My First Science Video

My First Science Video is an educational activity video released in 1992 by Dorling Kindersley Vision. It is intended to show children how to do a variety of simple science experiments. It is based upon a book title called ‘My First Science Book’, which covers many of the same activities as shown in the video.

## Sections

The opening of the video shows the sixteen tiles, introduces what science is and describes how all of these tiles will show experiments that can be followed along with at home, with some being indoor projects and others outdoor ones.

The first tile fills the screen which introduces the video and how each section is presented – at the beginning of each section, a clip will show everything required to do the project. This also includes the safety warning for when the viewer is using hot water or cutting things out.

The second tile shows how to observe the effects of static electricity. This activity requires balloons, paper, a holepunch and a spoonful of sugar.

The third tile shows how to perform an experiment that shows what happens when hot and cold liquids meet. This activity requires a small bottle, a glass jar, a ball of string, scissors, coloured ink or dye, a paintbrush and hot and cold water. Although easy, this experiment requires an adult’s help, as it involves hot water.

The fourth tile shows how to observe the densities of different liquids. This activity requires a large jar, a jug of water, coloured ink or dye, vegetable oil, syrup, a spoon and an assortment of small objects. The syrup should be at the bottom, with the oil added next and then the dyed water – the water forms a layer between the oil and the syrup. The objects can be used to look at which level they sink to.

The fifth tile shows how to perform an experiment that looks at where the water goes in flowers. This experiment requires white carnations, some glasses, a jug of water, scissors and some coloured inks or food dye. A flower can be placed in two glasses of dyed water if the stem is cut down the middle. The flowers will take on the colouring of the dye. This experiment uses a time-lapse to show the flower changing colour.

The sixth tile shows how to create a weather station, with a rain gauge, barometer and a wind vane all covered. This experiment requires old plastic bottles and yogurt pots, modelling clay, waterproof tape, scissors, a bowl, a ruler, a pencil with an eraser, a drinking straw and a drawing pin to make all three items.

The seventh tile shows how to make spooky puppets for a shadow puppet display. This activity requires a flashlight, some thin sticks, a pencil, scissors, tape and thin coloured cardboard. This experiment shows how light works and causes shadows.

The eighth tile is for another two light experiments. This experiment requires some straws and a glass of water or glass prism. The straws in the glass of water show how light bends, making the straws appear bent. The prism of glass, when light is shone through it, splits the light into different colours.

The ninth tile is for a disappearing colour experiment. This activity requires a compass, scissors, a glue stick, two pencils, a ruler, coloured paper and white cardboard. For this experiment, there needs to be yellow, green, blue, purple, red and orange coloured paper sheets.

The tenth tile is for an experiment that separates pigments from felt-tip pens and candies. The experiment requires a glass, saucers, a spoonful of salt, scissors, a jug of water, blotting paper, felt-tip pens and coloured candies.

The eleventh tile is an experiment showing how sounds are made, by making pan-pipes, a harp and a xylophone. This activity requires eight glass bottles, a jug of water, a spoon, some inks, a paintbrush, a baking tin, some rubber bands, drinking straws, two strips of cardboard, glue and scissors.

The twelfth tile is for an experiment for testing acids and alkalis. This experiment requires a chopping board, knife, spoon, glass beakers, a jug of hot water, a notebook, a strainer, a bowl, some labels, strips of blotting paper, a red cabbage, a lemon and other fruits, spoonfuls of bicarbonate of soda, washing powder and baking powder and lots of liquids to test. This experiment shows how to identify acids and alkalis, how to neutralise them and how to make litmus paper.

The thirteenth tile shows how to make your own detective kit. This activity requires paper, scissors, pencil, notebook, a magnifying glass, inkpad, talcum powder and paintbrush. The experiment shows how to take fingerprints and also how to dust for prints using talcum powder.

The fourteenth tile looks at experiments that can be done with magnets. This activity requires a magnet, lots of little objects to test from around the home, two pieces of paper and a large sewing needle. This activity shows how to test if an object is magnetic or not and also shows how to create a magnetic compass from a needle.

The fifteenth tile is for making a fishing game that uses magnets. This activity requires aluminium foil, paperclips, thin sticks, three little magnets, string, scissors, cellophane tape and a large plastic bowl.

The sixteenth and final tile is about doing experiments that use electricity from a battery – the video explains that mains electricity is too dangerous to use. This activity requires a 4.5-volt battery, a bulb and bulb holder, plastic-coated and bare wire, insulating tape, a screwdriver, scissors and an old shoebox. This part of the video shows how to make a steady hand game.

## Credits

* Demonstrator – Eva Marie Bryer
* Educational Consultant – Bronwen Howells
* Script – Simon Jollands
* Set Construction – Vic Moore
* Design – Tom Gordon
* Camera – Eddie McCaffrey
* With thanks to:
	+ Jane Dunston
	+ Middlesex Polytechnic Studios
* Lighting – Roddy Gibson
* On Line Editor – Bill Ogden
* Associate Producer – David Furnham Productions
* Directed by – David Furnham
* Executive Producers – Tom Gordon and Simon Jollands

## Home media releases

The cover for the VHS of My First Science Video has a white background and a border of lit bulbs connected by wires, with the picture collage below the title showing paperclips, balloons, a magnet with metal attracted to it, a colour wheel, straws, metal balls and the needle compass.