Kids science that involves candy, potato Technology, marble-run Engineering, Art with squirt guns and Math hopscotch? Today’s STEAM projects are all about the fun and they’ll ward off boredom to boot. Click through the gallery to get a few fun science projects for your little learners.
Science: Candy Density Experiment
This colorful experiment found on CandyExperiments teaches your little scientist all about density using candy as the main ingredient. What’s not to love about this weighty rainbow! Remember: the volume of sugar in each colored layer is the key to figuring out why the colors rise or sink.
photo: Allison Sutcliffe
What experiments are you up to? Share your ideas and photos by emailing Editor AT tinybeans.go-vip.net.
Kids love candy and kids love science, so why not combine these two faves into one afternoon of learning and laughter? From launching gumdrops in a catapult to making a fresh batch of your own, we’ve found easy, edible science experiments for kids. Read on to get your science project started.
Every list of gumdrop science should start with the classic structural engineering challenge using toothpicks and candy. We’re particularly fond of this one from The Homeschool Scientist because it helps you explain what the concepts (engineering, load distribution, physics, shape comparison) are to your kiddos while doing it. Visit The Homeschool Scientist to get going.
When it comes to gumdrop science, Little Bins for Little Hands has more than one awesome idea to choose from. We love this melting gumdrop experiment because, well, you get to melt gumdrops! It’s a great way to use up leftover candy and it explores the concepts of heat and liquids and solids. You can use any shaped cookie cutter, too, depending on the season. Get the whole how-to over at Little Bins for Big Hands.
Put this cute idea together with your mini entomologists using gumdrops, toothpicks and any other candy or food you have on hand to make the parts. Visit the Amateur Entomologist’s Society to get graphics on parts of the insect and talk about it with your kiddos as you craft gummy parts.
There is science and then there is SCIENCE! Sending candy hurling through the air because your parents said you are learning is pretty much the best scenario a kid can imagine (next to eating all of said candy). And thanks to Joy in the Works your kids can join in the science fun. You don’t need too many fancy things to make this science experiment happen, but make sure you have a camera on hand to capture their faces when you tell them what today’s kids science lesson is. Get the engineering how-to here.
Another take on the structural challenge is gumdrop bridge building. With toothpicks and gumdrops, you’ll want to to balance your structure between two books, end tables or similar. What shape is strongest? How will your structure hold up? How much weight can it take? It’s an excellent next-level task to see if you can make it stay!
Yes, candy making totally counts as science! The science part is watching something liquid turn into a (jelly-like) solid. The added joy is getting to eat the product. We’re super fond of this recipe from The Stay at Home Chef. Yum, science!
Do you have any gumdrop science experiments to share? Email us at Editor AT redtri DOT com.
Looking for new ways to spice up your homeschool science curriculum? Even though the Kennedy Space Center is temporarily closed, they are offering a new roster of free online content for children from elementary school to high school. This educational resource will continue to be available throughout May 2020.
Many of the topics also include an interactive at-home activity to keep kids excited and engaged.
Following is the new schedule of featured topics for upcoming virtual lessons:
In this time of at-home learning, parents are clamoring for more content to keep kids engaged. In response, Age of Learning, the creator of the interactive learning program ABCmouse has partnered with Tubi to bring kids a brand new animated series!
Search and Explore will be based off the identically-named book series and characters found in the ABCmouse Early Learning Academy. Perfect for kids ages two to eight, the series will follow characters to exciting places, pairing them with educational lessons.
Kids will have the opportunity to develop their vocabulary, skills and knowledge in the areas of math, music, literacy, social studies, science, technology and engineering. Ideal for families who are looking for more educational options at home, Search and Explore was created by a teem of early childhood education experts and a curriculum team of master educators.
The first season of Search and Explore launches with eight original episodes for free today! Additional seasons are planned to be released this summer.
You can watch the new series only on Tubi, the world’s largest ad-supported video on demand service.
