  • disposable paper cups (6)
  • eggshell halves (4), cleaned
  • empty egg carton
  • Epsom salts
  • flour
  • food coloring
  • funnel
  • glass (plate)
  • glass jar
  • goggles
  • hammer
  • kitchen sponge (2)
  • laundry bluing
  • longwave UV  light (included in the fluorescent minerals kit above)
  • magnet
  • magnifying lens (handheld)
  • measuring cup (milliliters (mL))
  • measuring tape
  • medicine dropper
  • mixing bowl
  • oil
  • paper clip
  • paper towels
  • paperclip
  • pennies (50)
  • penny
  • pie tins (6)
  • pipe cleaners (or string or skewer)
  • Plaster of Paris
  • plastic spoon
  • pliers (to bend paperclip)
  • Polyurethane A & B
  • popsicle sticks
  • rubber stopper
  • ruler
  • salt
  • sand
  • scale (measures in grams)
  • scissors
  • shell (something to make a fossil of)
  • sodium silicate
  • steel nail
  • stove, pan, and adult help
  • straw
  • string
  • sugar
  • test tube
  • toilet paper
  • unglazed porcelain tile
  • votive candle
  • water bottles (2)
  • wooden skewer