Portland Community College | Portland, Oregon Portland Community College

Exploring Science Through Artistic Experiments Course Outline

Exploring science through artistic experiments

This practical class introduces students to a particular scientific idea each week, learning about the science and the history of its discovery, and then exploring it further through practical artistic experimentation! Each topic will lead us to an artistic medium or method to experiment with, most of which can be done or made using household materials. From chlorophyll paint to geometric spirals to crystallising geodes, students will learn the techniques and then experiment freely with them, sharing their results in group discussions the following week.

Week by week outline

Week 1

Crystal formation

Crystallising paint

https://www.funathomewithkids.com/2014/01/homemade-paint-recipe-crystallizing.html

Making geodes

https://www.marthastewart.com/343344/crystal-egg-geodes?czone=tv/best-of-tv/diy-projects

Week 2

Spiral geometry

DIY spirographs

http://www.pinkstripeysocks.com/2019/02/diy-homemade-spirograph.html

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aFb27nBfcw0

String art

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ki9Z6YThda4

Week 3

Photography and light-sensitivity

Sun prints

https://www.bellalunatoys.com/products/sunprint-kit?gclid=Cj0KCQjw1a6EBhC0ARIsAOiTkrFFM9WH8SK2Y9j2Sda4_9gvA4Lye7vub4j-b0bTL9lvwyN6Qk6pnoQaAnhIEALw_wcB

https://www.imaginationstationtoledo.org/media/2ndlfony/sun-prints.pdf

Week 4

Plants and photosynthesis

Chlorophyll paint

https://kidminds.org/maple-leaf-science-how-to-extract/

Week 5

Chemical oxidation

Verdigris pennies

https://www.doodlecraftblog.com/2012/07/diy-ombre-penny-art-project.html