How To Make A Water Filter

This is a simple activity for kids, that help them learn about water purification process and how it is carried out. This could work as one of the best summer engaging activity for kids, as they not only make the water filter right from scratch, but understand and learn science. The making of water filter with this activity is easy and the kids will have lot of fun making it. The wonders of science can be learned through such simple techniques. The technique is pretty simple and kids can carry on themselves, with adult supervision.

Materials Required For Making a Water Filter

Pet bottle - 1(2 liter capacity)
Gravel
Activated charcoal
Cotton ball
Dirty water

Method for Making a Water Filter

1

With the help of an adult, cut the bottle in half.  Put the bottle upside down resembling a funnel inside the bottom half. This is what the use is - the bottom half would work as the collector of the filtered water and the top half will be where we build the filter.

2

Place a thick layer of cotton ball inside the filter, i.e. the top half of the bottle. Now continue to add one layer of thick crust of activated charcoal on the cotton ball.

3

Place the third layer of gravel on the sand. Lightly shake the filter, so that all the layers are fixed firmly in their place. Your filter is ready.

4

Pour the dirty water through this filter. You can make your own dirty water by adding bits of paper, small leaves, little mud or dirt in the water. Once you pour this dirty water in the filter, wait for the filtration process to happen. Do not pour all the dirty water, but keep some as a specimen which you can compare later with the filtered water.

5

You will soon see that once the water starts moving through all the layers, it gets much cleaner than before.

6

Gather all the filtered water and compare it with the dirty water you have kept. You will notice the difference in both the water.

How it Works

Activated charcoal is often used in the water purification process, mostly in commercial water filters. As the water travels through each layer of the filter, the dirt gets stuck in each layer. The bigger pieces of dirt like paper bits, get stuck on the first layer. The small pieces pass through the first layer but get stuck in the charcoal layer. The cotton ball layer gets rid of the fine dirt and the result you get is the filtered water.

Tip

If you do not have activated charcoal, make use of sand. Add a thick crust of sand instead of charcoal on the cotton ball layer. 

How to Make a pH Indicator at Home

As summer vacation nears, parents wonder how to keep kids busy at home. The best way to keep children busy during vacations at home is by allowing them to conduct kid-friendly experiments that not only allow them to pass time, but also teach them new things. Science for kids is an enjoyable and great learning experience. Science can be well-learned not just by reading textbooks but by experimental method. pH Indicator can be made at home with material easily available. With parent's supervision and help, a child can enjoy this scientific experiment at home and have fun.

Materials for making pH Indicator

Filter paper
Beetroot - 1
Mineral water
Strainer
Paint brush

Method for making pH Indicator

1

Peel the beetroot and grate it. Place the grated beetroot in a vessel half filled with water. Boil the water and simmer for 20 minutes on a low flame. Allow it to cool.

2

Filter the beetroot water with the help of a strainer. Collect the water in a tray and throw away the beetroot remains.

3

Take filter paper strips and dip in the beetroot water tray. Allow it to soak till uniformly colored.

4

Your pH Indicator is ready.

Take the Test

You can take the pH Indicator and start testing on various kind of liquids such as lemon juice, sour milk, milk, or even vinegar. To carry on the test, take the paint brush and dip in the liquid of your choice. Now with that brush dip paint on the pH indicator. The color on the pH indicator would change depending on whether the given liquid is an alkaline or acidic.

Tip

You can be innovative with various solutions instead of beet root for making pH indicator. Some other liquids include grape juice or even turmeric solution.

How it Works

The pigment present in the beetroot, known as Anthocyanin acts as the pH indicator and changes it's color according to the presence of alkaline or acidic nature of the liquids tested.

How to Grow a Cress Caterpillar

School projects include various activities such as growing plants for science projects or even craft projects which asks for growing plants in recycled pots. Such DIY projects helps children learn and understand in fun way as well as it turns out educational. Involving kids in such projects encourages a child to understand the importance of recycled products and also help them learn growing plants.

Cress plant grows quickly and hence can be part of a DIY project where one has not much time altogether. Not only it grows quickly but can also be used in salad preparations or even sandwiches. Thus using cress plant can pretty much make sure that your project completes in time.

Materials you will need for growing a Cress Caterpillar

Egg shells - 4 or 5
Cardboard egg box cut outs - 4 to 5
Scissor
Googly eyes
Paint - green, red and black
Paintbrushes
Glue
Cress seeds - 4 to 5 tsp
Cotton wool
Red pipe cleaner or red card paper

Method for growing a Cress Caterpillar

1

Take four or five eggs shells and clean them. Remove any dirt or stain and wipe out clean. With the help of scissor, trim the top of the shells.

2

Pain each egg shell green with help of paint and brush. Once the paint dries, put red spots on each shell using red paint and brush.

