|
Teresa's Testing Suncscreens Science Experiment
Materials needed: Sun print paper, 3 sunscreens, transparent plastic or glass, dark cover sheet.
Testing actual products is a fun way to learn science with a practical application. Ever put on sunscreen then wondered why you burned anyway? They loose their effectiveness after about 1 year. So if you intend to use your leftovers from last year, you're taking a chance on not getting the protection you need. For this experiment, you can do two different tests. You can test 2 of the same brand of sunscreen, one purchased over a year ago and a new one or you can use it to test 3 good, not out of date sunscreens. I suggest you borrow from other families and choose some that was purchased during the summer or near the end of it, since this stuff is expensive and looses it's effectiveness. You will need to purchase sunprint paper. This paper fades quickly in sunlight leaving designs where you cover it. Be sure not to remove the paper from it's dark covering when it arrives. I was able to find a set on the internet (google=sun print paper) that gives you plenty for cheap, large sheets and lots left over to play with for only $11.
Then when you're finished with the follow up on this, here's some craft ideas for art work you can make with the left over sunprint paper.
You'll also need a clear plastic sheet like a transparency film sheet. You can also use clear plastic sheet covers, the pockets that go in notebooks, just make sure they are perfectly clear, not opaque. OR you can use glass, like something from a cheapo picture frame from the thrift store for 50 cents. You will also need a piece of paper that is dark and is the same size as your print paper. Most packages come with one.
Lastly you need sunscreens. Make sure you test a store or no-name brand.
Procedure:
1.First have your child guess which one will work best.
Set up:
2.Cut your plastic sheet to the same size as your paper or in a dark room, cut your photo paper to fit your glass. Determine the size then have one of your children measure and cut to match that size. If your package didn't come with a cover sheet, make one to fit using cardboard or black construction paper.
3.Use a permanent (sunscreens will smear it if not) marker to divide the plastic or glass into four equal parts and label (in corner, very small) each with a letter, A,B,C,D. Then label your sunscreens each
with a letter, B,C,D. "A" will be your control and will be fully exposed to the sun.
4.Place a very thin film of suncreen onto the plastic or glass from bottle B into square B. Be sure it covers it but is still transparent. Repeat for the others.
5.Cover it with your cover sheet.
6.Pull out a sheet of sunprint paper (indoors). Make sure you know which side is active and place that face up, under the plastic or glass so that your sunscreens are sitting on top of it then your cover sheet on top of that.
7. Time to test. Read the directions and see how long your paper needs to bake. Usually it's between 10 and 20 minutes. Take your set up outside, remove the cover sheet and set a timer or watch. Wait.
8. After the allotted time, cover your project with the cover sheet and head indoors. You'll need to wait about 10 minutes before you can check your results.
9.CAUTION: If you remove your plastic or glass cover and toss it aside, you'll not know where on the print paper, each sunscreen is. So before you toss your plastic or glass aside, use a pen to mark on
the sun paper, your A,B,C and D.
Follow-up questions (depending on their ages)
1. Why did we place a cover sheet on our experiment? (process, logic)
2. Why did we use all four at once and not test them one at a time? (process, logic)
3. What would we look for to see if a sunscreen worked, lighter area or darker area? (process,logic)
4. Why did we have to use no sunscreen on block A? (experiment design)
5. Which sunscreen worked best? (analyzing data)
6. Did the experiment go as planned? (forming conclusions)
7. If you were to do this again, how would you do it differently? (forming conclusions)
This and other experiments and activities are archived
on Teresa's site at www.steelcreek.com
Was this article helpful? Was it worth $1.00 to you?
Your gift of $1 or more helps to keep this site operating
offering encouragement
and reassurance to families
wanting
better outcomes for their children.
Beverley Paine with her children, and their home educated children, relaxing at home.
Together with the support of my family, my aim is to help parents educate their children in stress-free, nurturing environments. In addition to building and maintaing this website, I continue to create and manage local and national home educating networks, help to organise conferences and camps, as well as write for, edit and produce newsletters, resource directories and magazines. I am an active supporter of national, state, regional and local home education groups.
"You've been an inspiration to me, I love the way
you really listen to people." Vanessa
"Whenever I read your writing I always come away
with increased confidence in my ability to provide and
share a wonderful learning journey with my family!" Davina
"Your guidance, understanding, support and words of
wisdom changed our lives. We now offer support and
organise many homeschooling events for others." Lesley
"Thank you once again for your prompt and friendly service.
I am convinced that your books are going to add
quality and peace of mind to my journey of teaching my kids
at home! Just from studying your website, until almost
2am
in the morning, I 've been encouraged!" Louisa
"Thank you for all your many,many reassuring words
over many, many years. You probably don't know exactly how
valuable you are to the Australian Home Education community.
I've been reading your stuff for maybe 8 years or more now.
And I'm very grateful." Gythaa
CLICK HERE
if you want to learn
how to write your own education plans
to suit
your unique children's
individual learning needs?
Or you are looking for quality curriculum and teaching tips...
|
|
Welcome to the World of Home Education
and Learning without School!
We began educating our children in 1985, when our eldest was five. In truth, we had helped them learn what they need to learn since they were born. I am a passionate advocate of allowing children to learn unhindered by unnecessary stress and competition, meeting developmental needs in ways that suit their individual learning styles and preferences. Ours was a homeschooling, unschooling and natural learning family! There are hundreds of articles on this site to help you build confidence as a home educating family. We hope that your home educating adventure is as satisfying as ours was! Beverley Paine
3 ESSENTIAL STEP BY STEP GUIDES
Let experienced home educators Beverley, Tamara and April walk you through HOW to create a learning plan that builds on solid foundations that works for YOUR family AND ticks all the boxes for home educaton registration!
|
Tap into Beverley's
experience
through her books
"Your books, your blogs helped me beyond words... they helped me to find comfort in knowing it is ok to choose exactly what is best for my family." Nisha
"Your books and information are mind blowing and already I am feeling good about this new experience." Diane
"Your guidance, understanding, support & words of wisdom changed our lives." Leslie
"I feel specially inspired by Beverley's words and, the more I read her comments, the more inspired I feel, since my need for support, respect for different parenting styles, and information are fully met." Marijo
|
 |
|
The information on this website is of a general nature only and is not intended as personal or professional advice. This site merges and incorporates 'Homeschool Australia' and 'Unschool Australia'.
The Educating Parent acknowledges the Traditional Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Owners, the Custodians of Australia, and pay our respects to Elders past and present and extend that respect to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people viewing this website.
Advertise on this site.
Australia's premier online annual conferences, lifetime access to video and audio recordings, freebies, notes and associated resource guides.
EVERY SUMMIT IS UNIQUE!
$29 each  2023  2022 2021
$25 each 2020 2019 2017
"Biggest and best Aussie homeschool event of the year!"
Home education is a legal alternative
to school education in Australia.
State and Territory governments are responsible
for regulating home education and have different
requirements, however home educating families
are able to develop curriculum and learning programs
to suit the individual needs of their children.
Without revenue from advertising
by educational suppliers and Google Ads
we could not continue to provide information
to home educators. Please support us by letting
our advertisers know that you found them on
The Educating Parent. Thanks!
|
About
Thank you for visiting!