At-Home Science!

Below are various at-home science resources available for you to use!

School teachers may enjoy sharing the following resources with their students virtually.  

Parent-teachers may be overwhelmed with so many resources being tossed your way; not knowing how to fit them all in.   If your children enjoy science, using these fun activities as an incentive to get through their take-home packet may be a good idea.  Perhaps you could plan to do a science activity the same hour every afternoon.  

If you need any help with science education at home, please feel free to reach out to us! Just send us an email at catawbasciencecenter@gmail.com and we'll do our best to offer some assistance!

For more fantastic at home science activities and a schedule of virtual live events happening from organizations all across the state visit the Virtual North Carolina Science Festival!

CSC’s top picks for great YouTube science channels:

The Sci Guys: https://www.youtube.com/user/TheSciGuys/videos

Steve Spangler Effect: https://www.youtube.com/user/TheSpanglerEffect

Steve Spangler’s Sick Science: https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=sick+science

Mark Rober: https://www.youtube.com/user/onemeeeliondollars

Other Resources: https://www.engageinspireexpectinform.com

CSC's #PhysicsFriday Challenge!

Every week we'll be posting a #PhysicsFriday challenge to our social media channels. Check back here for a weekly video and attempt our physics challenge!

Physics Friday: Inertia

Physics Friday: Balance

Physics Friday: Egg Edition

Physics Friday: Paper Airplane

Physics Friday: Pop a Can

Outdoor Activities

Join CSC Educator Erin B. as she gives a few tips for how to find flora and fauna in your nearby creek.  We’d love to see your pictures and videos of your trip to the creek! If you like spending time outside, check out https://www.ecoexplore.net/ which can let you earn badges for your time outside. You could also upload your finds to https://www.inaturalist.org/ 

Flower Journal

Get outdoors and create a flower journal documenting the different parts and stages of a flower.

Here are some links to help guide you in your journaling:

Parts of a Flower: NC Museum of Natural Sciences

Flower Parts Diagram

Flower Observation Worksheet

Activity: Plant Time Machine 

Can’t get out into nature? Here are some ways to do so virtually... 

Wildlife cams at https://www.nps.gov/subjects/watchingwildlife/webcams.htm  

Tour national parks at https://artsandculture.withgoogle.com/en-us/national-parks-service/parks

Science Scavenger Hunt:

Night Sky Scavenger Hunt

Earth Day Scavenger Hunt

Kindergarten Physics

(NC Science Standard: K.P.2.1) 

Here’s an easy (but can be messy) activity to help kids learn about density.

Materials:

• Small container such as a bottle or glass
• Items with different density such as: corn syrup, water, oil, marble, olive, marshmallow
• Online Lab about Density

1st Grade Forces: Gravity, Balance, Magnets

(NC Science Standard: 1.P.1,2,3)

Here are a few demonstrations about balance, then the kids can make a magnetic fishing game! 

2nd Grade Sound

(NC Science Standard 2.P.1.1,2)

Directions for making a spoon gong and chicken clucker to learn about sound!

3rd Grade Matter

(NC Science Standard 3.P.1.2)

The kids can make bubbling baggies of gas out of ordinary solids and liquids.

4th Grade Magnets and Electricity

(NC Science Standard 4.P.1,2)

Make a magnet out of electricity!
More about electromagnets here.

5th Grade Weather

(NC Science Standard 5.E.1)

Represent the troposphere with hot and cold water and crush a can.
You could also make a tornado tube like in this video!

5th Grade Energy Transfer

(NC Science Standard 5.P.3.1)

If two things feel like they are a different temperature, are they really? You can learn about the three types of energy transfer with things around your house.
Khan University has great resources about heat transfer here.

You can help CSC staff continue to produce more at-home science content with a donation! Whether it's big or small, every single dollar helps. Thank you for being a part of our community!