Such a complex but interesting science as chemistry always causes an ambiguous reaction among schoolchildren. The children are interested in experiments, as a result of which substances of bright colors are obtained, gases are released or precipitation occurs. But only a few of them like to write complex equations of chemical processes.
The Importance of Entertaining Experiences
According to modern federal standards, project research activities have been introduced in secondary schools. Such a subject of the program as chemistry was also not left without attention.
As part of the study of complex transformations of substances and solving practical problems, the young chemist hones his skills in practice. It is in the course of unusual experiments that the teacher forms an interest in the subject in his pupils. But in ordinary lessons, it is difficult for a teacher to find enough free time for non-standard experiments, and there is simply no time to conduct experiments in chemistry for children.
To remedy this, additional electives and electives were invented. By the way, many children who are fond of chemistry in grades 8-9 become doctors, pharmacists, scientists in the future, because in such classes the youngthe chemist gets the opportunity to independently conduct experiments and draw conclusions from them.
What courses involve fun chemistry experiments?
In the old days, chemistry for children was available only from the 8th grade. No special courses or extracurricular activities in the field of chemistry were offered to children. In fact, there was simply no work with gifted children in chemistry, which had a negative impact on the attitude of schoolchildren to this discipline. The guys were afraid and did not understand complex chemical reactions, made mistakes in writing ionic equations.
In connection with the reform of the modern education system, the situation has changed. Now, in educational institutions, experiments for children are also offered in the lower grades. The children are happy to do the tasks that the teacher offers them, learn to draw conclusions.
Optional courses related to chemistry help high school students gain skills in working with laboratory equipment, and those designed for younger students contain vivid, demonstrative chemical experiments. For example, children study the properties of milk, get acquainted with those substances that are obtained by souring it.
Water experiments
Entertaining chemistry for children is interesting when, during the experiment, they see an unusual result: gas evolution, bright color, unusual sediment. A substance such as water is considered ideal for conducting a variety of entertaining chemical experiments for schoolchildren.
For example, chemistry for children of 7 years old can begin with an acquaintance with its properties. The teacher tells the children that most of our planet is covered with water. The teacher also informs the pupils that in a watermelon it is more than 90 percent, and in a person - about 65-70%. Having told schoolchildren about how important water is for humans, we can offer them some interesting experiments. At the same time, it is worth emphasizing the “magic” of water in order to intrigue schoolchildren.
By the way, in this case, the standard set of chemistry for children does not involve any expensive equipment - it is quite possible to limit yourself to available devices and materials.
Experience "Ice Needle"
Let's give an example of such a simple and also interesting experiment with water. This is a building of ice sculpture - "needles". For the experiment you will need:
- water;
- table s alt;
- ice cubes.
The duration of the experiment is 2 hours, so this experiment cannot be done in a regular lesson. First you need to pour water into the ice mold, put in the freezer. After 1-2 hours, after the water turns into ice, entertaining chemistry can continue. For the experience, you will need 40-50 ready-made ice cubes.
First, the children should lay out 18 cubes on the table in the form of a square, leaving a free space in the center. Then, after sprinkling them with table s alt, they are carefully applied to each other, thus gluing together.
Gradually all the cubes are connected, and in the endit turns out a thick and long "needle" of ice. To make it, all you need is 2 teaspoons of table s alt and 50 small pieces of ice.
You can color the water to make the ice sculptures colorful. And as a result of such a simple experience, chemistry for children of 9 years old becomes an understandable and exciting science. You can experiment by gluing ice cubes in the form of a pyramid or rhombus.
Tornado Experiment
This experience does not require special materials, reagents and tools. The guys will be able to make it in 10-15 minutes. For the experiment, stock up:
- plastic transparent bottle with cap;
- water;
- dishwashing detergent;
- sequins.
The bottle needs to be filled 2/3 with plain water. Then add 1-2 drops of dishwashing detergent to it. After 5-10 seconds, pour a couple of pinches of sparkles into the bottle. Tighten the cap tightly, turn the bottle upside down, holding the neck, and twist clockwise. Then we stop and look at the resulting vortex. Before the "tornado" works, you will have to scroll the bottle 3-4 times.
Why does a "tornado" appear in an ordinary bottle?
When a child makes circular movements, a whirlwind similar to a tornado appears. The rotation of water around the center occurs due to the action of centrifugal force. The teacher tells the children about how terrible tornadoes are in nature.
Such an experience is absolutely safe, but after it, chemistry for children becomes a truly fabulous science. For the experiment to bebrighter, you can use a coloring matter, such as potassium permanganate (potassium permanganate).