If you’re like most parents, you’ve heard the phrase “I’m bored!” a lot over the past few days. But boredom doesn’t have to be a daily occurrence in your house. KiwiCo creates interactive crates that are both entertaining and educational, and keep kids engaged without screens. They’re perfect for learning at home and staying indoors.
Every month, KiwiCo delivers a craft kit that includes different activities and projects. KiwiCo has eight unique subscription lines to fit different ages and interests, and each kit is designed by experts and tested by kids. So if you have an 8-year-old budding Picasso artists, rest assured another young artist helped test every activity in the crate to make sure they are engaging and fun. Let’s face it— what’s the point of having an enriching project if the kid doesn’t want to do it? And the best part? All of the materials are provided in each crate. So busy parents don’t have to make dozens of trips to the store to buy craft supplies.
Here are the different crates available and their themes:
Koala Crate (2 -4 years) — Kids will play and learn with high-quality materials and activities to inspire creativity at a young age.
Kiwi Crate (5-8 years) — This kit is focused on science, art and engineering. Kids create their own pinball game, kits and more.
Atlas Crate (6-11 years) — This geography and culture kit helps kids get globally inspired with projects and activities to explore different cultures. The Atlas Adventure books comes with the crate and includes collectible cards and stickers for a passport keepsake book.
Doodle Crate (9 – 16+ years) — Kids create and craft awesome projects such as a DIY clock, soap and stained glass stencil kits.
Tinker Crate (9 – 16+ years) — This awesome create includes all the materials and supplies to create science and engineering projects. Kids learn and make the science of slime and create their own animation.
Maker Crate (14+ years) — Using art and design, kids create amazing projects that are unique and useful. Past projects include pillows, hanging plants and sewing projects.
Eureka Crate (14+ years) — This kit includes an engineering project with high-quality materials and step-by-step instructions. Kids also receive a Maker’s Guide that lets them explore the science and technology behind the design.
How does KiwiCo work?
To order your KiwiCo crate, here’s what you need to do:
1. Pick a line based on your kiddo’s age and stage.
2. Your crate will be delivered monthly. And your first kit is shipped in two days! And you pay no shipping fees.
3. Have fun! Watch your kiddo enjoy their create and see their imagination grow as they start exploring immediately.
You also have the option to skip the subscription and shop directly from the KiwiCo store.
Now that you have the kids all set up with virtual learning opportunities, it’s time to focus on you. Currently, all eight Ivy League schools, Brown, Harvard, Cornell. Princeton, Dartmouth, Yale, Columbia and the University of Pennsylvania are offering 450 active, free courses across a range of topics digitally. Visit Class Central to find which area of study you are interested in and follow the link to sign up through the university’s website.
While scrolling through 450 courses may seem daunting, the end result is well worth it. Class Central features a wide catalog to choose from. You can currently find courses in a wide variety of subjects including the humanities, business development, social sciences, art and design, engineering, and health and medicine. From Roman Architecture to Algorithms, there is a class available for every interest.
Each course has its own specific requirements regarding materials and time commitment. Some classes require a certain number of hours a week over the course of a specified amount of time. Other courses are self-paced, allowing you to work at your own speed.
Before you know it, you’ll be an Ivy League (course) graduate!
Now some of us have had our kids home from school for a week (or more) we may be looking for new educational programs to keep our kids excited and on task. Walt Disney Imagineers are inspiring creativity, curiosity and innovation through Imagineering in a Box, a free online program created in partnership with the Khan Academy and Pixar. This one-of-a-kind learning experience gives families a chance to dream, create and build right from home.
Imagineering in a Box is a series of interactive lessons in theme park design and engineering, designed to give a behind-the-scenes peek into Imagineering’s development process. It combines 32 videos of actual Imagineers, real-world case studies, and lots of interactive activities to give you the opportunity to dream and design your very own theme park experience.
In a post on the Disney Parks Blog, Josh Gorin, a creative development executive with Walt Disney Imagineering writes, “Today, we are so excited to share with learners of all ages the unique ways that science, technology, engineering, and math can be combined with creativity and design to create larger-than-life entertainment for millions all around the world. And maybe, we’ll be helping the Imagineers of tomorrow to get their first start.”
