An erupting lemon volcano is the perfect kitchen science activity or chemistry experiment to try with the kids.
For every copy of the Philadelphia Anarchists's 'A Catechism of Anarchy' that you purchase through the Distro, C4SS will receive a percentage.
Science is FUN with this 5 senses activities for preschoolers! Try the Jelly Bean Taste Test, grab the worksheet, and have fun learning!
I recently had another opportunity to observe a science program in an after school setting, this time at Greenleaf Elementary School in Oakland, CA. The rising fifth graders have an hour and a half of STEM programming after lunch every afternoon, and the day I visited they did an activity about cleaning up oil in the ocean. They worked with trays filled a few inches with water, feathers, straws, cotton balls and sponges. I think it's especially challenging to lead activities like this, where the materials you have to work with are analogies of what really happens in the real world. I was impressed with the ways the facilitator drew connections between the activity they were doing and what happens in the real world. The facilitator started the activity by asking the kids what they already knew about oil spills. I was struck by how many hands went in the air, and details the kids knew including the catastrophic spill in the Gulf of Mexico in 2010. The group discussed what kinds of engineers help solve the environmental problems caused by oil spills - chemical and environmental engineers. In groups, the kids examined their 'oceans' of water, with oil floating on top. They discussed and wrote observations in their science notebooks. The facilitator introduced some terms and definitions and then passed out materials the kids would use to try to clean up the oil. As kids formulated their plans for working together to get the oil off the feathers and out of the 'ocean', the facilitator passed around photos of actual oil spills and the effects they have on wildlife. Then it was time to work together to figure out how to use materials to clean up the oil. During the discussion after the activity, the kids all said that they enjoyed this activity even though it was very difficult to get all the oil out of the water and off of the feathers. In order to help kids make connections between the science activities we do after school and science in the real world, here are some things we see quality programs doing: Ask kids what they already know about related issues Show kids pictures, news articles or videos Introduce kids to a scientist who works on the problem in the field Take a field trip Participate in a citizen science project to help a scientist conduct a study on a related issue Let us know some ways that your after school science program connects kids to real world science!
Amazing cold science experiments for kids to do in the Winter (or summer). Great way to learn about the senses, temperature and how we feel hot and cold.
Try this cool kitchen chemistry experiment~ make homemade gummy juice noodles! This chemical reaction makes the juice solid.
This Foaming Dragon Science experiment is a fun way to teach kids about chemical reactions. Watch the Dragon foam over and over again.
Make homemade butter in a jar for an edible science activity your kids can eat! Making butter with kids is quick, easy and tasty too!
Compare how jelly beans react to different liquids in this jelly bean science experiment or letter J activity for preschool or kindergarten.
Middle School 6-8th Grades Science Fair Project Ideas
Learn how to make a kaleidoscope in this fun STEM/science activity and craft for kids. It’s such a fun way to explore light, reflections, and symmetry! Follow our Science for Kids Pinterest board! *This post was originally published 2/2/16 and has since been updated. Last week I made these super fun kaleidoscopes with my …
Do your kids love science? How about you? What about science experiments? Would you love them even more if those experiments helped teach biblical truths?
Engaging apple-themed science experiments, STEM challenges, and crafts perfect for fall! This blog post features hands-on activities like building apple towers, designing apple boats, and exploring the parts of an apple through creative crafts. Students will love investigating why apples float, what keeps them from browning, and even making apple volcanoes. With both print and digital recording options, these activities are perfect for integrating technology into your fall curriculum.
Romaine Lettuce Tutorial via Fast, Cheap, and Good. Carrots Tutorial via Fidgety Fingers. Cilantro Tutorial via The Urban Organic Homesteading Experiment. Ginger Tutorial via Chiot’s Run. Green Onion Tutorial via Salt Blog. Sweet Potato Tutorial via Home Joys. Pineapple Tutorial via Rick’s Woodshop Creations. Avocado Tutorial via Hubpages. Lemon Tutorial via Growing Wild Ceeds.
If you are looking for a simple science experiment for kids, try walking on eggs! This is a great STEM activity for your kindergarten science unit.
Want to create simple science areas for preschoolers? Learn how to create a fun science center to keep your kids engaged and learning!
