Human "Hungry Hippo" would make a fun camp game. Please suggest some rules and how to scale it up for a larger group of campers.
Sunday, March 20, 2016
Tuesday, July 1, 2014
Outside Bench Idea
Post by Decorações Timbó.
A few of these around a camp building might make more space and provide for extra tables on a big day.
A few of these around a camp building might make more space and provide for extra tables on a big day.
Monday, June 23, 2014
Can Crusher
This is a very impressive activity and can really surprise people and make them jump. They will want you to do it again and again, so bring extra supplies.
What they will see: The presenter puts a small amount of water in a soft drink can and then picks it up with a pair of tongs. The can is held over a flame until a sizzling sound is heard and steam is seen leaving the can. At just the right moment, the can is plunged head first into the water, where it violently implodes with a loud pop! When the can is pulled out of the water, it is seen to be extremely flattened and crumpled, and all in a split second.
What You Will Need:
*Heat source: I use a 1 burner gas burner that screws on top of a small propane bottle. I tried a blow torch once, but I burned a hole in a couple of cans. You'll need enough heat to boil a small amount of water quickly in the aluminum can. Electric heat is too slow and needs direct contact. Have an extra propane bottle, just in case.
*Lighter for the burner: I like those sparkers that welders use, but any reliable fire source will do.
*Aluminum soft drink cans. I use about 5 or 6 cans when I do this. One will not be enough because everyone will be surprised by what happens and want to see it again.
*A large bowl or pot full of water: The experiment doesn't require a lot of water, but it is easier to see what happens if the bowl or pot is full. All the action happens near the surface, and if the bowl is only half full, the effect may be obscured to those sitting further away.
*BBQ or salad tongs: They should open big enough to hold a can. Shorter ones may get your hand closer to the heat source, while longer ones can be clumsy.
*1 Teaspoon measuring spoon:
*Something to say: A little humorous dialog, a story line and some showmanship will make it all a lot better.
How to do the experiment.
Before you begin, check for safety. Make sure people stand back and don't rest their weight on the table and upset the water or collapse the table or get close to the flame. Have a mop and some paper towels in case of spills. Safety googles may not be necessary, but they can add to the drama and anticipation of the experiment, so use them if you have them.
1. Have the water filled bowl ready to go. Have the bowl filled close to the brim with cold water, the colder, the better, but you don't have ice water.
2. Put a Tablespoon of water into the can.
3. Light the burner.
4. Pick up the can with the tongs. I like to hold the tongs with an underhand grip so that I can make one smooth move when it comes time to plunge the top of the can under water.
5. Hold the can over the flame. Position the can so that it is tilted a bit, so that the water pools well in the bottom of the can right over the flame. Flames sometimes burn through thin aluminum if no water is on the other side. Note where the hole is. With the can tilted a little to one side, the hole on the top side shold be on the lower edge, not the upper edge. This allows the steam to pool a bit as it rises before it leaves the can.
6. Listen and feel for the water boiling in the can. Watch the steam as it exits the top of the can. It will start slow and build up in speed and in volume. Wait a few moment until you see the steam begin to decrease and feel that the water in the can is almost all boiled away.
7. With one graceful arch of motion, move the can top first toward the water. The can should enter the water at close to a 90 degree angle, so that the water completely covers the top top of the can.You don't have to be violent or supper fast here, just make one smooth move and get that can top into the water without any hesitation.
8. The can will pop and maybe splash a little. Lift it out of the water and show everyone what happened. I like to shake it off a little and ask who wants to see it and then I toss it to them. Make sure it is not to hot and the age group and situation is appropriate before you do this.