Gorin encourages families to use #Disney, #BetterTogether and #ImagineeringinaBox on Instagram and tag @WaltDisneyImagineering to let them know how you are using the program, and for a chance to be featured.
Subaru recently announced a recall for nearly half a million vehicles due to potentially faulty Takata-made air bag inflators.
This recall comes after other manufacturers have already recalled tens of millions of vehicles with Takata air bags .If you have a Subaru, read on for important recall information.
photo: Subaru
Recalled Product Description: Subaru Takata-Made Air Bag Inflators
The current recall includes select 2003 through 2014 Subaru models. According to Fox News, these include some Forester, Baja, Impreza, WRX, Legacy and Outback models. The recall also affects the 2005 and 2006 Saab 9-2x made by Subaru for General Motors.
Why the Vehicles Were Recalled
According to a statement made by Subaru, “This recall only relates to the passenger-side front airbag in certain Subaru vehicles and does not affect our driver-side front airbags, which were not equipped with a Takata inflator.”
In its statement issued earlier this week, Subaru also added, “Safety has been, and always will be, the driving force within every Subaru—from engineering to real-world results. It is one of the reasons you and your family have put trust in our brand, and we want to assure you you’ve made the right choice. To stay true to our values, we are informing our owners of the Takata-supplied airbag inflator recall—the largest recall in automotive history, currently affecting vehicles across the industry—and how your Subaru may be impacted.”
How to Tell If Your Vehicle Was Recalled
To learn if your Subaru is part of the Takata air bag inflator recall, use the company’s VIN Search Tool. Enter your vehicle’s VIN number for all recall-related information on your specific model.
What Consumers Can Do
If your car is part of the recall, Subaru advises not to use the front passenger seat until the necessary repair is made. Contact your dealer for information on a repair. To contact Subaru directly call 888-575-1382 or visit the company’s Customer Support page.
Got some pastafarians in your house? We’ve got some seriously fun and super cheap spaghetti play that will really have them using their noodles. Read on for some awesome 4 ways to make create games they’ll love.
Spaghetti Race Put two pieces of uncooked spaghetti side by side on a table (or floor). Be sure it’s a table you can either move around or that isn’t too long. Each person blows on their spaghetti noodle trying to race to the “finish line” at the other end.
Colored Spaghetti Boil pasta as you ordinarily would, but add a few drops of food coloring to the water along with a dash of salt. The results will vary depending on how many drops (and how much spaghetti you are cooking) but you’ll end up with some pastel noodles that you can eat, or just play with.
Spaghetti Engineering Use spaghetti noodles (dry) and marshmallows to build a structure. The marshmallows act as joints and supports. See who can build the tallest, the fanciest or the fastest structure in your crew.
Be Board There’s some serious fun to be had when it comes to spaghetti-themed board games. We’re super fond of Yeti in My Spaghetti, a new board game that has players removing the “spaghetti” one by one without making the Yeti fall.
What’s your favorite creative play with spaghetti? Tells us in the comments below!
A 14-year-old from West Grove, Pennslyvania just solved the problem of auto blind spots––with her 8th-grade science experiment. Alaina Gassler took home the $25,000 prize at the Society for Science and the Public’s Broadcom MASTERS (Math, Applied Science, Technology and Engineering for Rising Stars) science and engineering competition with her revolutionary design that could change car safety.
Gassler designed a camera that will project on to a car’s A-frame pillar, an area known to cause blind spots for drivers all too frequently. To hear how her technology works, watch the video below.
According to Gassler, “The camera is mounted on the outside of the A-pillar, records what’s behind it, sends that video feed to a projector that’s over the driver’s head and projects it onto the pillar.” The idea can not only be applied to a car’s A-pillar, but to other areas as well.
The 8th grader’s project isn’t done yet, either. Phase two involves LCD monitors that will allow the brightness to change, making the projections even more helpful during different times of the day and in unique weather conditions. Now that Gassler is $25,000 richer, those changes can now become a reality.
