MythBusters Science Session

MythBusters Science Session – Staff Overview

Welcome to today’s MythBusters session! This exciting 2-hour block is packed with hands-on science fun where kids explore, test, and bust some wild myths. The aim is to engage their curiosity, encourage teamwork, and deliver some wow moments!

Session Structure

• Children: Split into 2 groups

• Duration: ~2 hours

• Format: 4 rotation stations + 2 big group demos

Session Flow

Intro (10 minutes)

• Brief welcome and group explanation

• Introduce the idea of myth-busting: “true, busted, or plausible?”

• Split the children into Group 1 and Group 2

• 
  

Rotation Round 1 (30 minutes total – 2 stations, 15 mins each)

Group 1:

1. Can you walk on eggs without breaking them?

2. Does toast always land butter side down?

Group 2:

1. Can a paper plane fly farther with bigger wings?

2. Can you catch a paper note falling from your elbow?

Whole Group Demo 1 (10 minutes)

Can you put out a candle with air from a glass?

• Bring both groups together

• Staff-led demo with a chance for a few children to try

• Break & Reset (10–15 minutes)

• Give children a snack break or free play

• Staff clean up Stations 1 & 2 and set up Stations 3 & 4

Rotation Round 2 (30 minutes total – 2 stations, 15 mins each)

Group 1:

3. Can you make a magnet out of a nail?

4. Can you inflate a balloon without blowing it up?

Group 2:

3. Can soda really dissolve a tooth?

4. Can plants drink coloured water?

Whole Group Demo 2 – Grand Finale (15 minutes)

Can Coke and Mentos create a rocket reaction?

• Head outside for this one

• Let kids take turns dropping Mentos

• Capture reactions and celebrate!

Wrap-Up (5 minutes)

• Group vote: Which myths were busted, confirmed, or plausible?

• Quick recap and thank you

• Optional: award MythBuster certificates or stickers

General Tips for Staff

• Have all materials ready before the session begins

• Use trays or buckets to manage supplies for each rotation

• Keep it fast-paced but flexible—adjust timing if one station needs more time

• Take photos (with permission) for fun recap moments

Safety Reminders

• Always supervise flame (candle demo), sharp skewers (balloon myth), and reactions (Coke & Mentos, vinegar/baking soda)

• Egg walk should be done barefoot and slowly, one at a time

• Set up messy or risky activities (e.g., Mentos) outside or on tarps

MYTHS

1. Can You Walk on Eggs Without Breaking Them?

Supplies: Tray of eggs tray or mat, socks (optional)

Setup: Place eggs on their tray closely together so the eggs are upright and evenly spaced.

Steps:

1. Place the tray of eggs on the ground

2. Allow all children to have a turn to slowly and evenly step onto the eggs with flat feet.

3. Walk gently across without shifting weight too quickly.

Scientific Explanation: Eggs are strongest at their arch. When pressure is evenly distributed (like with your flat feet), the eggs can support your weight without cracking.

Does Toast Always Land Butter Side Up?

Supplies: Bread, butter, table, measuring tape, stopwatch (optional)

Setup: Butter multiple slices of toast and drop from a consistent height (e.g., table height).

Steps:

1. Butter one side of the toast.

2. Hold toast horizontally at table edge.

3. Drop and record how it lands (repeat 10+ times).

4. Tally butter-side-up vs down.

Scientific Explanation: Due to the toast's weight distribution and rotation during a fall, it often only has time to rotate 180°, landing butter-side down.

Can Soda Really Dissolve a Tooth?

Supplies: Hard-boiled egg or chicken bone (to simulate a tooth), glass jars, cola

Setup: Place items in jars filled with cola.

Steps:

1. Submerge hard-boiled egg/bone in cola.

2. Leave for 1–2 days.

3. Observe and feel texture afterward.

Scientific Explanation: Soda is acidic (contains phosphoric and carbonic acid), which can slowly break down enamel or calcium in bones, simulating tooth decay.

Can You Make a Rainbow With Skittles?

Supplies: Skittles, white plate, warm water

Setup: Arrange Skittles in a ring around the edge of the plate.

