how to make a quicksand science project suitable for older kid

[wakica]

my 13 y/o DD really wants to do a science project on quicksand. We watched a movie about a month back with a quicksand scene and it cought her interest. Knowing a science project was coming up we held on to the idea. Now we've been looking for information on it online and are seeing that it's mostly considered a "younger aged" project
She really wants to do it though b/c it would be fun and something engaging for the people walking by.

Are there any teachers out there (or anyone that would have this knowledge) that could advise us on how we could make it more appropriate to her age (gr.8) so it would still be an acceptable project to do? Or should I just give her the bad news and say she needs to pick another topic (which I'd really hate to do b/c she has such an interest in this that it would be sad to make her go another route).

???

thanks

 

[BCDisneyFanatic]

If she sets it up as an experiment that varied the amount of water to a certain volume of sand/cornstarch(?) in a number of different trials, I think it would be appropriate for an 8th grader.

 

[Albort]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6BhVebTMiiY

 

[wakica]

ok, so add a few variables as in sand/water solutions and perhaps we can add something to do with the fact that you won't actually die from quicksand as the video talks about. LOL - that will be good actually b/c most people probably think you do sink in and die from it. LOL


THANKS GUYS

If anyone wants to add their two cents by all means we'd be happy to hear more ideas.

 

[Mickey Fliers]

My DS did Quicksand for the science fair when he was in 5th grade. I know that is a bit younger than your daughter, but I am sure you could "age" the experiment. As the PP suggested, experiment with different amounts of water and cornstarch. Really get into the viscosity. We had several vats of "quicksand" and put a plastic animal in each vat. Let the kids try to get the animals out. Also, dyeing the "quicksand" seemed to make things easier to visualize.

Good luck!

 

[Amii]

Quicksand is a Non-Newtonian Fluid. She could add some info about Non-Newtonian Fluids and that would make it more age appropriate.

 

[wakica]

OOooohhh! This is all so very helpful you guys! Thanks SO much I'm jotting all this down on a note pad so that dd can start to research it on the internet.

Mickey Fliers - if you do come back and see this - do you mean dye it to make it easier to visualize as in to make it look more like quicksand?? Or so it's easier to discuss and label the different viscosities? (is that a word?) LOL