Thursday, August 21, 2008

Banana in the tailpipe

Quick, name that movie!!
Ok, maybe not the best title.
I should have called this post
"How to blow up a balloon with a banana"
but that's not as exciting.
Or is it?

Ok, back to business. I bought this book a while back, but haven't really used it.
So, to provide some blog material enlighten my children's minds,
I opened it up and chose a science experiment to do.
The only problem was, my boys were totally not interested in doing anything.
They were deep in Lego land, building a dwarf castle and a Star Wars ship.
So, I did it all by myself. Loudly narrating my every step
so they could think their mom is nuts hear and learn.


I chose an experiment that I actually had the stuff to complete it. Stuff on hand, you know.

For this, I only needed a bottle, a balloon and an old banana. check, check and double check.


First you much the old banana until all the lumps are gone.

It's kind of gross...but also kind of satisfying.


Then, the hard part,

you have to slide the banana mush

into the tiny opening of the bottle.

I used a plastic knife to do this.

It was messy.


Ta da! Banana mush IN the bottle!

Aren't you proud of me?

The kids still wouldn't help me.

Trust me, I kept asking.


The only balloon I could find was a water balloon,

which is thicker than a regular one,

so maybe not the best one to use,

but oh, well.

I put it on top,

and it just laid there all limp like.

Sad.


Then I set the bottle in a warm, sunny place,

and waited a day.

Sure enough, bacteria flocked,

as the banana decomposed,

and released a gas

that started to inflate the balloon!

Woohoo!!


And then I threw it all away because I'd had enough.

But, I like this whole science thing.

I may have to try another experiment soon.

43 comments:

Unknown said...

That is so funny.... I love the comments on the pictures. I love even more that your boys could care less but your just kept on keeping on.... You go, super mom!

Unknown said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Karen said...

You are a crack up! If I had tried that, my kids would have thought I was cooking dinner.

Angie's Spot said...

Isn't science truly disgusting, I mean fascinating?

petra michelle; Whose role is it anyway? said...

Hello Rhea, Have often come across your comments and I promised myself I would take a vist. Love your blog's playfullness and whimsy! It was nice finally meeting you! Petra p.s. Oh what creative mothers will do for their children! :))

Jennifer said...

that is so very cool... and so very gross... and so very something that my boy would be into. :)

i'm going to have to try this... thanks for sharing. :)

xoxoxoxox

Jennifer said...

oh and yeah... I'm also going to have to get that book... seems like a lot of good ideas in there... this is going on my list of present ideas for Trevor's birthday which is fast aproaching. :)

i have been having the hardest time coming up with ideas, then today I got two!! :)

woo hoo!!

a periscope from watching Curious George this morning with the kids and then this book!! :) also some water balloons!! :)

thanks again!!

xoxoxoxox

Jennifer said...

PLUS!!! thank you for your comments on my WW pictures!! :)

xoxoxox

Krystyn @ Really, Are You Serious? said...

What a fun experiment...and now your Google Analytics are going to BLOW UP!!

Skeller said...

But, your boys DO understand that they've never had such regular entertainment as when you began the blog?? DOn't they?

i beati said...

you're a tres cool mom sandy

Keys to the Magic Travel said...

That is hilarious that you did the experiment by yourself. And that balloon. Well...perhaps I'll just leave it alone. Perhaps...

And have you learned Elements? You are going crazy with the writing on the pictures! I think you need to do a picture writing tutorial. Cause I have no idea as to how to do that.

sassy stephanie said...

Man, my 7 year old would love that book. She is super into science (NO idea where she gets that). She says she wants to be a paleontologist. Me, I'm super duper (not) into science. I had to look up what that meant.

Mama Dawg said...

Awesome. I need to get that book.

Live.Love.Eat said...

uH, COOL!?!? Ha ha. I opened your comment box to write, then closed it not knowing what to write, then opened it again and here I am. Ha ha. You sure are a lot of fun, THAT I can say for sure!

Marrdy said...

