Purpose
Students will investigate how hands-on science activities help young children observe, ask questions, and understand how things work. In teams, they will plan and safely test color mixing, vinegar-and-baking-soda reactions, and balloon demonstrations, identify variables and controls, record evidence, and revise their explanations using peer, teacher, aide, and elementary-teacher feedback. They will create a short demonstration video and lead live science stations for TK and kindergarten students during an approved classroom visit. After each test and the exhibition, students will reflect on growth in scientific reasoning, communication, teamwork, planning, and organization through partner check-ins and before-and-after exit reflections.
Learning goals
Students will collaboratively plan, safely conduct, and revise simple investigations by identifying variables, controls, tools, measurements, and sufficient data. They will use observations and reliable evidence to explain chemical reactions and other phenomena in age-appropriate language. Students will practice shared decision-making, organization, and clear, empathetic communication while creating live science stations and a demonstration video for TK and kindergarten students. Through partner feedback, post-experiment discussions, and before-and-after reflections, they will evaluate growth in scientific reasoning, teamwork, planning, and teaching.
Products
Teams will create investigation plans for color mixing, vinegar-and-baking-soda reactions, and balloon demonstrations that identify variables, controls, tools, measurements, safety steps, and team roles. They will test each activity, record observations and data, construct evidence-based explanations of chemical reactions, and revise their demonstrations using peer, teacher, aide, and elementary-teacher feedback. Throughout the project, students will complete partner check-ins, post-experiment reflections, and before-and-after exit reflections about their science explanations, organization, teamwork, and communication. The final products will be safe live science stations for TK and kindergarten students and a short classroom demonstration video that clearly explains what younger learners observe and invites their questions.
Launch
Begin with a Science Kickoff Lab Day where teams rotate through safe, teacher-supervised stations featuring color mixing, vinegar and baking soda, and balloon inflation. Students record observations, unexpected results, and questions, then identify possible independent and dependent variables for one demonstration. Teams select a phenomenon to explain to younger children and practice a simple, age-appropriate explanation with a partner. Close with a brief reflection on safety, teamwork, and what makes a science demonstration engaging and understandable.
Exhibition
With school and teacher permission, host a classroom visit where teams lead TK and kindergarten students through safe color-mixing, vinegar-and-baking-soda, and balloon demonstration stations. Students rotate roles as presenter, materials manager, safety monitor, and recorder while explaining observations in child-friendly language. Share the completed science demo video with the elementary classes, then invite younger students and their teachers to ask questions and identify what was clear, surprising, or fun. Close with a brief celebration and team reflection on the scientific evidence, communication, and revisions that made each station successful.
