NSTA Review: Bluespace

http://www.nsta.org/recommends/ViewProduct.aspx?ProductID=23238

NSTA Reviews: Voyager's Greatest Hits

Voyager’s Greatest Hits by Alexandra Siy is clever. Siy organizes her book about the Voyager Planetary Mission into eight  ‘tracks’ or chapters; the software used on Voyager 1 and 2 is on eight track recorders.  Imagine forty year old eight tracks still running?  Who knew eight track software could be updated?  Voyager’s Greatest Hits is chock-full of information about the two Voyagers and their epic journey.  Siy had fun writing this book, which has loads of literary, cultural, and musical references, such as Track Four about Saturn, titled, ‘Lord of the Rings’ (p. 25) or ‘Freebirds’ (p. 57) to describe the two Voyagers leaving our solar system.  Siy weaves some planetary history into the Voyager story.  For example, in Track 3, ‘King Jupiter’, Siy discusses Galileo’s discovery of Jupiter’s moons in 1610 (pp. 15-16) and the discovery of Jupiter’s ‘Great Red Spot’ by Robert Hooke and Giovanni Cassini in 1665 (p.17). Siy’s prose draws the reader into her story.  In Track 7, Cosmic Cruisers, under the heading, ‘Suspended in a Sunbeam’, she writes, “She found Neptune, a blurry blue bead in a sapphire-specked sea.  There was Uranus, smeared like a drip of wet paint.” (p. 49) I haven’t mentioned the images!  Throughout the book are images from two Voyagers, the Hubble telescope, and a variety of observatories and collage images.  Siy includes diagrams, too.  Voyager’s instruments are labeled in an excellent diagram. (p.12). The Glossary (pp 68-69), the lists of additional resources (pp 70-72), and the index (pp 73-74) will help a budding astronomer to learn more about Voyager, especially the website, ‘Where are the Voyagers right now?’ (p.70)  Voyager’s Greatest Hits has been carefully researched and packed with new information about the planets at the far reaches of the solar system. Siy concludes with Track 8, ‘Voyager’s Alien Playlist’, a description of the ‘Golden Records’ (pp59-63), a message from Earth to aliens finding Voyager. Imagine selecting the songs to record!  Librarians should put this title at the top of their STEM  wish lists particularly for upper elementary-aged children.  This book is sure to become a classic.

CD spinners

It's summer and our favorite seven year old, Paul, needs ideas to stay engaged. I've used these spinners for a variety of programs.  I bet you'll have most of the equipment on hand: bottle caps, CDs,  markers, copies of the template, marbles, and glue, preferably a glue gun.  Mocomi has one with detailed instructions. Mathwire and  Heidisongs have more templates here.  Make loads of copies of the templates, save the bottle caps, and scrounge CDs.  Let your kids experiment with complementary colors using crayons, markers, and sharpies.  

Google Classroom

Guess what?  Google Classroom is available to anyone with a gmail account!  Free!  I used Google Classroom a few years ago when I worked part-time for a private school.  I loved how easy it was to assemble assignments, notes, and materials for my students, especially when they were absent.  Home-school moms and Co-ops may want to take a look.  You can post videos, blogs, and PDF files. I like how it organizes the material into classrooms or topics.  Try it!

NSTA Review: Plants in Disguise

Here is the most recent review of Plants in Disguise.

A few more suggestions...

The past two posts promoted animal projects.  What if your family is large and bans animals?  Do you live on a large lot or near a wooded area?  Consider a mammal list or bird list.  Here are some common feeder birds. Our family loves the Identiflyers we bought on eBay.  We also like to build bird houses.  What about making bird feeders?  We made them at a science camp by rubbing Crisco on squares of cardboard and dipping them in bird seed, similar to these feeders.  You might consider creating a bird friendly yard.  Would you rather attract butterfly's and hummingbirds?  This site sells the seeds and explains the plants.  I thinks herbs and plants are great to plant over the winter in a diy hydroponics system.  My sister-in-law set up a similar one in her basement.  My tower is from Vertigro.  Once again, there is plenty of science.  Which nutrients?  Will ordinary fertilizer work?  Which timer?  How often to water?  Does the pH matter?  Seeds, seedlings, or plants?  Fun, right?  One more suggestion: Sea Monkeys, also called brine shrimp.  Carolina Biological has tips to raise brine shrimp.  This blogger has gone into brine shrimp production.  I can hear you asking what to do with the brine shrimp.  This lab is designed for advanced biology.  Take a look.  It has suggestions for observations, counts, identification, etc. The kids are less likely to get attached to sea monkeys than, say, a bunny.

