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Archives for July 2018

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Preparing for Science Homework Help and Advice

Here are some ideas for ways to give  science homework help to your kids

science homework helpIt is the beginning of the school year and before you know it as a parent you will be asked for science homework help. Science is a little different than other subjects because they are often drawing, projects and have hands on things to do. As they grow older, science tests can be tricky because they often apply knowledge, just not memorize.

 Here are  5 science homework help tips:

Go to Back to school night. This is where you get all the information about science fair projects and any science homework help, tips and advice. It is where you learn what type of project is required, the due dates, and any particular things the science teacher will be looking for.

Buy and gather supplies ahead of time that are often used for science projects and science fairs. This avoids last minute rush and the risk that supplies in the stores are gone. Display boards, paint, clay, colored paper, double edged sticky tape, markers that are not dried up, baby food jars, cardboard boxes, mason jars, and plenty of duct tape are some common examples.

Learn how to help study for science tests. There is a lot of vocabulary to memorize, steps to procedures (how test for acid/base), and sequences (like how the digestive system works). Leaning how to drill these kind of thing to prepare for a test will be a big help. These things need to be down pat so when taking the test they have it ready to use for the “thinking” questions.

Show interest in the science units and encourage them to talk about what they are learning or let them explain things to you. You can find some fun science experiments on your own to do at home that go with the topic. The more they use the science vocabulary on their own, the better the chance of remembering it later on!

You will notice that science homework help does not include parents stepping in and doing some of the work for them!  But with science it is often the case that the kids will need you to be a partner, to help them do their work the best they can. Always encourage them to do their best.

Get in the practice of marking due dates on the calendar. This may help avoid the stress of running around at the last minute getting supplies and making display boards.

Running out of time to do your Science Project? Get science homework help with fast and easy and winning science projects now by clicking here!

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Dirty Laundry Lessons

Science at Home:  Dirty Laundry Lessons, Part 1

It shouldn’t have come as a shock to my family that I went to college and majored in a scientific field.  After all, I showed an early proclivity for experimentation, long before the days of chemistry class or science fair projects.  At the ripe age of 9, I conducted an “experiment” to see what types of materials burn faster.  (NOTE:  Do NOT try this at home, or at least not without extreme adult supervision!!)  All went well until I tested a Kleenex…which I promptly had to drop into the metal trash can…filled with Kleenex…well, you get the picture.  A few seconds later and after a mad fire stomp by several members of my family (Metal trash cans get hot when engulfed in flame and cannot be carried out of the house; that was my mom’s take home lesson), my first science lab was finished.  As was the carpet.  Not a stellar start to my science career, but it didn’t slow me down.  Much.

However, I would like to suggest some fun and SAFER “science-y” things to do at home.  These ideas can be used as a simple introduction to the scientific method, or you can take it further and use it as a starting board for a full-blown science project.  First off, we’ll start in the laundry room, since I seem to spend a large portion of my life there!

1)  What are the effects of hard/soft water on detergents?  Or, what are the effects of certain salts on detergents?  To do this experiment, create a universal stain on several cloth strips(all made of same material).  Be sure to leave some material unstained as a point of comparison.  To create a consistent stain, consider soaking in something like grape juice or coffee.  Stain all the material at the same time for the same amount of time.  Start with ½ liter of purified water in several 2 Liter bottles (this will be your washing machine).  Leave one “machine” as purified water only.  This is your control.  To each of the other two liters, add salts.  You can try different salts (Magnesium, Calcium, Sodium), OR try using different amounts of the same salt in different two liters.  Add a cloth strip and the same amount of detergent to each “machine.”  I recommend using only a teaspoon of detergent.  Count the number of shakes (do whatever your arms can handle; but do your best to shake each two liter the same amount of time/number of shakes).

Oh, my mind races with the possibilities with this one:  comparing detergents, amounts of salts, lather, time, etc.  However, try to keep it simple.  Only test one thing at a time.

Well, tune in next time for more laundry lab.  Who knows, if nothing else, you might get Suzie or Johnny interested in science and the upcoming science fair.  Or, at the very least, maybe they’ll do the laundry for you next time!

Yours in Science,
Cecilia
PS:  Want more details on a quick, easy science project….

Check out 24 Hour Science Projects

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The 24 Hour Science Project Blog

Science projects are a big part of most elementary and middle school science programs. Most schools require that a student either participate in a science fair or do a science demonstration for their class. Whatever the assignment, science projects can be stressful on the parent! Deciding on a project topic, choosing the science experiment, gathering the supplies, conducting the research, keeping a science log, preparing the display board…it’s a lot!

Welcome to the first blog post for 24 Hour Science Projects! In this blog, I’ll be sharing the science project experiences of some of our customers and friends.

