Below is a list of experiments you can do at home. Talk to an adult before you begin any of these experiments, they will be able to help you get the tools you need for the experiment. Look at the brief experiment descriptions below and click on the link to get the experiment instructions and a list of materials needed.

1. Growing in the Cold

Alaska is colder than most places in the United States. The summers are short and the winters are long. Plants have a hard time growing here. However, some plants have adapted, changed the way they grow, to survive. This is an experiment you can do at home demonstrating how cold changes the way plants grow.

2. A Tree’s Breath

This is a simple, easy experiment that can be done almost anywhere. It demonstrates the way trees give off gasses such as oxygen and water vapor.

3. Glacier Slide

Alaska still has several big glaciers. Many of the glaciers in Alaska are receding (shrinking) but there are some that are getting larger. Doing this activity will let you make a small glacier and watch how it moves and works. This is an experiment that is very involved and will require clean up. Talk to an adult about this experiment before you do it.

4. Burning Rain

Acid rain is a problem in many places in the United States and around the world. It is caused by poor air quality. In Alaska our air quality is pretty good. However, air pollution from Northern Europe comes over into Alaska producing acid rain. You can do an experiment at home to see the effects of acid rain on plants. This experiment requires a couple of weeks to do and takes a little bit of time to set up.

5. The Air We Breathe

Air quality is important to human, plant and animal health. In Alaska we have good air quality. You can evaluate the air quality at your home and compare it to Alaska’s. If your air quality is questionable, what can you do to make it better?