Steps:

1. Pour warm water gently into the center of the plate until it touches all the Skittles.

2. Wait and watch.

Scientific Explanation: The sugar and food colouring dissolve at different rates, creating rainbow-like diffusion patterns as the colours spread inward.

Can Coke and Mentos Make a Rocket?

Supplies: 1L or 2L bottle of Coke, Mentos, paper/cardboard tube, open space

Setup: Prepare the drop tube and ensure you’re outside.

Steps:

1. Place paper roll over bottle top to guide Mentos in.

2. Drop 3–4 Mentos in quickly.

3. Step back and observe.

Scientific Explanation: The rough surface of Mentos causes rapid CO₂ bubble release, forcing the soda out of the bottle in an explosive geyser.

Can You Pop a Balloon Without Popping It?

Supplies: Balloon, clear tape, needle

Setup: Blow up balloon and apply tape to a small area.

Steps:

1. Press clear tape firmly on the balloon.

2. Slowly insert needle through the center of the tape.

Scientific Explanation: The tape holds the rubber together, reducing stress on the puncture point and preventing a full pop.

Can a Plane Fly Farther With Bigger Wings?

Supplies: Paper, scissors, tape or paper clips

Setup: Build paper planes with different wing sizes.

Steps:

1. Make 2–3 paper planes, changing only wing size.

2. Fly them from the same height and angle.

3. Measure and record distance.

Scientific Explanation: Larger wings create more lift but also more drag. There’s a balance—medium-sized wings often go farthest.

Can You Put Out a Candle With Air From a Glass?

Supplies: Candle, matches/lighter, glass jar

Setup: Place candle in dish of water, light it, and cover with jar.

Steps:

1. Light candle.

2. Place glass jar over it.

3. Watch the flame go out and water rise.

Scientific Explanation: The flame uses up oxygen in the jar. When it runs out, it goes out, and the cooling air creates a vacuum, sucking up water.

Can You Suck Juice With a Really Long Straw?

Supplies: Clear straws (taped together), juice, large cup

Setup: Tape multiple straws together to make an extra-long one.

Steps:

1. Securely tape straws together.

2. Try to drink juice from a tall height.

Scientific Explanation: Air pressure helps suck liquid up. But the longer the straw, the more effort is needed as gravity and air pressure compete.

Can You Make a Magnet Out of a Nail?

Supplies: Iron nail, copper wire, battery (AA), paperclips

Setup: Wrap copper wire around the nail and attach to battery ends.

Steps:

1. Coil wire around the nail (30+ times).

2. Attach ends of wire to battery.

3. Use nail to pick up paperclips.

Scientific Explanation: This is an electromagnet. The electric current creates a magnetic field around the wire and magnetizes the nail.

Can You Inflate a Balloon Without Blowing It Up?

Supplies: Balloon, bottle, vinegar, baking soda

Setup: Pour vinegar into the bottle and baking soda into balloon.

Steps:

1. Stretch balloon and add baking soda using a funnel.

2. Fill bottle with vinegar.

3. Attach balloon to bottle neck (don’t let soda fall in yet).

4. Lift balloon, letting soda fall into vinegar.

Scientific Explanation: The chemical reaction creates carbon dioxide gas, which inflates the balloon.

Can You Catch a Paper Note Falling From Your Elbow?

Supplies: Small paper notes (or money)

Setup: Child places note on elbow and tries to catch it.

Steps:

1. Hold one arm out, palm up.

2. Place paper on bent elbow.

3. Quickly swing arm down and try to catch it mid-air.

Scientific Explanation: It’s about reaction time. Most people can’t move fast enough to catch the note before gravity wins.

Can Plants Drink Coloured Water?

Supplies: Celery or white flowers, jars, food colouring, water

Setup: Fill jars with coloured water.

Steps:

1. Cut ends of celery or flower stems.

2. Place into jars of coloured water.

3. Wait a few hours or overnight.

Scientific Explanation: Capillary action pulls coloured water up through the stem. You’ll see colour change in petals or leaves, showing water movement.