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5 - 7 Years STEM

The Busbys' Tips for STEM Success!

Teaching kids STEM skills is important. If you're reading this, you probably already know that; if you're a parent, you also know that it's never too early to start. We've talked before about our commitment to giving our daughters every possible advantage when it comes to developing STEM skills. Part of that commitment involved making sure they found the school that was right for them. When it came time to send the quints to preschool, Danielle and I chose a STEM-focused program that focused on introducing them to fun, accessible skills in science, technology, engineering, and math. We're also making sure that they stay active even when school is out; this summer, the girls will be attending science camp two to three days a week, where they can explore the world and keep their skills sharp at the same time.Busby PuppetThat leaves us with one more question: how do we make sure our girls are learning when they're at home? That part can be tricky, especially for us; finding toys and games that are fun and educational and appealing to each girl's own passions and personality is often a real balancing act. Our biggest successes come when we can find easy, engaging skill-building activities that overlap with the girls' interests. For instance, Hazel loves activities that let her focus, like coloring and sorting, while Ava is really interested in matching and memory games, so sets of flashcards are perfect for helping them learn together. Other times, we focus on each individual girl; Olivia is our little dancer, so games that get her up and moving are always great, even when her sisters are off doing something else.It's pretty rare that we find one toy that appeals to all five quints. That's why we're so excited about Coding Critters. Since the Coding Critters came to our house, each of the girls has found something to love. Hazel loves dinosaurs and Parker loves dogs, so Bumble and Ranger were instant hits. Ava is in charge of laying out the coding cards, while Olivia can't wait to dance along to the critters music and moves. The girls love the critters like real pets, while also building early coding skills every time they play. Busby RumbleThe Critters are especially good for Riley, who's already helping her big sister Blayke code with Botley. Since she's a little ahead of her sisters, playing with Coding Critters gives her the opportunity to help them code their critters during story time while also building her own skills and confidence. With the help of Coding Critters, she'll be ready for coding challenges from Botley and beyond. Whether our girls wind up becoming scientists or not, we're happy with our commitment to helping them lead lives filled with learning and curiosity. It's not just an investment in them; it's a way of ensuring that the future is a little brighter for everyone.   Busby Bee Save it for later!The Busbys’ Tips for STEM Success__pin
The Busbys' Tips for STEM Success! Teaching kids STEM skills is important. If you're reading this, you probably already know that; if you're a parent, you also know that it's never too early to start. We've talked before about our commitment to giving our daughters every possible advantage when it comes to developing STEM skills. Part of that commitment involved making sure they found the school that was right for them. When it came time to send the quints to preschool, Danielle and I chose a STEM-focused program that focused on introducing them to fun, accessible skills in science, technology, engineering, and math. We're also making sure that they stay active even when school is out; this summer, the girls will be attending science camp two to three days a week, where they can explore the world and keep their skills sharp at the same time.Busby PuppetThat leaves us with one more question: how do we make sure our girls are learning when they're at home? That part can be tricky, especially for us; finding toys and games that are fun and educational and appealing to each girl's own passions and personality is often a real balancing act. Our biggest successes come when we can find easy, engaging skill-building activities that overlap with the girls' interests. For instance, Hazel loves activities that let her focus, like coloring and sorting, while Ava is really interested in matching and memory games, so sets of flashcards are perfect for helping them learn together. Other times, we focus on each individual girl; Olivia is our little dancer, so games that get her up and moving are always great, even when her sisters are off doing something else.It's pretty rare that we find one toy that appeals to all five quints. That's why we're so excited about Coding Critters. Since the Coding Critters came to our house, each of the girls has found something to love. Hazel loves dinosaurs and Parker loves dogs, so Bumble and Ranger were instant hits. Ava is in charge of laying out the coding cards, while Olivia can't wait to dance along to the critters music and moves. The girls love the critters like real pets, while also building early coding skills every time they play. Busby RumbleThe Critters are especially good for Riley, who's already helping her big sister Blayke code with Botley. Since she's a little ahead of her sisters, playing with Coding Critters gives her the opportunity to help them code their critters during story time while also building her own skills and confidence. With the help of Coding Critters, she'll be ready for coding challenges from Botley and beyond. Whether our girls wind up becoming scientists or not, we're happy with our commitment to helping them lead lives filled with learning and curiosity. It's not just an investment in them; it's a way of ensuring that the future is a little brighter for everyone.   Busby Bee Save it for later!The Busbys’ Tips for STEM Success__pin READ MORE

DIY Flag Optical Illusion!

Wave those Stars and Stripes this Fourth!

History of the Flag

There are 50 stars for each state in the Union, and 13 red and white stripes representing the original colonies. The flag was first created in 1777!

