My Volunteering Opportunity at UTeach
Over the summer I reached out to numerous science themed summer camps to hopefully help out with. Sadly I only received a single response, but luckily it was for a summer camp hosted by UT. Over the course of a couple weeks I created a presentation and prepared three safe experiments that the kids could possibly go home and do that day. I learned a lot about myself from this experience and about how I liked teaching.
The Experiments
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Red Cabbage pH Indicator
I showed the kids at UTeach how to make a pH indicator out of red cabbage and water. You just blend some red cabbage leaves in hot water and after straining you’re left with a color changing solution. Solution changes color based on the pH because of the anthocyanin in the red cabbage.
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Colorful Magic Milk
The second experiment I showed to the kids was an experiment with just milk, food dye, a q-tip, and some dish soap. When the dish soap soaked q-tip comes into contact with the milk all the food dye mixes and makes cool rainbow patterns. I passed out plates and each kid got to do the experiment.
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At Home Electrolysis
For the last experiment I showed the kids how to perform a safe electrolysis reaction at home with just two spoons, a 9volt battery, and a solution of salt water. I grabbed a volunteer to help hold the battery to the spoons while I held the spoons themselves to show it was safe. When the battery came into contact with the spoons gas was released forming a lot of bubbles which intrigued all the kids.