Cool experiment. I think even my 14 year old would like it. My hubby would hate it!

Sydney said...

I loved smelly disgusting science projects before they became smelly and disgusting. By that point I usually lost interest and my poor mom had to clean up/throw away!

Shannon said...

Proud, yet totally grossed out... don't all mothers have that feeling at one time or another? ha ha ha!

Unknown said...

You are becoming my hero, Rhea! I love to learn new stuff all the time so I would have probably done the same thing you did. Maybe you should work on that some more and then come up with an alternative fuel? That would free up the cornfields, lower food costs,and make third world, banana farming countries happy. The only down fall I can see, is the happiness of the monkeys, but just send them to me...I got some trees I can show em!

Amy said...

EWWWW! I am so not good with old bananas.

Jen said...

very good Rhea. It looks like you had fun and learned something, did the kids?

Claremont First Ward said...

Wow. I'm both amazed and disgusted.....at the bacteria, that is.

Unknown said...

Are you kidding me? You must be like the ideal mum! My kids would absolutely LOVE me to do that kind of nonsense stuff.
Thanks so much for visiting today and opening up the world of bloggers - great to meet you and your 'alien' boys!

Unknown said...

Yuck.

Valarie Lea said...

This would be such a cool new blog thing! Professor Rhea's Science Show! :) Oh lets do another. :)

Jennifer said...

okay. alright... now i need a banana, a bottle and a balloon. i have all but the banana!! dammit!!

i showed Trevor your creation and he NEEDS to make one too!!

this is a MUST have birthday present for him!! :) He is going to LOVE the crap out of this book!!

thanks again. but now i have to go the store to try to find an old banana!! lol


xoxoxoxo

Aunt Julie said...

Have you ever done the Mentos in the Pepsi experiment? Guaranteed to work, every time!

Jennifer and Sandi said...

Right on !!! Fun Fun Fun project!

- Jennifer

Indy said...

I am so impressed that you actually did something from one of those books. I always buy them but I never get to them. And now you have proof with the pictures that you are such a good mom. I love the writing on them. Too funny.

Insane Mama said...

That's a good experiment... I may use that for the science fair..

Anonymous said...

the title alone got me reading. I love your step-by-step documentary posts. how do you do all the fancy type, girl? I must know!

Jeff B said...

With that balloon on the bottle I kept thinking, "At least she's practicing 'safe banana-ing'."

Utter Basketcase said...

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA Heck I've missed you!!!

I'M BACK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

FInally I can get settled again and stop missing out on great posts like these!

It's been tough I tell ya!

Hope you are doing well, and OMFG Rhea I LOVE your new Profile pic!!!

WE LOOK LIKE SISTERS!!!! :-D xx

Lula! said...

You are a science teacher's dream parent. If your boys had actually participated, that is. But good on you for gettin' your project on.

CrystalChick said...

My son was just telling me about some mentos and pepsi explosion experiment.
I'll have to remind him to always go to friends houses for things like that. ;)

Sweetie, after playing with rotten nanners and bacteria, I think you need a day at the SPA!!

Kelly said...

So funny, you do the experiment by yourself! I can just imagine the eye rolling!
Pictures are a bonus!

MaricrisG said...

That is just too cool! Mommy doing the experiment before the kids? that's classic! We can't outgrow the kid in us can we?

Unknown said...

LOL you know you're a banana NUT cake - right?!

Raxx - A day in the life said...

Hi

Saw your comment over at justine and decided to check out your blog. Glad I did! Your blog is funny and honest.

So rather than be a blurker I would like to say Hi!

My name is Raquel and I am from Trinidad. Come visit me sometime!

Justine said...

Okay, that is totally disgusting, but also totally cool! Too funny that this is how you decided to entertain yourself!!!!!!!! What program do you use to add text to your pics? Photobucket is soooooooo boring!

Justine :o )

Cristin said...

I wonder if Graham would have the patience for experiments.... I know he'd like mushing up the banana...

Anonymous said...

nasty science!!!!

Anonymous said...

nasty science!!!!