{"id":36,"date":"2015-06-17T12:44:19","date_gmt":"2015-06-17T19:44:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.ubc.ca\/tochelpline\/?page_id=36"},"modified":"2015-06-20T19:54:48","modified_gmt":"2015-06-21T02:54:48","slug":"science-in-a-bag-activities","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/blogs.ubc.ca\/tochelpline\/chemistry-and-science\/science-in-a-bag-activities\/","title":{"rendered":"“Science in a Bag” Activities"},"content":{"rendered":"

\u201cScience in a Bag\u201d activities are various types of quick science experiments with different topics and purposes. These experiments should be easy to perform, very low cost, have quick instructions, and a great to keep students engaged and learning. The idea behind a \u201cScience in a Bag\u201d activity is to be economically and environmentally friendly, and to keep with the tight budget teachers always have. These activities are easy to transport since all the materials should fit in a Ziploc bag. Having these \u201cScience in a Bag\u201d experiments on hand as a TOC can be a great addition to save a scary classroom. They are great tricks for teachers to have up their sleeves to keep students busy. <\/p>\n

Download the full version here: Science in a Bag Activities<\/a><\/b> <\/p>\n\n

Activity 1: Highlighter Gummy Bear<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n\n

\"gummybears\"<\/a>
\nPurpose:<\/b> To see the effects of light reflection and absorption using two different wavelengths of light (green and red)<\/p>\n

Instructions:<\/b><\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Set up the 2 red gummy bears beside each other and the 2 green gummy bears beside each other on top of a white piece of paper.<\/li>\n
  2. Take the red laser pointer (button 1) and shine it on any one of the red gummy bears. Hold the laser pointer parallel to the paper and right against the bear. What do you notice about the gummy bear?<\/li>\n
  3. Take the red laser pointer and shine it on a green gummy bear in the same way. What do you notice about the gummy bear?<\/li>\n
  4. Switch the pointer to the white light. (button 2)<\/li>\n
  5. Shine the white light on the red gummy bear, making sure you hold the light right against the bear. What do you notice about the gummy bear?<\/li>\n
  6. Now shine it on the green gummy bear. What do you notice about the gummy bear?<\/li>\n
  7. Compare your findings of the red light to the white light, based on what you saw on each colour of gummy bear.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Materials:<\/b><\/p>\n

      \n
    • White paper (computer paper)<\/li>\n
    • Red gummy bear (x2)<\/li>\n
    • Green gummy bear (x2)<\/li>\n
    • Red laser pointer<\/li>\n
    • White LED light pointer<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

      Explanation:<\/b><\/p>\n

      The gummy bears glow depending on the type of light that is being shone. Only certain wavelengths of light can be absorbed or reflected by each gummy bear.<\/p>\n

      The red colour from the red laser pointer has a certain wavelength of light. This wavelength of light is reflected by the red gummy bear or the colour red. That is why the gummy bear appears to glow. The colour red of any red object will reflect red light. It will absorb all other colours or wavelengths of light.
      \nThe red laser pointer does not make the green gummy bear glow. This is because the green colour of the gummy bear absorbs red light. The green gummy bear will absorb all other wavelengths of light, except for green light. This makes the colour green appears. <\/p>\n

      Colours appear by the wavelength of light they reflect. Colours that you cannot see are absorbed by the object. For example, if an object reflects the wavelength of the colour orange, the object will appear orange. All other colours will be absorbed by the orange object, therefore not seen. <\/p>\n

      The white light is interesting because it makes both gummy bears glow. The white light contains all the colours. Therefore, each bear is able to reflect its own colour. This means that red reflects red from the white light and green reflects green. The red gummy bear absorbs all the other colours from the white light and the green absorbs all other colours except green. <\/p>\n

      Watch the video below for a demonstration:<\/p>\n