Flag Optical Illusion

In honor of our banner this Fourth, let’s create an optical illusion using “negative” colors. To create this “trickery” on your eyes, you will need green, yellow, and black molding clay. It was also a great exercise to create a “normal-colored” flag with the traditional red, white, and blue.
When you stare at the flag with the opposite colors for an extended time, your eyes will register an afterimage upon glancing on a white surface. But more on that later!
Cover cookie sheets or cutting boards in parchment paper. You will need a spot to put your flags. We used a patio table so the clay didn’t stick onto anything and then transferred it over to the parchment.
 
Flag Day Optical Illusion Clay
Begin by making the stripes of the negative-colored flag. A negative image is a normal image’s total inversion. It’s where light areas appear dark and dark areas appear light.Red is the first strip on the American flag, so you will want to choose the green for the first stripe.
 
DIY Flag Day Optical Illusion Green and Black Clay
The children will enjoy rolling out the modeling clay.DIY Flag Day Optical Illusion Rolling Clay
Since the negative flag is a total inversion of the normal flag, greens will appear red, black will appear white, and yellows will appear blue. The yellow part of the flag will need some black “stars”, so little balls of black modeling clay should be placed on the yellow. Small motors skills at work!
DIY Flag Day Optical Illusion yellow and green clay
The negative flag is all set. Create a traditional American flag for comparison.DIY Flag Day Optical Illusion Negative Flag
Did you know that the white stripes stand for purity and innocence, and the red stripes stands for valor and hardiness? The field of blue represents vigilance, perseverance, and justice.DIY Flag Day Optical Illusion American Flag Clay
Now stare at the center of it for a full 30 seconds.DIY Flag Day Optical Illusion Staring at Flag

Optical Illusion Explanation

After they have stared at the flag, have your child then look at a white wall or surface. Your child will clearly see an image of a red, white, and blue American flag. What they see is a phenomenon called an “afterimage”.  An afterimage continues to appear in one’s vision after the exposure of the original image is no longer there.
When you stare at the flag, your eyes get tired and begin to stop responding to the colors they see. So when you stop looking at the negative colors, and look away to a white surface, the image is seemingly burned into your eyes. Afterimages occur because the activity in the retina continues even when the original stimulus is no longer present.
You children will be in disbelief that they are able to see the correct flag on the wall without the actual flag being there!
 
DIY Flag Day Optical Illusion American Flag

Happy Fourth

 
DIY Flag Optical Illusion!
Wave those Stars and Stripes this Fourth!

History of the Flag

There are 50 stars for each state in the Union, and 13 red and white stripes representing the original colonies. The flag was first created in 1777!

Flag Optical Illusion

In honor of our banner this Fourth, let’s create an optical illusion using “negative” colors. To create this “trickery” on your eyes, you will need green, yellow, and black molding clay. It was also a great exercise to create a “normal-colored” flag with the traditional red, white, and blue.
When you stare at the flag with the opposite colors for an extended time, your eyes will register an afterimage upon glancing on a white surface. But more on that later!
Cover cookie sheets or cutting boards in parchment paper. You will need a spot to put your flags. We used a patio table so the clay didn’t stick onto anything and then transferred it over to the parchment.
 
Flag Day Optical Illusion Clay
Begin by making the stripes of the negative-colored flag. A negative image is a normal image’s total inversion. It’s where light areas appear dark and dark areas appear light.Red is the first strip on the American flag, so you will want to choose the green for the first stripe.
 
DIY Flag Day Optical Illusion Green and Black Clay
The children will enjoy rolling out the modeling clay.DIY Flag Day Optical Illusion Rolling Clay
Since the negative flag is a total inversion of the normal flag, greens will appear red, black will appear white, and yellows will appear blue. The yellow part of the flag will need some black “stars”, so little balls of black modeling clay should be placed on the yellow. Small motors skills at work!
DIY Flag Day Optical Illusion yellow and green clay
The negative flag is all set. Create a traditional American flag for comparison.DIY Flag Day Optical Illusion Negative Flag
Did you know that the white stripes stand for purity and innocence, and the red stripes stands for valor and hardiness? The field of blue represents vigilance, perseverance, and justice.DIY Flag Day Optical Illusion American Flag Clay
Now stare at the center of it for a full 30 seconds.DIY Flag Day Optical Illusion Staring at Flag

Optical Illusion Explanation

After they have stared at the flag, have your child then look at a white wall or surface. Your child will clearly see an image of a red, white, and blue American flag. What they see is a phenomenon called an “afterimage”.  An afterimage continues to appear in one’s vision after the exposure of the original image is no longer there.
When you stare at the flag, your eyes get tired and begin to stop responding to the colors they see. So when you stop looking at the negative colors, and look away to a white surface, the image is seemingly burned into your eyes. Afterimages occur because the activity in the retina continues even when the original stimulus is no longer present.
You children will be in disbelief that they are able to see the correct flag on the wall without the actual flag being there!
 