Our family has four sons, and we used to struggle year after year with out science projects. But a funny thing happened on the way to the science fair. Over the years, we discovered some science projects that were easy and fun to do, but that satisfied the strict requirements of the science fair – and our science teachers. We put these projects together into a package called 24 Hour Science Projects. We have sold our science project packages to thousands of students and parents, helping them have learn and have fun, avoiding the frustrations that often go along with a science project.

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What is the Scientific Method?

So, just what is the Scientific Method? Believe it or not, it depends on which scientist is talking. There are either six, five, or four steps to the scientific method. Doesn’t sound very scientific, does it?! It’s all basically the same general idea, so we’ve taken the average, and are giving you five steps:

1. Observation – Looking at something in the world. Watching things closely makes you curious about why or when or how something happens. That leads to the next step…

2. Question – Wondering about what you see in the world. The questions that come up during your observations are the second step of the scientific method.

3. Hypothesis – A guess at the answer to the question. An hypothesis is an “educated guess”. You take what you already know about the subject and use it to guess the answer to your question. You could be right. You could be wrong. It doesn’t matter, because you’re going to find out in the next step…

4. Experimentation – Testing your hypothesis. You come up with an experiment to find out the answer to your question. This is the trickiest part of the scientific method, because an experiment has to be designed with controls and variables in place. (Keep reading – we’re getting to the definitions!)

5. Results – The answer to the question. When the experiment is complete, your question will be answered, and you’ll have your results!

The scienctific method may look complicated, but it is really a simple process that we use every day to understand and solve problems in the world around us. Use this example with your child: Suppose you observe that your DS isn’t working. You’ll ask yourself the question “What’s wrong with my DS!?” Then you’ll come up with a couple of ideas, or hypotheses: “The battery could be dead, the game could be dirty, or maybe the baby dropped it into the toilet.” So you’ll check the battery, take out the game and blow out the dust, then check for signs of dried Cheerios and wet spots. These experiments will hopefully lead you to the result, and you’ll know why your DS wasn’t working. You’re brilliant! You’ve just followed the scientific method!

The big trick, of course, is to find an experiment that follows the scientific method. For five (or ten!) projects that do, check out 24 Hour Science Projects. And yes, all the projects follow the scientific method!

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Elementary Science Projects

elementary science ProjectsElementary School teachers almost always require students to do at least one science project before they finish the fifth grade. Elementary science projects are easy to find, but finding the right project for your child can be a challenge. Here are five hints to help you find the best project for your grade school child.

1. Find out what type of project your science teacher requires. There are many types of projects, and most elementary schools give a range of choices. Does your teacher want an experiment, a demonstration, a collection, a report, or a model? Knowing what kind of project you need will narrow down your choices considerably.

2. Make a list of things that interest your child. What subjects catch your child’s eye on television or in books – space, animals, buildings, computers, explosions? Does your child need instant gratification? Consider a chemistry experiment with dramatic results, such as “Which Fruit has the Most Vitamin C?” Is your child concerned about the environment? Find out which toilet tissue is most biodegradable, or which type of insulation works best.

3. Set your budget for money – and time. If you don’t have a lot of money to invest, and if your time is limited, there is no need to look at anything that requires special metals to be imported from the Far East. Decide on how much cash you’re willing to spend, and create a generous time line for getting supplies. Keep in mind that you have to actually do the project after the supplies arrive.

4. Keep in mind that this is a science project for elementary school. Don’t choose a project with complicated instructions. You want your child to do the project with your help – and not the other way around.

5. Provide four or five science project choices. Ever notice how it takes longer to decide on an ice cream flavor when there are 31 flavors? Give your elementary school child a limited list of science project choices, and you’ll both be happier.

Parents, get a free guide to science projects– including how to find experiments with step by step instructions – at Elementary Science Projects.

Our project guides are easy and fast, and will help you submit an outstanding – and maybe winning – science project for elementary school.

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Science Projects for Eighth Graders

One of the best strategies for finding the right science project for your eighth grader would be to consult with their science teacher, especially if the science project was assigned through school. By asking for some ideas from the teacher, you’ll be able to clarify all of the project guidelines and requirements, and be able to find a project that is relevant to your student’s course work. 

Another great place to find good eighth grade science projects would be your local library. At the library you’ll find lots of science project books with helpful project ideas and explanations, all of which are from a reliable source. Additionally, if you need any help finding something suitable for your eighth grader, at a library you can always ask for the help of a librarian to point you in the right direction. 

Finally, the internet is a great way to find eighth grade science projects, but with so much information out there, you have to know where to start. You can do a general search, but it might be wise to be more specific, looking for “8th grade science projects, earth sciences” or “8th grade science projects, physics,” depending on what your student is interested in. You can also find great online guides, often for free, that are loaded with science projects, directions on what materials you’ll need and how to complete them. To get started finding a science project idea, you can try the free project guides at  http://www.middle-school-science-projects.com/guide.pdf. 

Get your science experiement for your kid today at

24 Hour Science Project!