Make a Camera

 The type of camera we are making is known as a camera obscura, and is a precursor to the modern camera. It works in a similar way to a pinhole camera but instead uses a lens. These objects have been used for hundreds of years with examples dating back to the 17th Century.

The first thing that we are going to do is take our square cardboard tissue box and on the side opposite the hole, we are going to draw around our kitchen roll tube. We are then going to cut out this circle that you have drawn. 

The next thing that we are going to do is tape your magnifying glass to one end of the kitchen roll tube. You will want to make sure that you use lots of tape to make sure that it stays in place 

We are now going to draw around the box, onto our sheet of tissue paper, and cut out this out. This piece of tissue paper is going to go over the hole in the top of the tissue box. Make sure that you tape it down tightly over the hole in the box and that the tissue paper is not wrinkled.  

You can now push the kitchen roll tube through the hole in the bottom of the box. Your camera is now ready to test. Point your camera at a place where there is a lot of light and you should start to see an image appearing on the tissue paper, but it will appear upside down. You can move the kitchen roll tube in and out to help focus the image 

The way this camera works is that light passes through the kitchen roll tube and into the camera and focuses on the tissue paper. Light travels in a straight line which is why the image will appear upside down. The lens (the magnifying glass) has a fixed focal length, so by moving the kitchen roll tube you can help focus the image. 

The video tutorial for this activity is available to watch on the Surrey Libraries Facebook Page or the Surrey Libraries YouTube Channel

Lights, Camera, Action...

  

For our next science activity we are going to be making a Camera!

We will be releasing this activity on the Surrey Libraries Facebook page on Thursday 12th November at 4:30pm. 

For this activity you will need:

• A Square cardboard tissue box or something similar
• A magnifying glass
• Tape
• Tissue Paper
• A pair of scissors
• A kitchen roll tube
• A pen or pencil

For more information watch this short introduction video.

Follow Surrey Libraries on Facebook and Twitter for the latest information and don't forget to visit Science Club on the Surrey Libraries YouTube Channel

Glow in the Dark Jelly

 

To make the jelly glow in the dark we will be using tonic water. Tonic water contains quinine and quinine glows under a UV light.

For this activity we will be using boiling water so you will need an adult to help you!

The first thing that we are going to do is put our jelly cubes into our jug. We are then going to add one-part tonic water and one-part boiling water to the jelly cubes and stir it until it dissolves.  (If you look on the instructions on your jelly packet it will give you measurements on how much water to add)

You can then pour the jelly into your moulds and you will then need to wait for the jelly to cool and set 

Once your jelly has set you can turn off the lights and use your UV light. If you shine it at your jelly, it should glow in the dark. 

Some colours of jelly will glow to a greater or lesser amount than other colours so you may like to experiment with different colours of jelly and see what colour glows the best. 

The video tutorial for this activity is available on the Surrey Libraries Facebook Page or the Surrey Libraries YouTube Channel

Get ready to glow...

For our next science activity we will be making glow in the dark jelly!

We will be releasing this activity on the Surrey Libraries Facebook page on Thursday 5th November at 4:30pm. 

For this activity you will need:

• Some packet jelly cubes
• Some tonic water
• Some boiling water
• Some jelly moulds (or something to put the jelly in)
• A spoon
• A jug (or something to mix everything in)
• A UV light

For more information watch this short introduction video.

Follow Surrey Libraries on Facebook and Twitter for the latest information and don't forget to visit Science Club on the Surrey Libraries YouTube Channel

Shadow Puppets

A shadow is formed when an object blocks the light, so it needs to be opaque or translucent. If something is transparent it will not cast a shadow as the light will pass straight through. 

The first thing that we are going to do is set up our light or torch next to a wall or background so that you have somewhere to see your shadow puppets. We are then going to cut a shape out of card and attach a lolly stick to the back of it with tape so that you can hold it 

Now if you put your card shape in front of the light then you will see the shadow on the wall behind. Try moving your shape closer or further away from the light and see what happens. Does the shadow get bigger or smaller?

Try moving your light closer or further away and see how this changes the shape of your shadow. Does the shadow get bigger or smaller?

Once you have had a play with a basic shape you can try drawing and cutting out some other shapes out of the card. If you mount them on to lolly sticks, then you have something to hold so that you can move them. You can try making your own puppet show. If you have some split pins at home, you could even try making some moving puppets.

The video tutorial for this activity is available to watch on the Surrey Libraries Facebook Page or the Surrey Libraries YouTube Channel

Playing with Shadows...

 For our next science activity we are going to be experimenting with shadow puppets!

We will be releasing this activity on the Surrey Libraries Facebook page on Thursday 29th October at 4:30pm. 

For this activity you will need:

• Some Card
• A Pair of Scissors
• Some Tape
• Lolly Sticks
• A pen or pencil
• A torch or light source

For more information watch this short introduction video.

Follow Surrey Libraries on Facebook and Twitter for the latest information and don't forget to visit Science Club on the Surrey Libraries YouTube Channel

Paper Marbling

 Paper marbling is the name given to a type of surface design that produces patterns similar to the ones found in smooth stone like marble. Each design is unique and the earliest types of paper marbling date back to the 12th Century

The first thing that you are going to need to do is spray some of your shaving foam onto your plate. You are then going to use a spoon to spread it out so that it is about 1-2cm thick.

We are now going to get some food colouring and put some drops of colour on the foam. You can use 2 or 3 different colours if you want to. Using the cocktail stick you are then going to swirl the colours on the top of the foam to make a nice marble pattern that you are happy with

Take your piece of A4 card and cut it in half. You are then going to fold this piece of card in half. Carefully place your piece of card face down onto the shaving foam and then leave it for a few seconds. You can then pick it up off the plate and use the lolly stick to remove any shaving foam and then follow this with the paper towels. You will then need to leave your card to dry

When you drop the food colouring onto the surface of the shaving foam it doesn’t soak in, it stays on the surface. When you put the card on the shaving foam the colour is easily transferred across. You could experiment with different colours, or by adding water or oil to the surface of the shaving foam and see how this changes the paper marbling effect.

The video tutorial for this activity is available to watch on the Surrey Libraries Facebook Page or the Surrey Libraries YouTube Channel