Experiment "Bubbles"
Would you like to tell the kids what fun chemistry is? Programs for children do not allow the teacher to pay due attention to experiments in the lessons, there is simply no time for this. So let's do this optionally.
For elementary school students, this experiment will bring a lot of positive emotions, and you can do it in a few minutes. We will need:
- liquid soap;
- jar;
- water;
- thin wire.
In a jar, mix one part of liquid soap with six parts of water. We bend the end of a small piece of wire in the form of a ring, lower it into the soap mixture, carefully pull it out and blow out a beautiful soap bubble of our own making from the mold.
Only wire that does not have a nylon layer is suitable for this experiment. Otherwise, children will not be able to blow soap bubbles.
In order to make it more interesting for the guys, you can add food coloring to the soap solution. You can arrange soap competitions between schoolchildren, then chemistry for children will become a real holiday. The teacher thus introduces the children to the concept of solutions, solubility and explains the reasons for the appearance of bubbles.
Entertaining Plant Water Experience
To begin with, the teacher explains how important water is for cells in living organisms. It is through her thattransport of nutrients. The teacher notes that if there is not enough water in the body, all living things die.
For the experiment you will need:
- spirit lamp;
- tubes;
- green leaves;
- test tube holder;
- copper sulfate (2);
- beaker.
This experiment will take 1.5-2 hours, but as a result, chemistry for children will be a manifestation of a miracle, a symbol of magic.
Green leaves are placed in a test tube, fix it in the holder. In the flame of an alcohol lamp, you need to heat the entire test tube 2-3 times, and then do this only with the part where the green leaves are.
The glass should be placed so that the gaseous substances released in the test tube get into it. As soon as the heating is completed, to a drop of the liquid obtained inside the glass, add grains of white anhydrous copper sulfate. Gradually, the white color disappears, and copper sulfate becomes blue or blue.
This experience delights children as the color of substances changes before their eyes. At the end of the experiment, the teacher tells the children about such a property as hygroscopicity. It is due to its ability to absorb water vapor (moisture) that white copper sulfate changes its color to blue.
Magic Wand Experiment
This experiment is suitable for an introductory lesson in an elective course in chemistry. First, you need to make a star-shaped blank from filter paper and soak it in a solution of phenolphthalein (indicator).
In progressIn the experiment itself, the star attached to the "magic wand" is first immersed in an alkali solution (for example, in a solution of sodium hydroxide). Children see how in a matter of seconds her color changes and a bright crimson color appears. Next, the colored form is placed in an acid solution (for the experiment, the use of a hydrochloric acid solution would be optimal), and the raspberry color disappears - the asterisk becomes colorless again.
If the experiment is carried out for kids, during the experiment the teacher tells a "chemical fairy tale". For example, the hero of a fairy tale can be an inquisitive mouse who wanted to know why there are so many bright colors in a magical land. For students in grades 8-9, the teacher introduces the concept of "indicator" and notes which indicators can determine the acidic environment, and which substances are needed to determine the alkaline environment of solutions.
Gin in a Bottle Experience
This experiment is demonstrated by the teacher himself, using a special fume hood. The experience is based on the specific properties of concentrated nitric acid. Unlike many acids, concentrated nitric acid is able to enter into chemical interaction with metals located in the activity series of metals after hydrogen (with the exception of platinum, gold).
Pour it into a test tube and add a piece of copper wire there. Under the hood, the test tube is heated, and the children observe the appearance of “red gin” vapors.
For students in grades 8-9, the teacher writes the equation of a chemical reaction, highlights the signs of its course (color change, the appearance of gas). Theexperience is not suitable for demonstration outside the walls of the school chemistry room. According to safety regulations, it involves the use of a fume hood, as nitrogen oxide vapors (“brown gas”) are dangerous for children.
Home experiments
In order to stir up the interest of schoolchildren in chemistry, you can offer a home experiment. For example, to conduct an experiment on growing s alt crystals.
The child must prepare a saturated solution of table s alt. Then place a thin twig in it, and as the water evaporates from the water solution, s alt crystals will “grow” on the twig.
The solution jar must not be shaken or rotated. And when after 2 weeks the crystals grow, the stick must be very carefully removed from the solution and dried. And then, if desired, you can cover the product with a colorless varnish.
Conclusion
There is no more interesting subject in the school curriculum than chemistry. But in order for children not to be afraid of this complex science, the teacher should devote enough time in his work to entertaining experiments and unusual experiments.
It is the practical skills that are formed in the course of such work that will help stimulate interest in the subject. And in the lower grades, entertaining experiments are considered by the Federal State Educational Standards as an independent project and research activity.