9. Ask if they want to see it again. Try it with a different soft drink cans in different colors.
10. Tell your story, make your point or tell them the science behind the experiment.
Why It Works
When the water boils, it turns into steam and the steam pushes out the air. The pressure on the outside and the inside of the can is about 15 lbs of pressure per square inch at sea level. When the can is place upside down under water, the steam left inside condenses back into a few drops of water. Because the can top is under water, the air cannot rush back in to equalize the pressure. The pressure on the inside plunges to almost zero, while the pressure on the outside remains at 15 lbs or so per square inch. All that pressure flattens the can in a split second, just the same as if an elephant stomped on it.
What they will see: The presenter puts a small amount of water in a soft drink can and then picks it up with a pair of tongs. The can is held over a flame until a sizzling sound is heard and steam is seen leaving the can. At just the right moment, the can is plunged head first into the water, where it violently implodes with a loud pop! When the can is pulled out of the water, it is seen to be extremely flattened and crumpled, and all in a split second.
What You Will Need:
*Heat source: I use a 1 burner gas burner that screws on top of a small propane bottle. I tried a blow torch once, but I burned a hole in a couple of cans. You'll need enough heat to boil a small amount of water quickly in the aluminum can. Electric heat is too slow and needs direct contact. Have an extra propane bottle, just in case.
*Lighter for the burner: I like those sparkers that welders use, but any reliable fire source will do.
*Aluminum soft drink cans. I use about 5 or 6 cans when I do this. One will not be enough because everyone will be surprised by what happens and want to see it again.
*A large bowl or pot full of water: The experiment doesn't require a lot of water, but it is easier to see what happens if the bowl or pot is full. All the action happens near the surface, and if the bowl is only half full, the effect may be obscured to those sitting further away.
*BBQ or salad tongs: They should open big enough to hold a can. Shorter ones may get your hand closer to the heat source, while longer ones can be clumsy.
*1 Teaspoon measuring spoon:
*Something to say: A little humorous dialog, a story line and some showmanship will make it all a lot better.
How to do the experiment.
Before you begin, check for safety. Make sure people stand back and don't rest their weight on the table and upset the water or collapse the table or get close to the flame. Have a mop and some paper towels in case of spills. Safety googles may not be necessary, but they can add to the drama and anticipation of the experiment, so use them if you have them.
1. Have the water filled bowl ready to go. Have the bowl filled close to the brim with cold water, the colder, the better, but you don't have ice water.
2. Put a Tablespoon of water into the can.
3. Light the burner.
4. Pick up the can with the tongs. I like to hold the tongs with an underhand grip so that I can make one smooth move when it comes time to plunge the top of the can under water.
5. Hold the can over the flame. Position the can so that it is tilted a bit, so that the water pools well in the bottom of the can right over the flame. Flames sometimes burn through thin aluminum if no water is on the other side. Note where the hole is. With the can tilted a little to one side, the hole on the top side shold be on the lower edge, not the upper edge. This allows the steam to pool a bit as it rises before it leaves the can.
6. Listen and feel for the water boiling in the can. Watch the steam as it exits the top of the can. It will start slow and build up in speed and in volume. Wait a few moment until you see the steam begin to decrease and feel that the water in the can is almost all boiled away.
7. With one graceful arch of motion, move the can top first toward the water. The can should enter the water at close to a 90 degree angle, so that the water completely covers the top top of the can.You don't have to be violent or supper fast here, just make one smooth move and get that can top into the water without any hesitation.
8. The can will pop and maybe splash a little. Lift it out of the water and show everyone what happened. I like to shake it off a little and ask who wants to see it and then I toss it to them. Make sure it is not to hot and the age group and situation is appropriate before you do this.
9. Ask if they want to see it again. Try it with a different soft drink cans in different colors.
10. Tell your story, make your point or tell them the science behind the experiment.
Why It WorksWhen the water boils, it turns into steam and the steam pushes out the air. The pressure on the outside and the inside of the can is about 15 lbs of pressure per square inch at sea level. When the can is place upside down under water, the steam left inside condenses back into a few drops of water. Because the can top is under water, the air cannot rush back in to equalize the pressure. The pressure on the inside plunges to almost zero, while the pressure on the outside remains at 15 lbs or so per square inch. All that pressure flattens the can in a split second, just the same as if an elephant stomped on it.
