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Liquid Body Armor
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In this activity, learners explore how nanotechnology is being used to create new types of protective fabrics.
Fused Plastic Wallet
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In this up-cycling activity, learners recycle plastic bags and repurpose them into useful wallets.
Gummy Shapes
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In this activity, learners use chemistry to “self-assemble” gummy shapes. Learners discover that self-assembly is a process by which molecules and cells form themselves into functional structures.
Bounce vs. Thud Balls
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Learners compare the properties of two balls that appear identical. One ball bounces, while the other ball "thuds." The “bounce” ball is made of the polymer polybutadiene (-C4H4-).
Snow Day!
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In this activity (on pages 4-5), learners make fake snow by adding water to the super-absorbant chemical from diapers, sodium polyacrylate.
Diaper Dissection
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This is written as a display, but can easily be adapted to a hands-on activity. Learners discover how all the parts of a diaper work together to keep babies dry and comfortable.
Exploring Materials: Hydrogel
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In this activity, learners discover how a super-absorbing material can be used to move a straw.
Shrinkers
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In this hands-on activity, learners use heat to shrink samples of polystyrene plastic (#6 recycle code). Learners compare the size and shape of the plastic pieces before and after shrinking.
Shrinkers: Cook up some plastic!
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In this activity (on page 2 of the PDF), learners (with adult help and supervision) investigate how heat affects polystyrene plastic.
Unleakable Bag
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In this activity, learners explore the flexibility of polymer chains by pushing sharpened pencils through a Ziploc bag.
Glitter Slime
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In this activity on page 8 of the PDF, learners make a slimy substance very similar to mucus, and sprinkle it with glitter to imitate the way that allergens are trapped.
Fantastic Plastic
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In this activity, learners investigate the properties of plastic bags. Learners find out what happens when they slowly push a pencil through a plastic bag filled with water.
Exploring Fabrication: Gummy Capsules
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In this activity, learners make self-assembled polymer spheres.
Flubber
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Learners experiment with a piece of Silly Putty® by stretching, bouncing, and snapping it. They then create flubber, a similar substance, by mixing diluted glue and a solution of sodium borate.
Globby Gooey Gak
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In this activity, learners concoct some stretchy green goo called Gak. This activity will introduce learners to polymers, chemical reactions, and how scientists invent new materials.
Squidgy Slime
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In this chemistry activity, learners transform two ingredients (4% polyvinyl alcohol solution and 4% borax solution) into gooey slime.
Milk Plastic
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In this activity, learners transform everyday milk into small plastic figurines and jewelry. Use this activity to introduce learners to monomers and polymers.