Science experiments are a super fun way to learn about how "stuff" works and even HOW it works. They can be done at home over the holidays are they can be enjoyed as a class activity to emphasize theories being learnt. To spice things up over the month of October I will be bringing you a series of Halloween themed activities and science experiments which can be enjoyed by kids and students of all ages. Some will require adult supervision while others can be done by the kids themselves.

Before I dive into today's addition, here's a list of "ghostly" and "gooey" activities I have already compiled:

1. Oozing Jack o' Lantern Experiment and Halloween Effect
2. Monster Slime - (Halloween Activity and Science Experiment)
3. Sensory Play With Ghost Mud

Today's addition:

Mad Scientist's Brain Surgery - Learn About Polymer Chains 

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What are Polymers?

Have you ever heard the tale of The Three Little Pigs? This fable shows that building a house from bricks is far better than sticks or straw. If you look closely at a brick house, you'll see that each brick is uniform. They are layered in a repeated pattern to design that house. Bricks can be used to build many structures, from sidewalks to very large buildings. There are many structures found in nature or made by humans that are made in a similar way, like polymers.Polymers are very big molecules made up of many smaller molecules layered together in a repeating pattern. In fact, the word polymer is Greek for 'many parts.' The smaller molecules that come together to form polymers are called monomers--small units that link together over and over to form a large polymer. Think of monomers like paper clips that link together to form a chain, and the chain is a polymer. - http://study.com/academy/lesson/polymers-lesson-for-kids-definition-facts.html

The Experiment 

What you will need:

• Ziplock bags
• Extremely sharp pincils
• Jug of water
• Marker
• Red food coloring

Instructions:

This experiment is quite quick and easy to conduct. First you will have to use your marker (preferably a permanent marker) to draw a brain on to your bag. You can print this image and use it as a template if you like:

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Now you simply need to add 4-5 drops of food coloring to your jug of water and then pour the water into the ziplock bag until it is just about full (leave about two centimeters open at the top). Once filled up, seal the bag. It will look just like a fluid filled brain! Next, hold your bag at the sealed part and pierce a pencil through one side and then the other. Repeat with more pencils.

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The Science Behind It 

Before you pierce the bag with the pencils you can ask the children to try and guest what will happen when they poke the pencils through - most will likely respond that the water will start seeping out of the holes and might be amazed with the actual result. 

Explain to them that the plastic ziplock bags are made out of polymers, which were described above. It is these flexible chains of molecules that give the plastic the ability to stretch. When the sharpened pencil pierces through the bag, the stretchy plastic material hugs around the pencil and forms a watertight seal, preventing water to leak through! 

End the experiment off with some oozing Halloween fun. Allow the kids to take the bags outside or to hold them over the basin. Let them remove the pencils one by one and let them watch as the red "blood" starts to ooze out of the brains...creepy right!

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Source link: http://www.schoolingamonkey.com/halloween-science-activities-brain-surgery/

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I hope you enjoy this somewhat "mad" experiment and that it will help encourage your children and students to learn by having FUN! Please keep a look out for more "horrifying" experiments and activities brought to you by @sweetpea over the next few weeks.

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Much love - @sweetpea

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