A Few More General Suggestions

We're Catholic.  Many of my home-school friends have large families.  Consequently, both money and time are in short supply.  Chose family friendly school projects.  For example, the S. family raises German Shepherd puppies as income. My suggestion for science projects include  researching and creating pedigree charts and color coat Genetics.  Another friend raises and sells rare breeds of chicks--loads of science, incubation, life cycle, nutrients in feed, pest management, coop design, etc.  You can build an incubator and keep records.  What is the average hatch rate?  According to Vetmed at University of California Davis it can range from 50-75%.  (This site has an article about incubation with tips.) BTW, Walmart sells an incubator under $75, identical to the ones used in elementary schools.  Another home-school family raised Crested geckos.  A teacher friend raised Poison Dart frogs in large aquariums.  (They aren't poisonous when raised domestically, owing to their diet.). They are pricy!  Bunnies are much easier and less expensive to buy or adopt.  Another good project is to estimate the cost to maintain and breed rabbits.  Which breed?  Do you plan to raise pets or rabbits for meat?  Here are sample calculations.  How many rabbits?  What is the cost of feed?  Is there a farm supply nearby where the feed is cheaper?  Do rabbits need supplements?  Will alfalfa or other grains provide needed nutrients?  How much is a hutch?  What price should you set to make a profit? Do you know a farmer willing to take the rabbits if the project proves too costly or too much trouble?  See what I mean about animal projects?  I love the fact they provide loads of science, consumer math, and basics economic lessons.

Generic Science Suggestions...

It's the time of year when I review home-school portfolios.  Generally, I review the curriculum and work samples in order to write a letter for the local school board.  I like to make a list of suggestions. One of the children raised Crested geckos as a science project.  Another home-school family is raising German Shepherd puppies as a business, along with rabbits and Cavalier Spaniels.  I love animals as a source for science lessons based on a child's or family's interest or income.  For example, the family raising German Shepherd puppies has researched those costs and pitfalls outlined here.  Many families participate in 4H and compete at the local fair.  Think how motivated your child will be to learn as much as possible about Bunnies or Chicks when a prize is at stake.  Our family likes birds; we have two Identiflyers and several bird cards.  (We have two because it's hard to share one with friends.  Both were purchased 'used' from eBay.) Cardinals will respond to the bird sing played by the Identiflyer.  Cornell Bird Sleuth is the place for more bird information.

Summer is the time to garden.  I'm starting plants for my hydroponics tower--currently failing.  I'm working with a local school, which has received a grant to build a courtyard garden.  We're in the planning phase before building raised beds and planting this fall.  Here are a few pix from previous projects.

Apologia Chemistry: Christmas Labs

I'm organizing materials, prepping labs, and planning for fall.  Naturally, I ran across Christmas Chemistry labs.  (I'm in the habit of ordering as many of the chemicals as possible early.)  These are all great!  Ornament Making is really Intaglio Art Etching.  Fun!  Dangerous, but fun!  Ornament Making with these instructions are much safer, but still pricey.  Crystal Ornaments and directions from Martha Stewart are both safe and relatively inexpensive.

Apologia Chemistry Labs

Paper chromatography
https://www.flinnsci.com/globalassets/flinn-scientific/all-free-pdfs/dc11220.pdf
Reaction in a Bag or Ziploc Chem more complete
Flame test
Discrepant events for Chem
Paper chromatography with Rf
White Powder Lab
Separation of a Mixture
Graduated Cylinder Challenge (Density)
Calibrate pipette with water
Micro scale Lab Equipment
Ionic Compounds Lab
Hydrate Lab (Percent Composition)
Beanium
The Mole Lab
DOE Virginia Mole Labs

Apologia Chemistry: Get Ready

I am getting ready for Chemistry in the fall.  This summer, the kids are going to create Element Cards--those based on this research article from the Journal of Chem Ed I ran across years ago.  (FYI, there's an older Blog Post with a student, Akshita, demonstrating how to make the cards.  When you look at the research articule, scroll down to the instructions to see sample cards.  (The elements are in Spanish because the authors were from Spain.  The cards take an eternity to complete; the kids have an easy time learning the periodic table.  Really.  One class even insisted on playing the card game.  That's completely optional.