DIY Flag Day Optical Illusion American Flag

Happy Fourth

 
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Bright Science! DIY Layers of the Sun Craft

Is it getting hot in here? Since those Firelytes love the heat, we thought we’d go an adventure with them to the hottest spot in our galaxy: the SUN!

The Sun is a spot of constant fascination for scientists and space-lovers alike. On August 12, 2018, NASA launched the historic Park Solar Probe. Its mission is to revolutionize our understanding of the Sun. Parker will be able to travel through the Sun’s atmosphere, closer to it than any spacecraft before!
 
Sun NASA
 
The hope is that Parker will be able to provide humanity with the closest-ever observations of a star.Before we get into what Parker is looking for, let’s have the Firelytes describe to us all the parts of the sun. The sun accounts for 99.86% of our solar system, and is made up of the gases hydrogen and helium. It is so big that one million Earths could fit inside it. Wow! It is made up of several layers that help us understand its makeup, so let’s take a look. Take it away, Firelytes! 

Layers of the Sun

Core
DIY Sun craft
Erupto says: The Sun’s core is about 200,000 miles across and takes up about one quarter of the Sun’s size. The temperature inside is about 15 million degrees Celsius. The core is tightly packed, which creates an environment for nuclear reactions to occur. 
Radiative Zone
Sun Craft DIY
Hearther says: The radiative zone is just outside the core and generates energy by nuclear fusion. Both the core and radiative zone spin differently than the rest of the sun. This energy produced is in the form of photons, or particles of light or radiation. 
Convective Zone
Sun DIY Craft
Chark Says: A thermometer would read 15 million degrees Celsius in the convective zone of the Sun. Energy created from the radiative zone is transported through here by radiation and conduction. 
Photosphere
Sun DIY Craft
Blazer says: The photosphere is the visible surface of the sun. It is what we see on Earth. Light is radiated from the photosphere’s surface.
 Chromosphere
DIY Sun Craft
Magmunch says: Temperatures at the Sun’s chromosphere are about 4,000 degrees Celsius. This is the layer that emits the sun’s reddish color only visible during eclipses. 
Corona
Sun Craft DIY
Twotorch says: The Sun is surrounded by a “jacket of gases” called an atmosphere. The outermost later is corona. It is usually not visible because of the Sun’s bright light, but can be seen by a total solar eclipse.
Sun Craft DIY
Now back to Parker, the NASA’s space probe currently making its way around the Sun. For the first time, Parker will be able to gather data from the corona, hoping to deepen scientists’ understanding of the origin and evolution of solar wind. The neatest part? Parker will be able to give information to NASA’s ability to forecast changes in Earth’s space environment that will affect life and technology here on our planet.Sun NASA
Parker will hurtle around the Sun at 430,00 mph.

How fast is that? Well, fast enough to get from Philadelphia to Washington D.C. in one second!

 And what about the heat? Parker’s outer solar shield will be up against temperatures of about 2,500 degree Fahrenheit, but inside the probe it will stay a comfortable room temperature. The Sun is the only star we can study up close. As the source of light and heat for the Earth, the more scientists study it, the more we can understand how life on Earth developed. Solar wind, or the flow of gases from the Sun, can cause disturbances in the Earth’s magnetic field. All good stuff to find out – Parker is going to help scientists do it.
 
Sun
 
Stay tuned on Parker’s latest findings at nasa.gov. And thank you, Firelytes, for our Sun fun facts!
 
Sun DIY Craft 
Bright Science! DIY Layers of the Sun Craft

Is it getting hot in here? Since those Firelytes love the heat, we thought we’d go an adventure with them to the hottest spot in our galaxy: the SUN!

The Sun is a spot of constant fascination for scientists and space-lovers alike. On August 12, 2018, NASA launched the historic Park Solar Probe. Its mission is to revolutionize our understanding of the Sun. Parker will be able to travel through the Sun’s atmosphere, closer to it than any spacecraft before!
 
Sun NASA
 
The hope is that Parker will be able to provide humanity with the closest-ever observations of a star.Before we get into what Parker is looking for, let’s have the Firelytes describe to us all the parts of the sun. The sun accounts for 99.86% of our solar system, and is made up of the gases hydrogen and helium. It is so big that one million Earths could fit inside it. Wow! It is made up of several layers that help us understand its makeup, so let’s take a look. Take it away, Firelytes! 

