Let's Get Creative with Science: Experiments for Kids Ages 11-15

AI Thread Summary
Running a science club for kids aged 11-15 can be engaging with experiments in sound, light, the solar system, forces, electric circuits, electromagnetism, and pressure. Suggested activities include making a speaker, conducting liquid nitrogen demos, and producing hydrogen and oxygen from water using a parallel circuit. Introducing concepts like electromagnetism and magnetism can captivate students, as they relate electricity to magnetism. Superconductivity experiments are also recommended, with kits available for under $40. Creative, budget-friendly science projects can inspire curiosity and learning in this age group.
colinr
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I have been roped into running a science club for kids age 11-15. I would like to do loads of fun experiments with them, but I'm having a mental block. If anyone knows of any demos that might interest this age group, please let know.

The topics are: Sound, Light, The Solar system, Forces, Electric circuits, Electromagnetism and Pressure.

Also if you know anything else that isn't these topics but is good science, I would really appreciate your help.

Thankyou
 
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colinr said:
I have been roped into running a science club for kids age 11-15. I would like to do loads of fun experiments with them, but I'm having a mental block. If anyone knows of any demos that might interest this age group, please let know.

The topics are: Sound, Light, The Solar system, Forces, Electric circuits, Electromagnetism and Pressure.

Also if you know anything else that isn't these topics but is good science, I would really appreciate your help.

Thankyou

You could make a speaker, that fits into all directly, except for light and the Solar system.

My well posted Peltier junction project.
http://www.popsci.com/popsci/auto/article/0,12543,683524,00.html

Liquid Nitrogen demos are loads of fun, lots of things you can do with those, and its cheaper than some think.

I've done hydrogen and oxygen production from water and a 2 9-volts in a parallel circuit. The class loved it.
http://www.popsci.com/popsci/science/article/0,12543,548213,00.html
 
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Make a DC motor? use apparatus which makes the coil rotate at a ghostly rate, so that it adds a little mystery to it. EM induction would be a cool topic as well. Introduce them to magnetism, I think kids would be fascinated by that, tell them that electricity and magnetism is basically the same thing, teach them the electrical method of magnetization? I'm not a big fan of Newtonian mechanics though. Can't think of ways where sound, light or forces is concerned.
 
Ooooh, superconductivity. You can buy a kit for under $40. I also found a recipe somewhere for one if you want to make it. Ceremic, requires liquid nitrogen
 
We're a British school, budget = 0 and liquid nitrogen is out of the question (unless anyone knows how I can make it out of fresh air)
 
So I know that electrons are fundamental, there's no 'material' that makes them up, it's like talking about a colour itself rather than a car or a flower. Now protons and neutrons and quarks and whatever other stuff is there fundamentally, I want someone to kind of teach me these, I have a lot of questions that books might not give the answer in the way I understand. Thanks
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