The MHC After 3 group from the Virginia Museum of Natural History just finished up their week of the "Marvelous Messes" camp. Each day we did several experiments that involved getting messy and/or wet.
On the first day, the most favorite activities were definitely the baking soda/vinegar ones. When you combine baking soda (Sodium bicarbonate) and vinegar (acetic acid), a chemical reaction occurs that results in water, sodium acetate, and carbon dioxide. In our first experiment, that carbon dioxide blew up a balloon.
Then we used the reaction to create a cork rocket, which caused a lot of excitement! Everyone wore their safety goggles, just in case. Be sure to check out the video of our rockets!
Preparing the rocket
The cork rocket explodes (a little earlier than expected)!
And again!
On Day 2, we went out to Frank Wilson Park for some outdoor activities. First the group dissected owl pellets.
Then, everyone created a simulation of the ocean with an oil spill. Each group attempted to clean the oil out of the water with various materials. We also learned all about the current oil crisis in the Gulf of Mexico.
On Wedesday the group headed out to the Smith River to look for macro invertebrates and crayfish.
Using a kick net to find macros.
Ariel gets a better look at a small crayfish
Water quality testing
Finally, on the last day, the students learned how to extract DNA from fruit. They also built boats out of cardboard and duct tape, and then tested them to see if they were "sea worthy". The most successful boat held 130 marbles before it sank.
Extracting DNA from strawberries, oranges, and tomatoes.
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