STEM is about all four of those amazing letters! S=science...T=technology...E=engineering...and M=math! I was able to save some of my science budget money this year to invest in MaKey MaKey Boards for our school. My wonderful librarian and I are coordinating efforts to teach our students how to use them! I was a little nervous about setting up a lesson about something based on technology with no background in this product at all. I took a kit home...played around with it with my son...and wow it was amazing how exciting it was when I played my first banana bongo! My students in fifth grade are two weeks ahead of schedule...so I decided to bring out the Makey Makey Boards...create a lesson linked with lessons found on Scratch and the rest is magic! Here is what I did... 1. I first showed them the Makey Makey set up video... 2. I shared with them the scientific process and made sure that they knew that it was about trying...testing...troubleshooting...and then sharing! 3. Then, I shared with them how to get to the assignment...I set up a google classroom for the students to enter and find my sheet with direct links on. This is helpful when using one computer and one Makey Makey box per table. 4. Their goal was to first, make an instrument out of what was placed on their table. This is the fun part...on each table I placed a tray with different objects. (veggies, fruits, foil, play dough, school snacks, and treats) They are all great conductors! 5. I give them a piece of aluminum foil to ground themselves to. They can make a bracelet or arm band or even a ring. 6. I then let them have at it! It only took three minutes and I heard music once they got into the google classroom sight. 7. Once they play some music...they then have to create a controller for a game! They can choose Mario Brothers, Pac Man, or Tetris. Each of these games can be found at Scratch: Explore. I then looked for music and games then reviewed them. I found this on my hunt to teach MaKey MaKey lessons...great fun connection to use if you want to! 8. We finish our fun up with groups able to create an art project that uses graphite to draw pathways that connect to the MaKey MaKey board! Not all groups get to this task...but before we wrap up we complete the sheet and rate the lesson! On a scale of 1-5 we averaged a 5 on this one! MaKey MaKey Freebie Sheet and Links I used... What I learned...using new technology might be scary at first, but the kids pick up on it faster than you think. Give something new a try...you might find out that your kids will love it! And so will you!
Get your kids interested in STEM (science, technology, engineering & math) with these Cool Science Experiments for Kids using physics and chemistry. You can also download a free printable lab book with detailed instructions and lab note sections.
I stumbled across this idea on Pinterest and thought it would be perfect for my third and fourth graders! I often hear complaints from students that although others "allow" them to play games at recess, they often do not "include" them in the game. For example, in football they are on the team but the ball is never passed to them. I used this as a springboard for discussion on what teamwork really looks like. The Cup Stack is a great activity to facilitate teamwork. Some groups are able to complete the task very quickly while other groups must keep trying and trying to complete the task successfully. It's hard not to give up when things get frustrating, and this is a valuable lesson for children to learn in a safe environment. All you need is cups, rubberbands, and string. I decided to put my students into groups of 6, so I tied 6 equally spaced strings (about 1-2 feet long) around a single rubberband. Each group was given this device and 6 cups. The challenge is for the group to build a pyramid out of the paper cups (3 on the bottom, 2 in the middle, 1 on the top - can be adjusted for more cups). Group members cannot touch the cups with their hands or any other part of their bodies, even if a cup falls over or on the floor. Each person holds onto one of the strings that are attached to the rubber band and they use this device to pick up the cups and place them on top of each other (by pulling the rubber band apart and then bringing it back together over the cups). Some groups took 2 minutes to accomplish their goal, some 10 minutes, and some never successfully built their tower. I had groups that finished early watch the remaining groups to add a little "pressure." Afterwards we debriefed with the following discussion questions: Was anyone frustrated at all during the activity? If so how was it handled? What did you learn about yourself or others? Why was teamwork so important for this activity? What is so hard about teamwork? What did you do today to contribute to the teamwork on your team? What are some skills needed to be good at teamwork? Are you every in a situation where you must use teamwork? Is this always easy for you? Why or why not? How can we use what we learned through this experience in situations outside the game? Check out Teamwork: Cup Stack Take 2!
The weather outside might be frightful, but these projects are so delightful!
Make these impressive 3D Salt Dough Maps with your kids to learn about and explore geography and landforms in a tactile, hands-on project!
I have been on a shell craft kick as of late. We recently made this cool sand Sea Shell Craft and even made some yummy Clam Shell Cookies. If you have been doing some beach trips
Often I come across a craft that is so cute and easy and clever I just have to go home and do it with the kids even if it means buying white q-tips for a whole dollar at the store (pardon us, our q-tips had pink sticks.). We went to our local children's museum one day and all around the art room these guys were hanging: Of course, having a couple dino-kids as I do, I was so excited to go home and try it. And then we did it again, and again. I think Spiff made about a dozen of these in one week alone. By the end of that week, I had moved onto Euplocephalus fossils just to do something different. Just cut out a dinosaur skull from white paper and make the appropriate black holes for eyes and nose. On a another piece of paper draw some lines for guides then go to town with glue and q-tips. Bend some for the feet, cut 3 into halves for ribs. Easy peasy and pretty darn cute. If we're calling dinosaur bones cute.
See how we dissected a flower and displayed it to learn about the parts of a flower as part of our preschool botany lessons.
8 Simple Ways for your family to be environmentally friendly is a sponsored post by Seattle area family blogger Long Wait For Isabella.
28 engaging hands-on STEM activities that use recylced and craft materials for a home, library, or classroom makerspace
Chemical reactions are always surprising for kids to observe! In this science activity we’ll be turning a penny green (similar to what happens to The Statue of Liberty!) Follow our Science for Kids Pinterest board! Chemical reactions are such a great way to pique a child’s curiosity. This experiment involving a chemical reaction is …
