Vacation Care, Library and Community Programs
Scienza Viva now offers sixteen hands on activities (designed for approximately 30 children per session), as well as two interactive shows designed for larger groups
(50 or more children).
Some activities can also be conducted as a community activity session, with ad lib participation. These are individually quoted on the basis of location, setting and duration.
Prices, group numbers and suggested age groups are provided after each of the activity synopses below.
All hands on activities are one hour in duration.
Longer duration sessions may be possible, depending on the activity.These will be separately quoted according to the duration required.
1. Let's Have Fun with Science
A collection of hands on activities selected to engage children in the world of science.
Activities include "Colour me a flower" using paper chromatography, jumping sultanas, hovering ping pong balls demonstrating the Bernouilli effect,
fishing using magnets, tornadoes in a bottle, mini volcanoes and more.
Suggested age group 5-12. Cost $300.00 for up to 30 children.
2. Wheelie Things
This hands on activity was developed specifically for outside school care services. Children individually make a simple small toy (dragster) that they race
and take home, as a group construct a large water wheel, see how a large wheelie moves with different loads, work out how a ball rolls up hill by itself, have tornado in a bottle
races and see how a cartesian diver is made.
Suggested age group 5-12. Cost $300.00 for up to 30 children.
3. Minibeasts in the Garden and the Compost
Do you know your earwig from your burrowing cockroach? What animals can we find in our gardens? See how many different animals are in a sample of compost and why they are important. Students will be engaged in a hunt through compost/soil samples that are provided. They will observe and learn how the minibeasts move and feed.
Children sit in a semi circle on the ground, so no chairs are required. This activity can be conducted outside if you wish, and in that case we will bring a large tarpaulin for the group to sit on.
Suggested age group 5-12.
Cost $300.00 for up to 30 children.
4. Science Using Food!
This is a hands on science activity during which children use paper chromatography to see how food colours can be separated, make discoveries about electric
charges with balloons, perform chemical experiments with foods including "exploding" their own mini volcano and more!
Suggested age group 5-12. Cost $300.00 for up to 30 children.
5. The Water Cycle
In this activity the children will learn how the water cycle works, make their own mini water cycle (terrarium) to take home, play and play water cycle and tornado in a
bottle games.
Suggested age 5-8. Cost $300.00 for up to 30 children.
6. Batteries Not Included
In this activity we look at several historical toys and the science behind them. The emphasis can be on the historical aspect of the toys, or on the way in which they
use energy. Toys include thaumatropes, spinning top, cup and ball, shadow puppets and the clucking cup. Children take home a simple toy.
Suggested age group 5-8.
Cost $300.00 for up to 30 children.
7. Making discoveries in science using models and historical toys
This activity includes the bernouilli effect, air puncher, reaction times, tornado in a bottle, thaumatropes, clucking cups, ball in cup, spinning tops and a Cartesian diver
that they put together and take home.
Suggested age group 5-8. Cost $300.00 for up to 30 children.
8. Stuck on Magnetism
Children individually test metals for magnetism, look at the effect of magnets on iron filings, work out how to pick up non magnetic objects using a magnet, make butterflies
fly. They catch a magnetic fish to take home. We investigate an electromagnet, simple motor, magnetism through water and floating magnets.
Suggested age group 5-8.
Cost $300.00 for up to 30 children.
9. A Look Inside
Young scientists measure their height, weight and determine their BMI, measure pulse rates, heart beat sounds, blood pressure, the composition of their breath, do activities
related to vision and our organ systems. They also explore skeletons and skulls.
Suggested age group 8-12. Cost $300.00 for up to 30 children.
10. Carbon Dioxide Fun
Carbon dioxide gets a bad press because it is involved in global warming, but it's all around us. Plants need it to grow. We use it in food. Learn about what it is and what it does.
This is a hands on activity. Children use chemical testing for carbon dioxide in their breath, make sultanas jump, make sherbert, watch carbon dioxide extinguish candles, make
miniature volcanoes and film cans pop and more!
Suggested age 10-12. Cost $300.00 for up to 30 children.
11. Simple Electricity
Young scientists use electricity to make chemical changes and chemistry to get electricity, make a lime battery use an electromagnet, get sound from electricity, and investigate
static electricity. They examine the operation of a solar panel, find out how atoms are put together and how that allows the production of electricity, examine electronic circuits and
more!
Suggested age group 11-14. Cost $300.00 for up to 30 children.
12. A Young Chemist's Sampler
This activity was developed in 2011 - The UN International Year of Chemistry. It is a station run activity during which children examine a variety
of chemical reactions and properties of materials, including indicators, chromatography, chemical electroplating, the real lemon battery, and of course, a couple of gentle explosions.
Suggested age group 9-14. Cost $300.00 for up to 30 children.
13. Light Up the World
2015 was the UN International Year of Light. Students explore the properties of light, working their way around a series of stations. Classify materials by light transmission, make discoveries with solar panels, experiment with prisms and lenses, have fun with shadows, use a periscope, individually make a chatterbox and much more!
Suggested age group 9-14. Cost $300.00 for up to 30 children.
14. Adventures in Sustainable Energy.
Developed for the 2012 International Year of Sustainable Energy for All. We use a variety of methods of generating electricity (model solar panel, model wind generator, muscle power, chemical sources (lemon batteries and also real battery chemistry). We also look at direct heat energy, as in solar hot water, and uses of sources of energy like falling water.
Suggested age group 9-14. Cost $300.00 for up to 30 children.
15. Forensic Flying Squad
Young Scientists will be given a crime to solve (the murder of the entomologist, Professor Henry Slugg). They will be led through a series of activities (at nine different
stations) that will allow them to gather information using a number of hands on techniques. They will have to make judgements as to which evidence is important in solving the crime.
They will test various materials relevant to the crime by using microscopy, chemistry, chromatography, physical measurements and examination of trace evidence. After recording
their results on the worksheets provided, they will be encouraged to make conclusions that will solve the crime.
Suggested age group 11-14. Cost $300.00 for up to 30 children.
16. The Let's Find Out Science Show
Our Interactive Science Show developed for a larger audience of up to 100 children - One hour of scientific fun: Make liquid change colour by shaking it, hold ping pong balls above a flow of air and shoot them out a distance, examine large stick insects, launch water and air rockets and lots more.
The Let's Find Out Science Show costs $400 for up to 100 children in each session.
17. The Let's Find Out Science Show 2
We have also developed a second interactive science show. During the Let's Find Out Science Show 2, there are demonstrations related to density, water turbines, and a large component of chemistry, with colour change reactions, elephant's toothpaste and a genie in a bottle. We also include a few of the favourites from our first show - the Bernouilli effect, film canister bangs and water rockets. The duration of the show is 60 minutes.
The Let's Find Out Science Show 2 costs $400 for up to 100 children in each session.
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