Thanksgiving Science

I love science experiments for kids that are timely and practical. When kids realize that science is happening all around us all the time, sick they get excited about science instead of being intimidated by it. That’s why our science studies seem to rabbit trail here and there. We might be inspired to study photosynthesis and leaf pigments by the changing colors of fall. We get inspired to do a pond study in the spring by finding frog eggs.

As Thanksgiving approaches, sildenafil I have been on the look out for science projects that will fit with the season. Here are a few I haven’t tried yet, check but are on the schedule for this month. Try them out and let us know how they turned out! If you blog about them, email me and I’ll link to your experiments next month in the Hands On Science post!

Testing For Starch

Thanksgiving meals are notorious for high starch content foods. Here is a way to demonstrate which foods contain starch and which don’t. You might want to find out a little more about starch before you start the experiment so you all know exactly what you are testing for.

Supplies needed:  paper towels or newspaper, tincture of iodine (available at the drug store), small chunks of light colored foods (ex. bread, fruit, cheese, veggies)

1. Place food on the newspaper or paper towel.
2. Have your students guess whether each food has starch or not.
2. Squeeze a small drop of iodine on the food chunk.
3. If the food turns purple, the food contains starch.

 

Carrot Root Study

Carrots are a part of many Thanksgiving meals. They are also great to use in various experiments. Here is one that allows you to study roots – how they grow and see how they function.

Supplies needed: a carrot, a sharp knife, cutting board, glass, water, red food coloring

1. Fill a glass half full with water
2. Cut just the end tip off the carrot
3. Put the carrot in the glass of water
4. Put the glass near a sunny window
5. Observe the carrot for a few days

What is happening? The carrot that we eat is actually a tap root. Notice that small roots that start to grow from the main tap root. Roots help the plant stay steady and obtain water and nutrients from the soil. Imagine those little roots spreading out through the soil.

Rubber Turkey Bone

This would be a great experiment to introduce the structure of bones using your left over turkey bones! It is a great visualization of the necessity of calcium in our diet.

Supplies needed: a dry turkey bone, a jar, vinegar

1. Place a dry turkey bone in a jar and cover with vinegar.
2. Close the jar and let it set for 2 or 3 days.
3. Open the jar and take out the bone.

How has the bone changed? The acid in the vinegar has leached out the calcium carbonate from the bone making it rubbery. This is what happens when we drink too much sodas or consume other high acidity food and drinks.

Try these experiments as you prepare your Thanksgiving meals! Let us know how they turned out!

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Hands On Homeschooling, Science is written by science lover and homeschool mom, Marci.