ACS Kids Zone
ACS Kids Zones are free public events featuring themed facilitator-supported activities, for children and their families. ACS members, including local chemists, college chemistry students, in addition to volunteer chemists of the ACS Committee on Community Activities (CCA), support interactive investigations, so children can experiment with actual chemists.
ACS Fall 2024 Kids Zone
Saturday, August 17, 2024 (Denver, CO)
ACS President Mary K. Carroll and the ACS Office of Science Outreach will host a free public event at the UC Denver Lola and Rob Salazar Student Wellness Center from 11:00 a.m.– 2:00 p.m. (MDT). Engage with real chemists, for an afternoon of chemistry, giveaways, and fun!
The following activities will be demonstrated during the event:
- Imagine Imaging: Can you complete a puzzle when all the pieces are face-down? Using a magnet as a probe, along with your senses of touch and hearing, you can!
- Laser-Focused on Chemistry: Use a simple model of an atomic force microscope to determine the arrangement of objects on a hidden piece of cardboard.
- Rainbow Spectroscope: Compare colorful stripes, known as spectra, to known patterns, and identify which element is in each of the three tubes.
- Solar Protector Detector: Make your own UV-detecting wristband so that you can tell when to wear sunglasses, sunscreen, or other sun protection.
- Light Prints: Choose a stencil and make a print, called a cyanotype, with a UV flashlight on special paper like those used in the early days of photography.
Past Event
ACS Spring 2024 Kids Zone
On Saturday, March 16th, ACS President Mary K. Carroll sponsored the free public event at New Orleans’s historic Xavier University. Participants enjoyed hands-on science activities, the opportunity to meet real chemists, and educational giveaways!
Even if you missed the event, you can download the activities here:
- Build-A-Battery Workshop (PDF): Make a voltaic pile powerful enough to light a small LED bulb.
- Explore Electrolytes (PDF): Experiment and learn which beverage makes the best battery.
- Pencil Electrolysis (PDF): Use a battery to start a couple of colorful chemical reactions, to find out which bubbles are made of hydrogen, and which are made of oxygen.
- Make-and-Take Paper Battery (PDF): Made of only paper, foil, and saltwater, this small battery really works!
- Soccer Ball Chemistry (PDF): Experiment with a deconstructed soccer ball to get the inside story on how it’s made.
- Hand it to Chemistry! (PDF): Let your hands reveal whether you and a special someone have chemistry.
- UV Detecting Wristband (PDF): Make a UV detecting wristband that lets you know when to put on sunglasses, sunscreen, a shirt, hat, or move to the shade.
Please consider joining us in August for the next event in Denver, Colorado!
Watch the video highlights from ACS Kids Zone Spring 2024
Contact the ACS Office of Science Outreach
outreach@acs.org
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