Home-school lessons are more enjoyable and memorable when they include a hands-on activity. It is one thing to study biology, it is another to discover it. Use these simple biology experiments to help your child understand her lessons. The experiments use everyday items that you already have in your home. Teach your young biology student about fungi using everyday household yeast. Because yeast down not contain chlorophyll, yeast cannot produce its own food. Demonstrate how yeast can find food through the process of decomposing with this simple experiment.
You will need to gather two plastic bags, a banana, dry yeast and a teaspoon. Cut two similar slices from the banana and place one piece of banana in each plastic bag. Measure one-half teaspoon of yeast and sprinkle the yeast on one banana slice. Mark the bag with the yeast and seal both bags. Let them set for one week. Check the bags to see which one show the greatest amount of decomposition.
Another demonstration of the need for yeast to feed on other substances can be seen in this fun experiment. This time you will need your dry yeast, sugar, a small glass jar with a narrow neck, a balloon, a measuring spoon and a measuring cup. You will also need two cups of warm water. Dissolve the yeast and the sugar in one cup of the warm water. Pour the mixture into the glass bottle. Add the other cup of warm water. Make sure the balloon has no air in it and place the mouth of the balloon over the lip of the bottle. Place the bottle in a dark, warm location and leave it for a few days. Check it daily and look for any changes in the balloon. As the yeast changes the sugar into energy, an carbon dioxide gas bubbles are formed and should cause the balloon to expand.
Plant biology is ripe for experiments. The effects of the sun on plants can be demonstrated in different experiments. Try these with your plant biologist. You will need a house plant, dark construction paper and tape. Cover one leaf of a house plant with dark construction paper. Tape the paper on all four sides to make sure the leaf doesn't get exposure to the sun. Allow the rest of the plant to receive ample sunlight. After a week, remove the paper and check the leaf for effects. Without the presence of the sun, the leaf is unable to make chlorophyll. Without the chlorophyll, the leaf will die.
For the next experiment, you will need a cardboard box, scissors, and a house plant. Cut different holes in the box. Leave spots where no sunshine can enter. Place the house plant in the box and set it near the window. When the leaves start growing toward the opening and the sunshine, change the position of the plant and watch what happens. Plants are drawn to the sun. This example is an excellent example of phototropism.
Another demonstration of the need for yeast to feed on other substances can be seen in this fun experiment. This time you will need your dry yeast, sugar, a small glass jar with a narrow neck, a balloon, a measuring spoon and a measuring cup. You will also need two cups of warm water. Dissolve the yeast and the sugar in one cup of the warm water. Pour the mixture into the glass bottle. Add the other cup of warm water. Make sure the balloon has no air in it and place the mouth of the balloon over the lip of the bottle. Place the bottle in a dark, warm location and leave it for a few days. Check it daily and look for any changes in the balloon. As the yeast changes the sugar into energy, an carbon dioxide gas bubbles are formed and should cause the balloon to expand.
Plant biology is ripe for experiments. The effects of the sun on plants can be demonstrated in different experiments. Try these with your plant biologist. You will need a house plant, dark construction paper and tape. Cover one leaf of a house plant with dark construction paper. Tape the paper on all four sides to make sure the leaf doesn't get exposure to the sun. Allow the rest of the plant to receive ample sunlight. After a week, remove the paper and check the leaf for effects. Without the presence of the sun, the leaf is unable to make chlorophyll. Without the chlorophyll, the leaf will die.
For the next experiment, you will need a cardboard box, scissors, and a house plant. Cut different holes in the box. Leave spots where no sunshine can enter. Place the house plant in the box and set it near the window. When the leaves start growing toward the opening and the sunshine, change the position of the plant and watch what happens. Plants are drawn to the sun. This example is an excellent example of phototropism.
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