Layers of the Sun

Core
DIY Sun craft
Erupto says: The Sun’s core is about 200,000 miles across and takes up about one quarter of the Sun’s size. The temperature inside is about 15 million degrees Celsius. The core is tightly packed, which creates an environment for nuclear reactions to occur. 
Radiative Zone
Sun Craft DIY
Hearther says: The radiative zone is just outside the core and generates energy by nuclear fusion. Both the core and radiative zone spin differently than the rest of the sun. This energy produced is in the form of photons, or particles of light or radiation. 
Convective Zone
Sun DIY Craft
Chark Says: A thermometer would read 15 million degrees Celsius in the convective zone of the Sun. Energy created from the radiative zone is transported through here by radiation and conduction. 
Photosphere
Sun DIY Craft
Blazer says: The photosphere is the visible surface of the sun. It is what we see on Earth. Light is radiated from the photosphere’s surface.
 Chromosphere
DIY Sun Craft
Magmunch says: Temperatures at the Sun’s chromosphere are about 4,000 degrees Celsius. This is the layer that emits the sun’s reddish color only visible during eclipses. 
Corona
Sun Craft DIY
Twotorch says: The Sun is surrounded by a “jacket of gases” called an atmosphere. The outermost later is corona. It is usually not visible because of the Sun’s bright light, but can be seen by a total solar eclipse.
Sun Craft DIY
Now back to Parker, the NASA’s space probe currently making its way around the Sun. For the first time, Parker will be able to gather data from the corona, hoping to deepen scientists’ understanding of the origin and evolution of solar wind. The neatest part? Parker will be able to give information to NASA’s ability to forecast changes in Earth’s space environment that will affect life and technology here on our planet.Sun NASA
Parker will hurtle around the Sun at 430,00 mph.

How fast is that? Well, fast enough to get from Philadelphia to Washington D.C. in one second!

 And what about the heat? Parker’s outer solar shield will be up against temperatures of about 2,500 degree Fahrenheit, but inside the probe it will stay a comfortable room temperature. The Sun is the only star we can study up close. As the source of light and heat for the Earth, the more scientists study it, the more we can understand how life on Earth developed. Solar wind, or the flow of gases from the Sun, can cause disturbances in the Earth’s magnetic field. All good stuff to find out – Parker is going to help scientists do it.
 
Sun
 
Stay tuned on Parker’s latest findings at nasa.gov. And thank you, Firelytes, for our Sun fun facts!
 
Sun DIY Craft 
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DIY Springtime Sensory Bin

DIY Springtime Sensory Bin

Sensory bins are a simple, yet highly effective addition to any primary classroom! Students can explore, create, and learn while engaging in sensory play. This DIY spring themed sensory bin incorporates one of the most important math skills for your primary learners. Subitizing is the ability for students to recognize or identify a number or the number of objects in a set without counting. It is the springboard for building a strong number sense and it is the key to establishing mental math reflexes!
Easter Sensory Bin Math
In order to get started dying the rice for your bin, you’ll need these materials:
-3 cups of rice
-3 tsp. vinegar
-Food coloring or gel (amount varies based on desired color)
-Gallon Zip
-lock bag
-Paper plate
Spring Sensory Bin Math
Combine all ingredients in a gallon sized zip-lock bag, cover and shake well until rice is covered. Add green as needed. If you’re looking to make it more of a lime green, add some yellow food coloring. Leave on a paper plate to dry for an hour.Rice Sensory BinRice Sensory Bin
My favorite aspect of making a sensory bin is having the autonomy to create and utilize sensory objects that best fit the needs of my learners. In this case, incorporating fine motor skill practice was also a goal of mine. With this being said, I chose to add plastic Easter eggs and mini counting erasers to my bin. Students can gain extra fine motor practice by opening and closing the Easter eggs, as well as finding, picking up and counting out the spring themed erasers.Spring Sensory Bin
I’ll introduce the sensory bin as a “Spring Subitizing Egg Hunt” center and use it all month long in my math workshop rotations. Students will explore the sensory materials in the bin to find and sort the different representations of each number (1-10). The different representations include the number words, tens frames, dice, dominos, pictures and tally counts. You can find a sample of “Easter egg hunting” for the number “one” in the image above.Spring Easter Sensory Bin Math
I plan to also use the same sensory bin materials, but incorporate other learning goals, such as addition/subtraction facts, sight words, etc. For example, the Easter eggs can hold different types of math facts. Students can then practice their fact fluency by sorting the facts by strategy. This practice supports their flexible thinking and enhances their number sense!Spring Easter Sensory Bin Math
 
I hope this post has inspired you to create a spring sensory bin for your classroom and ignited you to modify it to fit the needs of your learners.

If you’re interested in using the subitizing sorting cards, be sure to download them here!

