--- title: Penny Activity for After-School | Extended Notes description: Penny Drops is a fun science activity that can be done in after-school programs. image: https://www.extendednotes.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/shutterstock_408129019-2__800x400.jpg --- # Penny Drops for After School June 14 - [Home](https://www.extendednotes.com/) - [Articles](https://www.extendednotes.com/blog) - Penny Drops for After School Share this Post [mailto:?subject=Sharing%20a%20blog%20post;body=Check%20out%20this%20ExtendED%20Notes%20blog%20post:%20https://www.extendednotes.com/blog/after-school-activities/penny-drops](mailto:?subject=Sharing%20a%20blog%20post;body=Check%20out%20this%20ExtendED%20Notes%20blog%20post:%20https://www.extendednotes.com/blog/after-school-activities/penny-drops) [STEM | STEAM ](https://www.extendednotes.com/blog/tag/stem-steam) [Science ](https://www.extendednotes.com/blog/tag/science) ![Shutterstock 408129019-2](https://www.extendednotes.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/shutterstock_408129019-2__800x400.jpg) How many drops of water can a penny hold? This science activity demonstrates surface tension in action! Have students make their predictions, and then conduct the experiment to see whose hypothesis was correct.   #### **Materials**:   - Water - Eyedropper - Pennies - Pencil and paper - Paper towels (for clean up) #### **Instructions:**   1. Before starting the experiment, have students use the pencil and paper to record their predictions. 2. Place the penny on a flat surface. 3. Use the eyedropper to draw water and carefully place one drop of water on the penny. Record what happened. 4. Keep adding one drop at a time until the water runs over the edge of the penny. 5. Record your data. 6. Test the experiment on three different pennies and figure out the average number of drops that can fit on a penny. Who had the closest prediction? Did anyone guess the exact number of drops? #### **Lesson:** **Surface tension** is described as the cohesion between water molecules caused by hydrogen bonding - when hydrogen atoms of one molecule attract the oxygen atoms of another molecule. When you add water drops on the penny, surface tension causes the drops to “stick together” and pile up into a dome. As you add more drops, the force of gravity becomes stronger than the force of attraction among the water molecules at the surface. This causes the water to spill over the edge of the penny. This activity was adapted from [*Summer Program Tips, Strategies & Activities for School-Agers 5-14 Years-Old*](https://shop.gryphonhouse.com/products/summer-program-tips-strategies-and-activities-for-school-agers-5-14-years-o?variant=48015405744420) (now sold via Gryphon House). #### Article Categories ![afterschool advocacy icon](https://www.extendednotes.com/hubfs/ExtendED%20Notes%20Blog/afterschool%20advocacy%20icon.svg) After School Advocacy ![bullying safety icon](https://www.extendednotes.com/hubfs/ExtendED%20Notes%20Blog/bullying%20safety%20icon.svg) Bullying and Safety ![leadership icon](https://www.extendednotes.com/hubfs/ExtendED%20Notes%20Blog/leadership%20icon.svg) Leadership & Professional Development ![parental engagement icon](https://www.extendednotes.com/hubfs/ExtendED%20Notes%20Blog/parental%20engagement%20icon.svg) Parental Engagement ![physical activity icon](https://www.extendednotes.com/hubfs/ExtendED%20Notes%20Blog/physical%20activity%20icon.svg) Physical Activity ![program development icon](https://www.extendednotes.com/hubfs/ExtendED%20Notes%20Blog/program%20development%20icon.svg) Program Development ![social emotional learning icon](https://www.extendednotes.com/hubfs/ExtendED%20Notes%20Blog/social%20emotional%20learning%20icon.svg) Social-Emotional Learning ![stem icon](https://www.extendednotes.com/hubfs/ExtendED%20Notes%20Blog/stem%20icon.svg) STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) ![teaching strategies icon](https://www.extendednotes.com/hubfs/ExtendED%20Notes%20Blog/teaching%20strategies%20icon.svg) Teaching Strategies ![extended notes fb page banner](https://www.extendednotes.com/hs-fs/hubfs/ExtendED%20Notes%20Blog/extended%20notes%20fb%20page%20banner.png?width=342&height=130&name=extended%20notes%20fb%20page%20banner.png) [Follow Page ](https://www.facebook.com/385747254841303?ref=embed_page) ![ExtendedNotes_Logo_Knowledge Base-01](https://www.extendednotes.com/hs-fs/hubfs/ExtendedNotes_Logo_Knowledge%20Base-01.jpg?width=300&height=300&name=ExtendedNotes_Logo_Knowledge%20Base-01.jpg) ExtendED Notes 974 followers Connect with us to get the latest Articles & Insights. ## Related Articles ![related post image](https://www.extendednotes.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/ice_pop_insulator-2__800x400.jpg?width=352&name=ice_pop_insulator-2__800x400.jpg) #### Ice Pop Insulator Teach your students the properties of insulation with the informative science experiment. 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