Saturday, June 14, 2014
Let Your Light Shine & Fix It When it Won't!
Items Needed: Flashlight (preferably a larger one like a camping lantern), small items to place in battery compartment like nail, key, nail clippers, small toy, rubber ball, old jewelry, etc.Preparations: Before the presentation, remove the battery in your flashlight and replace it with junk.
Presentation: While teaching on "letting your light shine," use the illustration of the flashlight. Act as if you are going to prove your point of a flashlight's ability to make light by turning off your classroom light and attempting to turn on the flashlight.
When it malfunctions, turn the overhead light back on and attempt to find the problem. Pull all of the garbage out of the light and replace the battery. We can't shine very brightly for Jesus when we fill our hearts and minds with garbage instead of God's Word!
Thursday, June 12, 2014
Mobius Strip
This is a simple, but amazing activity. The fun part of it is, the kids can do it all themselves and still be amazed at the results.
What the kids will experience:
*They will draw a line on one side of a piece of paper, but when they examine what they did, they will see a line on BOTH sides of the paper.
*They will cut a loop of paper in half lengthwise, and instead of falling apart, the loop gets longer.
*When they cut another loop, instead of falling into two separate loops, they create two interlocked loops.
Materials:
1. Paper, 2. Scissors, 3. Scotch tape (Cellophane/Invisible) 4. Pencils/Pens. 5. Optional: A Highlighter
How to do it. (It's more fun if the kids do it all themselves)
a. Take an 8.5x11 inch sheet of notebook paper and cut out 4 strips lengthwise. Each kid will get two strips.
b. Form a loop: twist one of the strips once, then tape the ends together. Take the other strip and twist it twice, then tape together the ends. To speed this step up, I have a lot of strips of tape ready and stuck on the edge of rulers and give them out. Better yet, have a lot of tape and put the kids in small groups with someone in each group to help them.
c. Take a pencil or pen and, without lifting it off of the paper draw a line lengthwise down the middle of the strip, until you come back to where you started.
Look at both sides of the strip. Even though only one side of the loop was drawn on, both sides of the loop will have the line. Try it again, but this time with a highlighter and highlight just one edge without lifting up the highlighter. When the highlighting is complete, look at the strip. BOTH edges will be highlighted!
d. Cut down the middle line on the strip with one twist. When the last snip is made, be prepared for some "Oohs and Aaahs!" The loop will NOT fall in half, but become a larger loop.
e. Take the loop with the two twists and cut down the middle lengthwise
.
Hold up and look at the new creation. Instead of a larger loop, there are two loops, linked together.
Note: If you have the kids do it all, they will surprise themselves with each activity. A nice activity, that is inexpensive and entertaining.
What the kids will experience:
*They will draw a line on one side of a piece of paper, but when they examine what they did, they will see a line on BOTH sides of the paper.
*They will cut a loop of paper in half lengthwise, and instead of falling apart, the loop gets longer.
*When they cut another loop, instead of falling into two separate loops, they create two interlocked loops.
Materials:
1. Paper, 2. Scissors, 3. Scotch tape (Cellophane/Invisible) 4. Pencils/Pens. 5. Optional: A HighlighterHow to do it. (It's more fun if the kids do it all themselves)
a. Take an 8.5x11 inch sheet of notebook paper and cut out 4 strips lengthwise. Each kid will get two strips.
c. Take a pencil or pen and, without lifting it off of the paper draw a line lengthwise down the middle of the strip, until you come back to where you started.Look at both sides of the strip. Even though only one side of the loop was drawn on, both sides of the loop will have the line. Try it again, but this time with a highlighter and highlight just one edge without lifting up the highlighter. When the highlighting is complete, look at the strip. BOTH edges will be highlighted!
d. Cut down the middle line on the strip with one twist. When the last snip is made, be prepared for some "Oohs and Aaahs!" The loop will NOT fall in half, but become a larger loop.
e. Take the loop with the two twists and cut down the middle lengthwise
.
