Pinecone Experiment

Materials: 3 clear containers, 3 pinecones (all the same size), warm water, cold water 

The set-up for this experiment is quite simple. Measure, sketch and observe your pinecones, place 1 pinecone in each container.
Label each container and fill the container with water to the top. Do one container with warm water and one with cold water. For your control group, leave the middle one open with only air to use as a comparison and to document the change you see overtime. Change will occur immediately. You can have older children note changes with drawings. Discuss what changes you see happening. Also, notice things like the pinecone floats in the water, see if the container has any effect on the way it looks (magnified), etc. Allow for about 20 minutes for the pinecones to close. Leave out overnight and see what changes.