Heat (Solids, Liquids, Gases, Plasma and Non-Newtonian Fluids) Excursion

Introduction: The day kicks off with a meet and greet with our enthusiastic Rangers followed by an interactive and engaging science presentation! Students will be chosen from the audience to participate in fun experiments in front of their peers which will have your students engaged and laughing for hours. Students will identify and differentiate solids, liquids, gases and understand that you must ADD or REMOVE heat to change the state. Students also identify and observe what a hypothesis is, the different states in everyday life and how humans use this knowledge to their advantage when creating new and improved technology. Witnessing liquid nitrogen demonstrations, students will see how we can turn water into ice instantly, turn solids into liquids and liquids to gases using the power of heat.

Activity 1: Lava Lamp and Exploding Bag Challenge – Students see firsthand the effects of mixing liquids and solids together to create exciting gas-based effects in our handmade lava lamps. Students then apply heat and pressure to a liquid to create a gas which will cause bags of soda water to explode! Are your students up for the challenge?

Activity 2: Chemical Rockets – Students are given an array of materials to launch a rocket using vinegar and bi-carb soda. Using their knowledge of solids, liquids and gases from the morning presentation, students race against the clock to be the first team to successfully launch their rocket into the air. This task is challenging and extremely stimulating, not to mention fun!

Activity 3: Slime Bonanza – Students will LOVE getting their hands all dirty and slimy with this activity. Here students will be changing the shape of an object by applying a force to it such as squashing and stretching it. Students will get to stretch and punch the slime to compact it to identify the properties of forces. The best part= students get to take the slime home with them.

Activity 4: Launching Air Pressure Rockets – Students design and build their own rocket before launching their spacecraft into the sky using a specially-designed high-pressure industrial rocket launcher. Through friendly competition, students will monitor the highest rockets, learning how each shape and design affects movement. A unique, engaging and action-packed activity focusing on air pressure and its effects on everyday materials.