 Save it for later!
Spring Sensory Bin Math
DIY Springtime Sensory Bin
DIY Springtime Sensory Bin
Sensory bins are a simple, yet highly effective addition to any primary classroom! Students can explore, create, and learn while engaging in sensory play. This DIY spring themed sensory bin incorporates one of the most important math skills for your primary learners. Subitizing is the ability for students to recognize or identify a number or the number of objects in a set without counting. It is the springboard for building a strong number sense and it is the key to establishing mental math reflexes!
Easter Sensory Bin Math
In order to get started dying the rice for your bin, you’ll need these materials:
-3 cups of rice
-3 tsp. vinegar
-Food coloring or gel (amount varies based on desired color)
-Gallon Zip
-lock bag
-Paper plate
Spring Sensory Bin Math
Combine all ingredients in a gallon sized zip-lock bag, cover and shake well until rice is covered. Add green as needed. If you’re looking to make it more of a lime green, add some yellow food coloring. Leave on a paper plate to dry for an hour.Rice Sensory BinRice Sensory Bin
My favorite aspect of making a sensory bin is having the autonomy to create and utilize sensory objects that best fit the needs of my learners. In this case, incorporating fine motor skill practice was also a goal of mine. With this being said, I chose to add plastic Easter eggs and mini counting erasers to my bin. Students can gain extra fine motor practice by opening and closing the Easter eggs, as well as finding, picking up and counting out the spring themed erasers.Spring Sensory Bin
I’ll introduce the sensory bin as a “Spring Subitizing Egg Hunt” center and use it all month long in my math workshop rotations. Students will explore the sensory materials in the bin to find and sort the different representations of each number (1-10). The different representations include the number words, tens frames, dice, dominos, pictures and tally counts. You can find a sample of “Easter egg hunting” for the number “one” in the image above.Spring Easter Sensory Bin Math
I plan to also use the same sensory bin materials, but incorporate other learning goals, such as addition/subtraction facts, sight words, etc. For example, the Easter eggs can hold different types of math facts. Students can then practice their fact fluency by sorting the facts by strategy. This practice supports their flexible thinking and enhances their number sense!Spring Easter Sensory Bin Math
 
I hope this post has inspired you to create a spring sensory bin for your classroom and ignited you to modify it to fit the needs of your learners.

If you’re interested in using the subitizing sorting cards, be sure to download them here!

 Save it for later!
Spring Sensory Bin Math
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National Day of Unplugging: Magnet Movers!

March 1st is National Day of Unplugging. Time to put away the technology, enjoy some time as a family, and engage your kids in all kinds of activities that will help them see how fun it can be to unplug! Science experiments are a great way to entertain kids while learning through play. Magnet science is a favorite of many children, and the new Magnet Movers set has everything you need for a multitude of experiments and play setups.

magnet movers

The Magnet Movers set comes with a magnetic wand, chips, and many other magnetic accessories. Little ones will love using the wand and other accessories to experiment with magnetic attraction. In addition to using the set on it’s own, there are so many other fun ways to play. 

Magnets in a Muffin Tin

When you add the magnet accessories to a muffin tin or cake pan, you are putting them on a magnetic surface which makes experimenting with magnetic attraction and movement all that much more amusing.magnet movers

Magnets on a Mirror

Use a large mirror as a new surface for playing with your magnetic wand and accessories. The reflection of the magnets in the mirror provide a new type of sensory experience.

Magnet Mover

Magnets on the Front Door (or the garage door)

Did you know your front door and/or your garage door is probably a magnetic surface as well? Try adding the magnet pieces to the door. See if the attraction is strong enough to hold them to it. Use your magnetic wand to move them across the door.

magnet movers

Magnets and Magnetic Tiles

If you have a set of magnetic tiles, try adding them to the fun. Make towers or tunnels with your tiles, then decorate them with the magnetic chip pieces. Use the magnetic wand and see what happens.magnet movers

Magnets in a Jar

Fill up a glass jar with magnetic chips. Kids will love watching as they move the chips around from outside the jar with just their magnetic “magic” wand!

Magnet Movers Unplugging

Magnets in Rice

A sensory bin filled with rice never disappoints. Kids love the feeling of running their hands through the rice, digging through it, and scooping and pouring it into containers. When magnetic accessories are added, it gets even more entertaining for little ones. Dig through the rice, enjoy some sensory play, and use your magnetic wand to search for your magnetic chip pieces!

Magnet movers unplugged

Fishing for Magnets

Create a rod, or use the Magnetic post from the Magnet Movers set, as a fishing pole to go magnet fishing! Place all of the magnetic chips in a “pond” using a large bowl or tray, and try and catch them all.magnet movers

Magnet Mazes

A recycled piece of cardboard and a marker are all that is needed to make some exciting magnet mazes for your little ones to explore. Use the magnet wand to move the magnetic pieces through a maze from the other side of the cardboard!

MAGNET MOVERS

Other Magnet Movers Experiments

The Magnet Movers set includes a set of instructions for many of its own experiments. Watch what happens when you drop the ring magnets onto the magnetic post. The same magnet poles repel, creating a floating effect!magnet

There are so many ways to play and experiment with magnets, and it’s the perfect way to spend part of National Day of Unplugging.

 

Pin

National Day of Unplugging: Magnet Movers!

