Do you have plans for your child's next birthday party? There are a lot of good choices, but what about something new? By combining learning and fun, your child can have a memorable birthday party that the "special guests" talk about the next day.

This may sound difficult because kids are pretty savvy and by age eight they are birthday party veterans. But children love to learn. They like to be intrigued, surprised, and impressed. This can be achieved with some research and planning by introducing science at your child's next birthday party. You can hire others or you can do it yourself without too much time or expense. Your child will get excited talking about what they would like to do on their special day. Science is so much a part of our daily lives that it is very easy to find a topic or theme that will be suitable for your child at just about any age.

Plan the birthday party together as a team. A science theme birthday party is a great opportunity to find out more about your child's interests as well as an opportunity for both of you to explore science together. You can begin the planning stage of your science birthday party at the public library or on the internet.

Plan your party to be in manageable blocks with an eye toward smooth transitions from one event to another. For example schedule a time for pizza and a time for science experiments. Remember when planning the science experiments to include clean up time. It is best to choose a few experiments and something the birthday party guests can make themselves and take home. Plan to have a combination of “wow” activities or demonstrations and hands-on activities. You might be surprised to learn that many of the items you need are already in your home or can be purchased inexpensively.

Don't be afraid to conduct the birthday party like a science laboratory experiment, children love role playing and using their imagination. You might even enjoy yourself and hint about another science birthday party theme next year.

Sample fun activity – Canister Cannons
This is a favorite chemical reaction with baking soda, vinegar and an empty film canister. The baking soda, or sodium bicarbonate, reacts with the vinegar, or acetic acid, to form carbon dioxide gas. The gas rapidly expands in the canister and pops the top.

STEP 1: Distribute one sheet of toilet paper to each child.

STEP 2: Have them hold the toilet paper in the palm of their hand, while you go around and sprinkle a pile of baking soda about the size of a quarter into the middle of the paper.

STEP 3: Have the kids fold the paper six times so that it winds up being small enough to fit in the film canister without too much of a problem.

STEP 4: Set up one film canister per child, and fill it 1/4 of the way full with vinegar, Distribute them to the group.

STEP 5: Have the children push the toilet paper down into the film canister and then put the cap on quickly.

STEP 6: While making sure that the film canister is pointing away from everyone, have the children give the canister tube a good shake, being careful not to shoot anyone.

IMPORTANT NOTES
This is an outside activity because the liquid also shoots out of the canister. Use film canisters (usually white) that have tops that fit inside the canister – they seal better. Many film processors have these available at no charge.
Following is a short list of internet sites that offer experiments and hands-on activities intended for children with activities designed to use every day, inexpensive materials.

http://www.funsci.com/

http://www.spartechsoftware.com/reeko/

http://www.kidwizard.com/spells.asp

http://www.funology.com/

http://www.eskimo.com/~billb/amasci.html

http://www.madscience.org/Kids/Experiments/Experiment01/index.htm

http://www.kcplkids.com/sl_sciencefun.html

http://www.sciencemadesimple.com/

If this sounds like fun but you want someone else to plan and deliver a fun science birthday party, there is a local company – Mad Science - whose goal is to spark the imagination and curiosity of children through fun, interactive and educational workshops, shows, and birthday parties.

Mad Science of Minnesota has been offering these services in the Twin Cities metro area since 1998. You might have seen them at children’s events in area malls or know one of the 2,500 kids taking their fun after school science classes each season. To find our more about Mad Science go to: www.madsciencemn.org

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