Here are some ideas for festive science investigations that you could try with a class or at home.

What material makes the strongest paper chain?

You’ll need

• Different paper / card
• Sellotape or glue sticks
• Forcemeters or weights

Ask the children to make paper chains using different materials – such as tissue paper, sugar paper, aluminium foil, wrapping paper.

Make two or three link chains using the different materials.

Gently pull on the chain using a forcemeter and see how much force is needed to break the chain.

Alternatively suspend weights from the chain until it breaks.

For a fair test – ask the children to decide on the variables they need to keep the same before they start testing – such as size of chain, the way it’s fixed (glue/sellotape), amount of overlap, how much glue/sellotape.

Discuss what other factors might make for a good paperchain – such as the way it looks, how well it bends etc.

Candy Cane Dissolving

You’ll need

• Candy canes (of the same size and brand for consistency)
• Different liquids (water, vinegar, fizzy pop, cooking oil)
• Clear containers or jars for each liquid
• Timer or stopwatch
• Pen and paper for recording observations

Fill each container with one of the liquids and label it clearly.

Make sure there’s enough liquid in each container to cover the candy cane.

Place a candy cane in each container and start the stopwatch.

Observe and see which cane dissolves first.

Extension:

Use hot and cold water and see what effect that has.

Keep the liquid the same, and use different sized candy canes.

Flying Santa Hats / Snowmen

You will need

• Paper or card (red or white)
• Sticky tape
• Felt tip pens
• Scissors
• Plastic bottle – fizzy drink or milk container
• Tape

Cut out a large semicircle of paper/card and fold it to make a cone. (Like this). Fasten it with sticky tape.

(Tip draw around a plate, or use a compass)

Use a red cone to make a santa hat, or a white cone to make a snowman.

Take the lid off the milk bottle and put the cone over the open hole at the top of the bottle.

Use both hands and squeeze the bottle, watch what happens to the cone.

Experiment with different types of bottle and different-sized cones. (Use different-sized plates to draw around).

How does this work? The air is pushed out of the bottle when you squeeze it. The force of the air acting on the cone causes it to lift up into the air.

If you have some favourite christmas ideas, please share them in the comments.