March 1st is National Day of Unplugging. Time to put away the technology, enjoy some time as a family, and engage your kids in all kinds of activities that will help them see how fun it can be to unplug! Science experiments are a great way to entertain kids while learning through play. Magnet science is a favorite of many children, and the new Magnet Movers set has everything you need for a multitude of experiments and play setups.

magnet movers

The Magnet Movers set comes with a magnetic wand, chips, and many other magnetic accessories. Little ones will love using the wand and other accessories to experiment with magnetic attraction. In addition to using the set on it’s own, there are so many other fun ways to play. 

Magnets in a Muffin Tin

When you add the magnet accessories to a muffin tin or cake pan, you are putting them on a magnetic surface which makes experimenting with magnetic attraction and movement all that much more amusing.magnet movers

Magnets on a Mirror

Use a large mirror as a new surface for playing with your magnetic wand and accessories. The reflection of the magnets in the mirror provide a new type of sensory experience.

Magnet Mover

Magnets on the Front Door (or the garage door)

Did you know your front door and/or your garage door is probably a magnetic surface as well? Try adding the magnet pieces to the door. See if the attraction is strong enough to hold them to it. Use your magnetic wand to move them across the door.

magnet movers

Magnets and Magnetic Tiles

If you have a set of magnetic tiles, try adding them to the fun. Make towers or tunnels with your tiles, then decorate them with the magnetic chip pieces. Use the magnetic wand and see what happens.magnet movers

Magnets in a Jar

Fill up a glass jar with magnetic chips. Kids will love watching as they move the chips around from outside the jar with just their magnetic “magic” wand!

Magnet Movers Unplugging

Magnets in Rice

A sensory bin filled with rice never disappoints. Kids love the feeling of running their hands through the rice, digging through it, and scooping and pouring it into containers. When magnetic accessories are added, it gets even more entertaining for little ones. Dig through the rice, enjoy some sensory play, and use your magnetic wand to search for your magnetic chip pieces!

Magnet movers unplugged

Fishing for Magnets

Create a rod, or use the Magnetic post from the Magnet Movers set, as a fishing pole to go magnet fishing! Place all of the magnetic chips in a “pond” using a large bowl or tray, and try and catch them all.magnet movers

Magnet Mazes

A recycled piece of cardboard and a marker are all that is needed to make some exciting magnet mazes for your little ones to explore. Use the magnet wand to move the magnetic pieces through a maze from the other side of the cardboard!

MAGNET MOVERS

Other Magnet Movers Experiments

The Magnet Movers set includes a set of instructions for many of its own experiments. Watch what happens when you drop the ring magnets onto the magnetic post. The same magnet poles repel, creating a floating effect!magnet

There are so many ways to play and experiment with magnets, and it’s the perfect way to spend part of National Day of Unplugging.

 

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DIY Color-Changing Lemonade!
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Beaker Creatures Easter: Pod Hunt & Relay Race!

Fill Your Easter Basket with Fun and Learning – Make it a Beaker Creature Easter!

As the old song goes, hippity hoppity, hippity hoppity, Easter’s on its way! In addition to dyed eggs, oodles of candy, and treasures from the Target dollar bin, this year, slip some science into your kiddos’ baskets with Beaker Creatures!
 
Beaker Creature Easter
Beaker Creature pods are the perfect addition to your Easter egg hunt – they’re even the perfect shape! At our house, the bunny always brings a mix of real eggs and plastic ones filled with treats and hides them in the backyard. This spring, I’m pretty sure he’ll also be hiding Beaker Creature pods, too!Beaker Creatures Egg Easter Huntbeaker creature easter
Once your little ones have rounded up all their Easter goodies, it’s time to turn your kitchen into a springtime science lab! Simply set out several glass bowls, a pitcher of water, some vinegar, and a few left-over Easter egg dye tabs and get ready to experiment.
 
Beaker Creature Easter

Here are a few things to try:

Fill a bowl half-full of water (these guys really fizz up – you might even place the bowls on a cookie sheet to contain any overflow) and let your little one drop a Beaker Creature in. The eggs will foam and fizzle until they’re dissolved. Once revealed, a hidden capsule holding an adorable Beaker Creature appears!Beaker Creatures Fizz

Have the kids drop their Beaker Creatures into separate bowls of water and race to see whose pod dissolves first!

easter science
Compare and contrast the results of dissolving two creatures in side-by-side bowls of water and vinegar. Does one dissolve faster?

Next up, color-changing fun!

Drop an Easter egg dye tab in a bowl of vinegar and stir to dissolve. Examine the color of a Beaker Creature pod and help your kids make a prediction as to what color the liquid in the bowl might turn when dropped into the bowl of dye. Try again, with a different color dye and a different colored pod. You can even mix the foam colors together to create fizzy new shades.
 
easter science beaker creatures
When you’re done experimenting, check out the classification cards each Beaker Creature came with.  Help your kids examine their Creatures’ characteristics in order to identify and classify them into one of five fun worlds. Review the amazing, real-world science facts on the included mini-poster, then see if your little bunnies can answer the quiz questions.
 
