Science Experiment: Stomach

Ages: Pre-K-4th grade

Supplies: 

• Toilet paper roll or Paper towel roll
• Plastic ziploc bag
• Water
• 5 crackers
• Stomach print out
• Tape
• Scissors
• Laminator (optional)

Purpose: The purpose of this science experiment is a fun way to teach your little one about how their digestive system works. Teaching your kids about what happens to the food after they swallow it and what stomach acid does. This is also a great way to explain the importance of making sure they chew their food well. 

Directions: Print out the attachment below and cut out the stomach. Tape the stomach face down with the part of the stomach that attaches to the esophagus at the top of the bag pointing up. Make sure you tape it to one side of your ziploc bag. Next, carefully put water a quarter to a third of the way of the zip lock bag. The water represents your stomach acid and the ziploc bag represents your stomach. After the water, take your paper roll which represents your esophagus and insert it in to the bag about 2 inches or so. Then pinch the bag closed up until the paper roll is secure by itself. Be careful not to slosh the water about. Next you will explain to them how digestion works. The steps are below:

When you put food in their mouth these are the step your body naturally takes to start digesting what you eat.

1. Chew food up
2. Swallow food
3. Food travels down your esophagus
4. Food drop into your stomach
5. Stomach acid breaks down your food
6. Then travels to you small intestine where nutrients is absorb
7. Then travels to your large intestine where more nutrients is absorbs

Once you go over the process, then show them  how it works by using the crackers. Follow the step below to execute the experiment. 

1. Crumble the crackers in your hand which will represent chewing.
2. Drop the crumbled crackers down the esophagus. (paper roll)
3. Watch what happens over the course of a few minute once it hit the stomach acid. (water) 
4. The food begins to break down.

Questions to Ask

What do you think is going to happen?

What do you see happening to the crackers once it hits the stomach acid?

Why is it important to chew your food well?

Here is the printout of the link for the Stomach Printout. 

Kitchen Measurements Activity (Cups/Spoons Edition)

Ages: Kindergarten - 6th grade

Supplies:

• One large mixing bowl or bucket
• Water
• Basic assorted measuring cups (1/4c, 1/3c, 1/2c & 1c)
• Basic assorted measuring spoons (1/8tsp,1/4tsp/tbsp, 1/3tsp/tbsp, 1/2tsp/tbsp, 1tsp/tbsp)
• Liquid measuring cup (at least 2 cup capacity)
• Food scale (optional)
• Primary color food coloring (optional - red, yellow or blue)
• One medium and small mixing bowl or bucket (optional if you choose to use food coloring)

Purpose: This activity helps gets kids familiar with kitchen measuring equipment and learning about educated guesses. The worksheet below gives them various tasks to perform to help them learn about measurements. This is a good activity when you are trying to introduce the cooking to your children and a fun way to introduce fractions.

Directions: I find it easier if the child stands above the workstation to make performing the tasks easier. Lay all your supplies out on your workstation and fill all your bowls with water. If you choose to use food coloring, leave the large bowl with regular water. Put one primary color in your medium bowl and another in your small bowl. Make sure you lay all measuring cups and spoons so the measurements display can be easily seen. You can skip the scale tasks if you don't have one. When you get to the tasks that require a scale, set it in front of your child and put the liquid measuring cup on it. Make sure you zero the scale before you begin putting the liquid in. 

Print out the worksheet and follow the instructions to complete the tasks. Print out in the link below.

Surprisingly it wasn't as messy as I thought it was going to be.

The following link will have you print out. Kitchen Measurement Worksheet.