Hobbies And Interests
Moss Terrarium
Find a glass jar with lid and clean it thoroughly, removing all labels. With your child, go out into the yard (or neighborhood) and find some moss that you can easily remove, and place it in a plastic bag. Find other small plants and flowers that you can gently pull up, including the roots, and place them in the bag to keep them moist. At home, put your moss on the jar lid, insert the small plants, then water lightly. Screw the jar back on, over your garden in the lid. The terrarium should retain moisture, watering itself. You can, however, add water if the plants seem dry.
Exploring Diffusion
Using a selection of mosses and sponges (artificial and natural), dip them in water to explore the nature of diffusion (the migration of material from a concentrated area to a less concentrated one). Which kind of sponge or moss absorbs water best? Does material matter? Size of holes? Type of fluid? Have the kids observe and record their answers, then analyze their results to figure out why.
Discover Evaporation
Gather distilled water, sponges, moss, and cloth. Wet them with distilled water, then expose them to air (fan) or heat (electric heater). Which materials dry faster? Why? Does the material or the drying method matter more?
Oil Spills
This experiment will show your children why it's so hard to clean up oil spills. Use tap water mixed with food coloring and oil, simulated with vegetable oil and cocoa. Add the oil to the water very slowly, then try to remove it from the water using various materials: sponges, moss, towels, mesh, etc. Repeat the experiment using a detergent, or with salt water. Dip substances like feathers into the oil/water mix to gain an understanding of how oil spills affect the environment.