Easter Science Creatures
When the science is done, continue the fun with some Beaker Creature crafting! Visit www.BeakerCreatures.com to learn more about each of the five Beaker Creature worlds, then browse our blog for inspirational ideas, tips, and tricks for creating your own, home-made habitats for these adorable alien friends.
And there you have it! An easy way to slip some science into your Easter basket! With 35 different critters to collect and a brand-new series releasing this year, Beaker Creatures will keep your kids busy all spring and summer, too!
 
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Beaker Creatures Easter Egg Relay Race
Beaker Creatures Easter: Pod Hunt & Relay Race!

Fill Your Easter Basket with Fun and Learning – Make it a Beaker Creature Easter!

As the old song goes, hippity hoppity, hippity hoppity, Easter’s on its way! In addition to dyed eggs, oodles of candy, and treasures from the Target dollar bin, this year, slip some science into your kiddos’ baskets with Beaker Creatures!
 
Beaker Creature Easter
Beaker Creature pods are the perfect addition to your Easter egg hunt – they’re even the perfect shape! At our house, the bunny always brings a mix of real eggs and plastic ones filled with treats and hides them in the backyard. This spring, I’m pretty sure he’ll also be hiding Beaker Creature pods, too!Beaker Creatures Egg Easter Huntbeaker creature easter
Once your little ones have rounded up all their Easter goodies, it’s time to turn your kitchen into a springtime science lab! Simply set out several glass bowls, a pitcher of water, some vinegar, and a few left-over Easter egg dye tabs and get ready to experiment.
 
Beaker Creature Easter

Here are a few things to try:

Fill a bowl half-full of water (these guys really fizz up – you might even place the bowls on a cookie sheet to contain any overflow) and let your little one drop a Beaker Creature in. The eggs will foam and fizzle until they’re dissolved. Once revealed, a hidden capsule holding an adorable Beaker Creature appears!Beaker Creatures Fizz

Have the kids drop their Beaker Creatures into separate bowls of water and race to see whose pod dissolves first!

easter science
Compare and contrast the results of dissolving two creatures in side-by-side bowls of water and vinegar. Does one dissolve faster?

Next up, color-changing fun!

Drop an Easter egg dye tab in a bowl of vinegar and stir to dissolve. Examine the color of a Beaker Creature pod and help your kids make a prediction as to what color the liquid in the bowl might turn when dropped into the bowl of dye. Try again, with a different color dye and a different colored pod. You can even mix the foam colors together to create fizzy new shades.
 
easter science beaker creatures
When you’re done experimenting, check out the classification cards each Beaker Creature came with.  Help your kids examine their Creatures’ characteristics in order to identify and classify them into one of five fun worlds. Review the amazing, real-world science facts on the included mini-poster, then see if your little bunnies can answer the quiz questions.
 
Easter Science Creatures
When the science is done, continue the fun with some Beaker Creature crafting! Visit www.BeakerCreatures.com to learn more about each of the five Beaker Creature worlds, then browse our blog for inspirational ideas, tips, and tricks for creating your own, home-made habitats for these adorable alien friends.
And there you have it! An easy way to slip some science into your Easter basket! With 35 different critters to collect and a brand-new series releasing this year, Beaker Creatures will keep your kids busy all spring and summer, too!
 
Save it for later!
Beaker Creatures Easter Egg Relay Race
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DIY Lunar Eclipse Treats!

We are so excited about the lunar eclipse that will be occurring on January 20/21st this month! Half of the world will experience this eclipse, and for the first time in 19 years, this includes both North and South America. If you’ve been tracking this event, you’ve likely heard to it referred to as “The Super Blood Moon Eclipse”. So what makes this eclipse so special?

What is a Lunar Eclipse?

A lunar eclipse occurs when the moon passes through the Earth’s shadow. There are three types of lunar eclipses: total, partial and penumbra. The most dramatic being a total lunar eclipse, which is where Earth's shadow completely covers the moon.

What Makes This Super Moon Eclipse Special?

There will be 87 lunar eclipses throughout the 21st century, but only 26 will occur during a super moon. A moon is considered a “super moon” when a full moon or new moon is at it’s closest point to Earth. At this point, the moon appears 30% brighter and 14% bigger that a regular full moon.

Why Will the Moon Appear Red?

When the Sun, Earth and moon line up so that the moon passes through the Earth’s shadow, the moon appears a muddy red color due to sunlight scattered through the Earth’s atmosphere. When this occurs, it is referred to as a “blood moon”.