3

Select one egg shell which you plan to put in front and stick googly eyes on it. If you do not have googly eyes, make out eyes with help of a card paper and stick on the egg shell. With the help of black paint and brush paint a mouth. Allow to dry.

4

Paint each egg box cut out with green color and allow them to dry. Once done place each egg shell in each egg box. This cardboard egg box will act as the dishes for the egg shell planters.

5

Place a wad of cotton in the bottom of each egg shell. Sprinkle 1 tsp of cress seeds on top of this cotton wad. Pour spoonful of water over the wool.

6

To make the antennae for the face of the caterpillar which has been glued googly eyes, twist the pipe cleaner and stick on both ends of the egg shell. If pipe cleaner is not available, you can cut out a spiral shape on red card paper and stick it on the face of the egg shell.

7

Place the caterpillar in the desired area and add little water daily. The cress plant takes about one week to grow and then you can just snip it out whenever you wish. Your Cress Caterpillar is ready.

Handy tips

1. Take care that you do not dry out the cotton wool.

2. Do not add too much water

3. Add water with help of a spoon.

How to Make a Solar Water Purifier for Science Project

School projects demand various models and devices to be made. This could be for festivals, art or science activity. Making Solar Water Purifier is one such science project kids are asked to make. The following DIY science project of solar water purifier is a simple activity made with materials easily available at home. Kids can easily make it and present it in school as part of a DIY project or even as a activity to understand how solar power works!

Material for making a Solar Water Purifier

Large bowl - 1
Glass cup - 1, shorter than the bowl
Cling wrap / plastic wrap
Cellophane tape
Water - 2 glasses
Salt - 1 tsp
Spoon
Coin or a pebble

Method for making a Solar Water Purifier

1

Pour two glasses of water in a large bowl and add salt to it. Allow the salt to dissolve completely by stirring with a spoon.

2

Place the small glass cup in the center of bowl. Make sure that the glass cup is taller than the water level in the bowl.

3

Cover the bowl with the cling wrap completely and seal the edges with a cellophane tape. See that the edges are tightly sealed.

4

Place the coin or the pebble right on the top of the cling wrap exactly over the small cup.

5

Place this bowl in area of direct sunlight, near a window or on a balcony for several hours.

6

Once done you will find that water is collected in the glass cup. Open the wrap and taste the water! This process of purification can also be tried with sea water as a part of science project.

How this works?

The solar purifier works with the concept of evaporation and condensation. When the salt water is placed in the sun, it gets evaporated. Thus due to evaporation the water converts into vapors and salt deposits back in the bowl. But these vapors when rise to move out of the bowl, get trapped due to the cling film and condense into water droplets. These water droplets gather towards the weight, i.e. the pebble or the stone and gall and get collected in the glass cup.

How to Make a Simple Solar Oven at Home - DIY Science Projects for Kids

Making a solar oven with a pizza box is one of the simplest way of trying your hands on creating a DIY Science project of simple solar oven. It is a fun experiment which can help your kids enjoy summers by making and testing the solar oven out on a hot day! The simple solar oven is made with materials which are easily available at home and the kids can easily make them by following instructions and being careful with sciessors.

Materials for making a Simple Solar Oven

Large Pizza box - 1, if not available than a cardboard box would do!
Pencil
Big Ruler
Aluminium foil
Chart paper (black color)
Cling wrap / plastic wrap
Transparent Plastic bag
Scissors

Method for making a Simple Solar Oven

1

Draw a square on the flap of the pizza box by leaving at least an inch of space from the edges on the sides of the flap.

2

With the help of the scissor or a cutter cut along the three sides of the square leaving the top side folded along the uncut lines. With help of glue, line the folded flap with an aluminium foil. This aluminium foil would work as a reflector. You could also line the aluminium foil and fold the edges which could then be sealed with cellophane tape.

3

Place and line the insides of the pizza box with an aluminium foil, leaving no gaps throughout. Once done, cover it with a chart paper.

4

Place on this a transparent plastic bag on which you could place the plate in which food can be warmed.

5

Cover the window which was made by cutting the square on the top of the pizza box with two layers of the cling wrap.

6

Place the simple solar oven in a place which receives direct sunlight. Adjust the reflected such that maximum sunlight would reflect off the foil.

7

Test you simple solar oven by trying to melt butter or cheese on a bread slice. Once successful try other foods. The process of using this simple solar oven takes a longer time to cook and hence some patience is required on your part! But always remember that this way of cooking is about using a clean source of renewable energy and hence one should be proud of the results!

How this works?

The energy that is radiated from the sun is harvested by the solar oven to cook food. The aluminium foil lined on the flap works as a reflector and reflects the rays of sun directly on the are where food is placed. The black chart paper absorbs the heat and the plastic sheet placed beneath the food plate helps to retain the heat and cook.