One of my goals with these science videos is to provide support to the homeschool community. After years of writing the Experiment of the Week, and presenting science shows for homeschool groups, I have been impressed with how strongly homeschool families are involved with hands-on science. I have also seen the need for a science curriculum that fulfills their educational needs. Starting with these videos, I hope to offer the homeschool community some of the science education support that they need, as well as a fun way to get students involved with scientific discovery.
I also try to use activities that involve common items. Most homeschoolers don't have access to test tubes, flasks, chemicals, microscopes and other scientific equipment. In the future, I hope to be able to guide them to inexpensive sources for science equipment to enrich their science curriculum.
|
|
|
| Some older browsers have trouble playing these videos. If you are having problems, we recommend using Firefox as your browser. |
|
|
This week's experiment is sure to surprise you. It is simple, easy, and quite dramatic. You will be using a candle, so be sure to get permission and have an adult around, just in case.
You will need:
- an orange (You can also use a lemon or other citrus fruit.)
- a candle
The first thing to do is peel the orange. You do not have to peel the entire thing, but I suspect that once you try this you will want to. You can eat the inside as a snack while you are experimenting.
Place the candle into a holder and light it. Pick up a piece of the orange peel. Holding it near the flame, bend the peel and squeeze it. Be sure that the outside of the peel is facing towards the flame and you should get some very nice flashes and flares from the flame.
What is going on? The orange peel has oil glands which contain oil of orange. This oil gives the orange much of its smell, but it is also quite flammable. As you bend the orange peel, the orange oil squirts into the flame, producing a nice flash.
Orange oil is used as a flavoring, as a natural insecticide, to add fragrance to air fresheners, and in a variety of cleaning products. Lemons and grapefruits contain similar oils, which are quite useful and also make nice flashes.
Have a wonder-filled week.
