Making a soda-bottle volcano is a classic science experiment that doubles as a great excuse to make an explosive mess. There are multiple combinations of materials that will lead to a fun explosion. Two of the classic soda-bottle volcanos...
Soda Bottle Rocket Launcher: Some of you that have followed me for a while might recognize this project as an upgraded version of my water bottle rocket launcher, seen in this video. While the old design was the cause of quite a few singed arm hairs, this new model is much more…
Make a simple, self-propelled submarine out of soda bottles and other household items.
Soda Bottle Ant Farm: Ever wanted an ant farm? Ant farms are entertaining, yet educational – it’s fascinating to observe the little ants as they go about their busy lives. But store-bought ant farms are often expensive, and usually limited in size. If y…
Making a soda-bottle volcano is a classic science experiment that doubles as a great excuse to make an explosive mess. There are multiple combinations of materials that will lead to a fun explosion. Two of the classic soda-bottle volcanos...
Soda Bottle Top Fidget Toy: When I saw fidget cubes on the web, it struck me that two soda bottle tops could be used to make a similar toy which would be comfortable to hold and handle, and be of an appropriate size. The one I then built, can do the following: 1. The two halv…
Making a soda-bottle volcano is a classic science experiment that doubles as a great excuse to make an explosive mess. There are multiple combinations of materials that will lead to a fun explosion. Two of the classic soda-bottle volcanos...
“Of the things that you could do with beer bottles, this has got to be one of the most glorious. Designer Sam Gensburg has created this spe...
Make a fun family time capsule using plastic soda bottles and our free printables! We'll give you labels and ideas for other items to add into your capsule.
Make a Soda Bottle Rocket Mortar Launcher: In this video I build an upgraded mortar style housing for my Soda Bottle Rocket Launchers! The design I build in this video was primarily pieced together from spare parts lying around in my garage from past projects. Some PVC from an old potato can…
Making a soda-bottle volcano is a classic science experiment that doubles as a great excuse to make an explosive mess. There are multiple combinations of materials that will lead to a fun explosion. Two of the classic soda-bottle volcanos...
Making a soda-bottle volcano is a classic science experiment that doubles as a great excuse to make an explosive mess. There are multiple combinations of materials that will lead to a fun explosion. Two of the classic soda-bottle volcanos...
Making a soda-bottle volcano is a classic science experiment that doubles as a great excuse to make an explosive mess. There are multiple combinations of materials that will lead to a fun explosion. Two of the classic soda-bottle volcanos...
This awesome bottle rocket is easy to make, powered by a baking soda and vinegar reaction, and demonstrates Newton's 3rd Law of Motion! Science for kids!
This project is an ecosystem in a bottle showing how animals, plants, and non-living things are all connected.
Making a soda-bottle volcano is a classic science experiment that doubles as a great excuse to make an explosive mess. There are multiple combinations of materials that will lead to a fun explosion. Two of the classic soda-bottle volcanos...
Bet you didn't know they were friends, did you?
Here are three pretty ways to upcycle soda bottles and convert them into lovely planters! Using various sizes of bottles Continue Reading
I love this idea for making a functioning heart model from STEAM Powered Family. The materials are easy to come by, especially if you drink soda, and it’s a powerful lesson in how blood moves…
Soda Bottle Top Fidget Toy: When I saw fidget cubes on the web, it struck me that two soda bottle tops could be used to make a similar toy which would be comfortable to hold and handle, and be of an appropriate size. The one I then built, can do the following: 1. The two halv…
Water Rocket: The combination of water, compressed air, and a plastic soda bottle serves as a great source of propulsion for a backyard rocket (assuming you have a big back yard). Typical versions of these rockets involve taping or gluing on the nose cone…
Grocery shopping is changing.
This is not my idea, but I know a good one when I see it, and I had to tuck this away to do this summer with the kids. Some kids at one of our schools did something similar for a science project, and then my friend Michelle, over at Scribbit, detailed the project when she did it with her children up in Alaska. That being said, so that I take no credit whatsoever, this is a really, really cool thing to do with your kids, young and old. Even my sixteen year old daughter was completely engaged for the hours we spent. First, here's what you need for each one: 3 clear 2-liter (empty) soda bottles clear packing tape aquarium gravel water dechlorinator rubber band 4" piece of netting (I used cut up pantyhose) soil fish, snails, or other aquatic life elodea, (which is banned in CA), duck weed (which the store didn't have), anachris, or other aquatic plants crickets, pill bugs, earthworms a few dead leaves and small sticks You can use the link to Scribbit for perfectly detailed directions, but first you get your soda bottles, 3 for each ecosystem, and you begin cutting them up. The bottom one (basement, AKA pond life) gets the top cut off of it. The middle one (AKA coupler) gets both bottom AND top cut off. The top level (AKA earth level) gets bottom cut off, but saved to reattach at the end. Once you have your pieces, you take your basement/pond life level and add an inch or so of gravel. Fill it almost to the top with water and add a few drops of dechlorinator. Then add special friends, like the plants, guppies, and snails. You can use different fish, but guppies are the sturdiest. These snails that the nice fish store man chose for us stay fairly small, and they're beautiful. Each ecosystem got 2 snails, 2 branches of anachris (plant), which they could break into smaller pieces, and 3 or 4 guppies so that hopefully 2 will live. The guppies and snails were happy almost immediately, exploring their new home. Well, except for one of Aiden's that just floated to the bottom. And then swam like a madfish to the top only to float to the bottom again. Aiden named him "Wheeeeeee!" We're not sure how long Wheeeee! will be around for. For the top/earth level, we put the layer of pantyhose over the open mouth of the bottle, secured it with a rubberband and then turned it upside down. Next, we added a layer of gravel, and then some super-soil from our garden. Into this level we planted some grass seed, but rye/alfalfa/mustard would work well too. I just couldn't find my sprouting seeds. Then we added our friends, one cricket (with a small chunk of potato for him to nibble), 3 pill bugs, and an earthworm each. Then a few dead leaves and small sticks went on top. Just for fun, I gave each child a garden tag to use for a nameplate. The bottom of that soda bottle (which is now the top) was taped back on, with the edges tucked just inside the rest of the bottle so water doesn't run out. Then that top level is set inside the coupler level and taped. Both of those two top levels are now set inside the pond life basement level and secured with tape. Now it should be airtight and self-contained, as a proper ecosystem should be. Can you see the little fishies swimming around? Now just set them in front of a sunny window so that photosynthesis can happen, setting in motion the cycle of life. The water will evaporate to the top to rain down on the soil, helping the grass to grow and the dead leaves to decompose, which feed the insects. There will be plenty of oxygen from the plants, and the algae that will grow will feed the fish and snails. Can't wait to watch it all happen! Oh, and by the way, all of the supplies for 3 ecosystems, including the soda bottles came to under $17. Nice.
Our oldest son, who's in 3rd grade, brought home the classic "build a volcano and make it explode" class project. We started with several items that were essentially recycled: an empty soda bottle, a leftover piece of plywood for the base, a cardboard box and our old phone book. In class, the volcano was subjected to the classic baking soda and vinegar experiment to simulate an explosion. Our son told us that his volcano had the most powerful explosion in the class.
