1. Polymers around us
Science activity in
Kindergarten No. 240
Warsaw, Poland
04.2012
2. 1. Building polymer model
• Explain to the children where they use polimers (eg.
plastic cups, chairs, toys).
• Using paper clips build 3 chains. Explain that plastic
is made from chains of polymers.
3. 2. Teflon messages
•Cut a piece of Teflon Tape than write a secret message on the tape
with the marker.
•Stretch the tape from top to bottom, making your message taller,
not longer. Pull carefully so that you don’t tear your message.
Suddenly you can’t read your message anymore! Give the
message to a friend and see if they can figure out how to make the
letters their original shape again.
•Pull on the tape from end to end making the letters short again.
When you are done pulling the tape, message will look normal
again.
4. Explanation:
Teflon Tape is a type of polymer called
polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE). This is a
kind of polymer that has long chains of
molecules lined up side-by-side and on top
of each other. If you try to stretch the tape
end to end before stretching it from top to
bottom, you won’t be able to stretch it much
at all. That is because the polymers are
bonded to each other very tightly. But, there
are lots of chains stacked on top of each
other. These stacks make it possible to pull
the tape from top to bottom and stretch your
secret message. When the polymer chains
are pulled from top to bottom they slide over
one another and reduce the number of
chains in a section without breaking the
chains themselves. When the tape is pulled
back end to end, the chains are realigned
and your message is legible again.
5. 3. „Smelly" balloons
Some materials are more porous than others. Compare how porous
different kinds of balloons. Put an drop of extract in ballon (eg. vanilla
extract, deodorant etc). Then blow a balloon. Give it to the children. They
discover that balloon smell. Although balloons are not engineered to have
particularly porous membranes, it will be interesting to observe that
particles travel through the membrane and we are able to smell for
example vanilla odour.
6. 4. Vanishing styrofoam
Use a solvent like acetone to show that
polystyrene packaging material is mostly air.
The acetone easily dissolves the polystyrene,
leaving very little residue. Put a styrofoam in
acetone.
Safety Notes:
Experiment should be perform by a teacher.
Do not swallow acetone. Use it in ventilated
rooms. May cause eye irritation. Wash an eye
with water Experiment should be perform by a
teacher. Longer exposure to skin may cause
skin irritation.
7. 5. Thirsty polymer
Children predict how much distilled water can be poured into 1-2 spoons of
polyacrylate, the absorbent polymer in disposable diapers.
Materials Needed:
2 spoons, sodium polyacrylate, 400-mL graduated cylinder or a cup, distilled
water
8. Procedure
Talk with children about how polymers can be
changed to make them useful for different
tasks. What properties would you want a
polymer to have if it was going to be in a
diaper? Absorbent, safe, etc. This next
demonstration and experiment deals with the
polymer used in diapers called sodium
polyacrylate. We are going to explore the
absorbency of this polymer. Teacher put 2
spoons of sodium polyacrylate in measuring
cylinder. Then asks how much water it could
absorb. Then pour water and mix it well.
Sodium polyacrylate should absorb more
than 300 ml of water.
Safety Notes:
Do not swallow sodium polyacrylate.
Experiment should be perform by a teacher.
9. 6. Bouncing ball
Introduction
The bouncing ball in this activity is made from a polymer. Polymers are
molecules made up of repeating chemical units. Glue contains the polymer
polyvinyl acetate (PVA), which cross-links to itself when reacted with borax.
Materials Needed:
borax (found in the laundry section of the store)
white (makes a non-transparent ball) or blue or clear school glue (makes a
translucent ball)
warm water
food coloring (optional)
ziploc bag
paper towels
10. Procedure
•Pour 2 tablespoons warm water and 1/2
teaspoon borax powder into the cup
labeled 'Borax Solution'. Stir the mixture
to dissolve the borax
•. Add food coloring, if desired.
• Pour 1 tablespoon of glue into the cup
labeled 'Ball Mixture'.
•Add 1/2 teaspoon of the borax solution
you just made Stir carefully.
•Take the white substance out of the cup
and start molding the ball with your hands.
The ball will start out sticky and messy,
but will solidify as you knead it.
• Plastic ball can be stored in a sealed
ziploc bag.
