Family Science: Floating Letters

 I say a toy in Social Media and decided to see if there was a DIY.  Yup.  Look at Dancing Drawings or Floating Ink.  The science is solubility and density, two easy to understand topics.  Here is a more complicated lab which is more inquiry based.  

Secret Code Christmas Gift Kit

 I had another idea.  Is it strictly science?  Not exactly.  But, any activity which gets kids to think dovetails well with STEM.  First, put in colorful Twizzlers for Learn Binary Code.  Use LEGOS for LEGO Secret Coding (Morse Code).  Here are Spy Codes to explore.  Add pony beads to make Morse Code Bracelets or Binary Bracelet.  (Instructables uses wire and fancy beads if you want a special kit.) Add a used book and you’ll have another outstanding gift kit.

DNA Sentences

 We’re just starting DNA.  But, last year I tried DNA sentences.  Wow!  They helped enormously!  Kids struggle with the difference between replicated DNA, transcribing DNA to RNA, coding into amino acids.  The kids decode words and create sentences.  Here is the one I’m using first.  There are many, many DNA sentence activities: Say it with DNA, Protein Synthesis Sentence Activity, or Spell Your Name in DNA.  Once kids have the process, then go back and instruct in the specifics for replication, transcription, and translation.  I know this sounds backwards.  But, if they have the overall concept, the rest is just details.

Mitosis Flipbook, Mitosis Wheel, and Paper DNA Model

 Today was all about creating study guides: Mitosis Flip Book, Mitosis Wheel, and a DNA Paper Model. Our class runs 90 minutes.  Half finished all three activities.  Take a look!

Water Theme Science Gift Kit

 Okay, I did have one more idea for a science kit present.  The Water kit requires several plastic bottles, balloons, and toys.  It’s fun to compare the toy version with the DIY version.    In one of the earlier posts, I mentioned buying a tornado tube.  Here is a DIY duct tape version.  BTW duct tape is a great addition to the science kit. 

Another terrific toy is the fountain connection toy.  Here and here are the instructions for DIY versions.  

Add some Cartesian divers.  Compare a toy version with this DIY kit, which uses a condiment packet in a 2-L bottle.  (Some 1-L bottles will work, too.)  Try using a pen cap or medicine dropper.  Compare the DIY versions Squiddy or a pipette diver.  (Test to see if the diver will dive in a bucket of cold water before you put it in the bottle and fill the bottle to the top.). 

Go over the top and buy a water rocket.  Here and here are DIY versions; although the materials may cost as much as the toy kit.  Add safety glasses to your gift if you give them the rocket kit.  Plan on an afternoon of fun!

Great Courses!

 Did you know that Good Will online has The Great Courses?  Yes, loads! Before you bid or shop, see if your library has copies of The Great Courses.  If your library offers Hoopla, it has The Great Courses, too.  Try a few episodes before you subject your teen to these courses.   Below is one example.  There are more at Good Will. 

There are usually several listings of DVD set at Good Will. eBay, Bonanza, and Mercari sell DVD sets, too.  The Teaching Company has a sale, now, too.  I have tried the Chemistry Great Course.  I found it to be thorough, but dry. The Great Courses has a high school version.

Below is the Chemistry set for a general audience and the workbook.

One more Christmas Science Kit for Kiddos!

 Have I made Science kits for kiddos?  Oh, yes!  Make a basic science kit with equipment for a big present. This is a great family present.  Shop Dollar Tree, Family Dollar, and Walmart first.  Dollar Tree is great for smaller quantities.  Put all of the equipment in a sturdy shoebox, coffee can, or plastic container with a lid.  Basics include safety glasses or kid-sized goggles, craft sticks or coffee stirrers, 35 mm film canisters, cassette cases, pipettes, rest tube rack, test tubes, clothespin (test tube holder), stack of 3-oz cups, recycled yogurt cups (to mix larger quantities), funnel, graduated cylinder, reaction plate (plastic paint palette), pH paper, paper coffee filters, and thermometer.  Below are photos of equipment and some prices.  Add a used experiment book.  Sit back and bask in the compliments.

Edible DNA and Cookie Mitosis

 The Bio Co-op class vetoed DNA bracelets.  After everyone answered DNA questions from the Labaids DNA Models they made edible DNA models and Cookie Mitosis Cycle models.  We all finished.  Okay, one kid was absent; otherwise everyone finished.  We used the Oreo Cell Cycle lab and questions with their textbooks.  I just showed the kids a photos for edible DNA and they used their instructional sheets from Labaids.   Take a look!

Family Christmas Chemistry!

 It’s officially December.  Many families Co-ops enjoy an extended break.  Let me share a few chemistry labs with a Christmas theme.  Your kids are going to be over the moon!

1. Borax Christmas Ornaments uses Borax, the same stuff used to make controversial  slime.  I was helping with a craft station and made slime.  One of the parents asked if I was using borax, the material killing children.  I didn’t have an adequate response.  Don’t let the kids eat the borax.

2.  Snow Globes, Snow Globes, and Snow Globes!  Try all three versions.  Here are detailed instructions to use a baby food jar and a small ornament to make a snow globe.  No, it wasn’t immediately apparent to me that I needed to glue the ornament to the lid.  You’ll probably want to seal the lid with hot glue, too.

3. Instant Snow Experiments are fun.  Instant snow or sodium polyacrylate are on sale everywhere right now.  

3. Reindeer Toothpaste is Elephant’s Toothpaste.  Another variation on a classic is Peppermint Oobleck.

4. Kiddos will love Fizzy Ornaments.

5. Make Stained Glass with hard candy: Melted Peppermint Candy Ornaments, Melted Old Fashioned Hard Candy and Christmas Candy Ornaments.  The Sweet Science of Candymaking explains the process, which explains why hard candy are called Boiled Sweets in the UK. No, I hadn’t made the connection until I researched boiled sweets.  Make rock candy while you’re baking sweets in the oven.