Differentiated Kindergarten

Differentiated instruction in the classroom

  • Home
  • About Me
    • Contact Me
    • Copyright
    • Advertising
  • Curriculum
    • Art
    • Book Studies
    • Daily 5
    • Literacy
    • Math
    • Morning Work Stations
    • Reading
    • Science
    • Social Studies
    • Writing
  • Classroom
    • Back to School
    • Classroom Mangement
    • Classroom Organization
    • Lesson Planning
    • Technology
  • Seasonal
    • Fall
      • Back to School
      • Halloween
      • Thanksgiving
    • Summer
    • Winter
      • Christmas
      • Valentine’s Day
    • Spring
      • Easter
      • Mother’s Day
      • St. Patrick’s Day
  • Freebies
  • Shop
    • My account
    • Checkout
    • Cart
    • Shop on TpT
  • Privacy Policy

Mad Science Monday: Exploding Chalk Rockets

Leave a Comment

THE PLAN

It’s the same thing every summer.  “Mom, can we do a science experiment today?” But “today” is everyday in the McGuire house.  These boys can NEVER get enough.  This summer though, I thought I’d better have a plan.  So together, the boys and I have designated one day a week for science experiments.   They have already picked out some oldies they want to revisit from past summers, but we are also venturing into some new territory.  The best part of all this is that they actually help me find fun, hands-on projects to do with my kinders.  Some are kinder keepers and others are ones we just ‘keep’ for home.  But all of them are guaranteed fun.

madscience

EXPLODING CHALK ROCKETS

Half the fun of doing these experiments is searching for the good ones from books at the library and on the internet.  This one that we found from Growing A Jeweled Rose.   It has two very key words in it which makes my boys say, “Yes, please!”  EXPLODING and ROCKETS.

MATERIALS

Materials for this one were pretty easy to get.  The most difficult thing for me to acquire were the film canisters.  I went ahead and made good use of my Amazon Prime account and ordered 12 of them.  With the three boys, I was able to have them do four each before we had to ‘reload.’

bomb1

You’ll need:

  • Film canisters
  • Corn Starch
  • Water
  • Food coloring (or liquid water colors)
  • Alka Seltzer (I used the Meijer brand and they worked just fine.)
  • Safety Goggles

bomb2

You can either mix up the chalk concoction before hand in a larger container or go ahead and mix it up right in the little canisters like we did.  It’s a pretty simple process.  You need to fill the canister about 1/4 way full of corn starch and add about the same or a little more of water and mix.  Then add your food coloring or paint.  I waited until the boys got outside before we did that.  Food coloring and little boys don’t mix.  It’s better just to take the mess with a grain of salt and plan on them having stained hands if it spills a little.

THE FUN PART

Once you have your canisters set up and coloring mixed in, it goes pretty fast and easy.  But remember, you HAVE to wear your safety goggles.  These things really take off, and you don’t want anyone getting popped in the eye.

IMG_3634

Now that your safety goggles are in place, it’s time to get started.

bomb4

Break the alka-seltzer into 3 or 4 pieces.

bomb5

Place them into the canister.  Quickly place the top on it and flip it over so the lid is on the ground and stand back.  Watch this!  It’s fun!

It’s so fun.  One minute nothing and the next  POW!!!! That thing flies!

bomb12

THE SCIENCE BEHIND IT

So, of course, when the alka-seltzer hits the liquid in the container, it starts to dissolve and release gas. Carbon Dioxide!  As that gas is released, it has no place to go.  It creates pressure.  When it gets to the point that there is no more room for the gas, the lid is released.  Since the lid is facing down, the canister goes up.  And man, does it ever go up!  It makes you kind of wonder about what actually happens when you ingest this stuff doesn’t it?

Now my boys, of course, are all in planning mode for the next time we do this experiment.  (I anticipate that will be tomorrow since I still have plenty of Alka-Seltzer left.)  They were wondering what happens if they would add more water.  What happens if they didn’t break the Alka-Seltser up.  What if we taped a parachute to the canister?  What would happen if we launched two canisters at one time right next to each other? And on and on . . . but isn’t that what it’s all about?  Experimenting, making changes and wondering ‘what if’ and trying it again . . .

Could this be used with my kindergarten kiddos?  You betcha.  In fact, have your students build a rocket to go around it and put some paper down under the launch pad and you could even probably squeek this by as a STEAM project.  It’s differentiating to meet the respond to your scientific and artistically inclined students.  And the best part is, it’s already kid tested!  So, I know they’ll love it.

And THIS is why I love my summers with my boys!  Come back and check out next week’s Mad About Science Monday with the McGuire boys.  I think it will be another messy one. (My favorite!)

If you’d like more ideas for fun Summer Projects to do with your own kiddos, I have a Pinterest board with tons of fun ideas.  Just click below to follow along:

Follow Marsha McGuire (Differentiated Kindergarten)’s board Fun With My Kids on Pinterest.

Signature

Related Posts

  • One roll of painters tape can save your sanity . . . here’s how!One roll of painters tape can save your sanity . . . here’s how!
  • It’s never pretty, but it’s always fun…It’s never pretty, but it’s always fun…
  • Science Day FunScience Day Fun
  • January Sensory Fun!January Sensory Fun!

Just for Fun, Science, Summer

Subscribe via Email

Sign up to receive the latest news delivered to your inbox.

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

 Marsha McGuire profile photo Welcome to Differentiated Kindergarten! I’m Marsha, a teacher-mom committed to the journey of creating a differentiated classroom for my students. It’s my goal to meet the needs of all my students through fun, engaging and developmentally appropriate activities.
  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Google+
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter

free product

featured products

  • Hands-On Alphabet Mat Activities Growing Bundle
  • Morning Work Stations-The Big Bundle
  • A Year’s Worth of Sensory Table – Sensory Bin Fun: Activities/Task Cards BUNDLE
  • Ball Words Sight Word Mastery System-The Complete Editable Bundle

Search

Subscribe via Email

Sign up to receive the latest news delivered to your inbox.

Archives

Featured Post

Fine Motor Home Kits

Categories

wordpress counter

Find me on Facebook

Find me on Facebook

Follow me on Twitter

My Tweets

New from Instagram

Differentiated Kindergarten © 2019Built with and Genesis Framework by Bellano Web Studio

Disclosure Information Can Be Found HERE.
Differentiated Kindergarten is a participant in Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com
»
«