Hold up and look at the new creation. Instead of a larger loop, there are two loops, linked together.
Note: If you have the kids do it all, they will surprise themselves with each activity. A nice activity, that is inexpensive and entertaining.
Walking on Raw Eggs
[Quoted from Tammy of housingaforest.com]
I have seen this one done a few times and every time I am amazed!
Who knew that that the simple egg was so strong!
I took these pictures while helping out with a kids program where this simple yet amazing experiment was demonstrated. Let me tell you, the looks on the kids faces were simply hilarious!
What You'll Need
*A Dozen Raw Eggs in their carton. We used 5 dozen.
*Plastic to cover the floor (just in case!)
*A few volunteers to join in on this fun learning experiment.
*A Dozen Raw Eggs in their carton. We used 5 dozen.
*Plastic to cover the floor (just in case!)
*A few volunteers to join in on this fun learning experiment.
What to Do:
Make sure to remove your socks and shoes. This is one experiment that will only work if you are barefoot.
Lay out the plastic to protect the floor.
Have the kids help arrange the egg cartons in a staggered pattern just like stepping stones. It will make it easier to step from one carton to the next.
Start by having the kids make a few predictions as to what will happen when they walk across the raw eggs.
Some of my favorite, and very scientific predictions included…
“The eggs will crack and break!”
“Your feet will be covered in scrambled eggs!”
“You will have egg guts all over your feet!”
Wednesday, June 11, 2014
Elephant Toothpaste
This is a fun experiment that surprises everyone. After mixing up two concoctions of easily obtainable ingredients, a thick foam oozes and oozes out of the bottle, looking like a giant toothpaste squeezed out of a giant toothpaste tube for a elephants toothbrush.
Ingredients
A clean 16 ounce plastic soda bottle. Narrow necked glass bottles can work as well.
1/2 cup 20-volume hydrogen peroxide liquid . It si called "Developer" in the beauty supply stores. 20-volume is a 6% solution, I used 30 and it worked great. You can use 40 (12%) or higher, but while it makes bigger reactions, it also generates more heat. Kids would need more supervision and it might not be appropriate for younger kids to do it themselves.
1 Tablespoon (one packet) of dry yeast
3 Tablespoons of warm waterLiquid dish washing soap
Food coloring
Small cup
Safety goggles
NOTE: As you can see from the picture, foam will overflow from the bottle, so be sure to do this experiment on a washable surface, or place the bottle on a tray. One of those aluminum trays they put turkeys in works great.
1.Add the 1/2 cup of Hydrogen peroxide to the bottle. It can irritate skin and eyes, so put on those safety goggles and ask an adult to carefully pour the hydrogen peroxide into the bottle.
2. Add 8 drops of your favorite food coloring into the bottle.
3. Add about 1 tablespoon of liquid dish soap into the bottle and swish the bottle around a bit to mix it.
4. In a separate small cup, combine the warm water and the yeast together and mix for about 30 seconds.
5. Now the adventure starts! Pour the yeast water mixture into the bottle (a funnel helps here) and watch the foaminess begin!
The foam is awesome! The foam made is special because each tiny foam bubble is filled with oxygen. The yeast acts as a catalyst (a helper) to remove the oxygen from the hydrogen peroxide. Since it does this very fast, it creates lots and lots of bubbles. The bottle gets warm. The experiment creates a reaction called an Exothermic Reaction - that means it not only makes foam, it creates heat! The foam produced is just water, soap, and oxygen so you can clean it up with a sponge and pour any extra liquid left in the bottle down the drain.
This experiment is sometimes called "Elephant's Toothpaste" because it looks like toothpaste coming out of a tube, but don't get the foam in your mouth!
Here's a video of how one guy did it:
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