Oreo Moon Phase Matching Activity

To explore the conditions that create a lunar eclipse, we decided to take a look at the moon phases. We know that a lunar eclipse occurs at a “full moon” or “new moon”, but what does that look like or mean?
For this project you just need 8 Oreos, a knife and the free printable I created. Click here for the printable!Lunar Eclipse Moon Phases Space
Carefully separate all of the cookies so that the white cream remains on one of the chocolate cookie halves. Using your knife, trim the cream circles to match the various moon phases depicted on the printable.Lunar Eclipse Moon Phases Oreo

The 8 moon phases are:

new moon -> waxing crescent -> first quarter -> waxing gibbous -> full moon -> waning gibbous -> last quarter -> waning crescent 
We do not see the new moon on Earth, while the full moon is where the moon can be seen in its entirety. 
After you have created all of your cookie moon phases, place them on a plate next to the printable. Allow them to match the cookie moons to their correct spot on the moon phase printable.Lunar Eclipse Ore0 Phases Moon
Once all of the cookie moons have been matched, chat about the various phases. Talk about how different degrees of sunlight affect the way the moon appears to us. Afterwards, feel free to enjoy an afternoon moon cookie snack!
 
Moon Phases Oreo Lunar Eclipse
This is an activity that even the littlest children will adore (mainly because of the cookies!). Not only does it introduce a more complex topic and event, it’s also a great way to work on matching skills. We hope that you get a chance the night of January 20th that you can enjoy this lunar eclipse! Save it for later!DIY Lunar Eclipse Treats Oreo
DIY Lunar Eclipse Treats!
We are so excited about the lunar eclipse that will be occurring on January 20/21st this month! Half of the world will experience this eclipse, and for the first time in 19 years, this includes both North and South America. If you’ve been tracking this event, you’ve likely heard to it referred to as “The Super Blood Moon Eclipse”. So what makes this eclipse so special?

What is a Lunar Eclipse?

A lunar eclipse occurs when the moon passes through the Earth’s shadow. There are three types of lunar eclipses: total, partial and penumbra. The most dramatic being a total lunar eclipse, which is where Earth's shadow completely covers the moon.

What Makes This Super Moon Eclipse Special?

There will be 87 lunar eclipses throughout the 21st century, but only 26 will occur during a super moon. A moon is considered a “super moon” when a full moon or new moon is at it’s closest point to Earth. At this point, the moon appears 30% brighter and 14% bigger that a regular full moon.

Why Will the Moon Appear Red?

When the Sun, Earth and moon line up so that the moon passes through the Earth’s shadow, the moon appears a muddy red color due to sunlight scattered through the Earth’s atmosphere. When this occurs, it is referred to as a “blood moon”.

Oreo Moon Phase Matching Activity

To explore the conditions that create a lunar eclipse, we decided to take a look at the moon phases. We know that a lunar eclipse occurs at a “full moon” or “new moon”, but what does that look like or mean?
For this project you just need 8 Oreos, a knife and the free printable I created. Click here for the printable!Lunar Eclipse Moon Phases Space
Carefully separate all of the cookies so that the white cream remains on one of the chocolate cookie halves. Using your knife, trim the cream circles to match the various moon phases depicted on the printable.Lunar Eclipse Moon Phases Oreo

The 8 moon phases are:

new moon -> waxing crescent -> first quarter -> waxing gibbous -> full moon -> waning gibbous -> last quarter -> waning crescent 
We do not see the new moon on Earth, while the full moon is where the moon can be seen in its entirety. 
After you have created all of your cookie moon phases, place them on a plate next to the printable. Allow them to match the cookie moons to their correct spot on the moon phase printable.Lunar Eclipse Ore0 Phases Moon
Once all of the cookie moons have been matched, chat about the various phases. Talk about how different degrees of sunlight affect the way the moon appears to us. Afterwards, feel free to enjoy an afternoon moon cookie snack!
 
Moon Phases Oreo Lunar Eclipse
This is an activity that even the littlest children will adore (mainly because of the cookies!). Not only does it introduce a more complex topic and event, it’s also a great way to work on matching skills. We hope that you get a chance the night of January 20th that you can enjoy this lunar eclipse! Save it for later!DIY Lunar Eclipse Treats Oreo
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DIY STEM Snowflakes!

We are walking in a winter wonderland with this snowy STEM craft!

Cutting paper snowflakes is a time-honored tradition and can make for some seriously beautiful holiday decorations! Glue them together to make a wreath, string them to make a garland, add a hook and you’ve got an instant ornament. Plus, all that snipping stimulates STEM learning.

So let’s get started! Follow the step-by-step instructions below to create beautiful paper art AND spend some quality time with your crafty kiddos.

DIY STEM Snowflake Craft

First, gather your supplies. This should be easy – you really only need paper and scissors. You can make snowflakes out of any kind of paper, really, but it has to be square and thin enough to cut when folded several times. Printer paper is probably easiest for beginners. 

Before you get too serious with the instructions, let your child experiment a bit on their own. Fold a sheet of paper in half and have them cut a triangle shape out of the folded edge. It’s a triangle now, but what happens when you open the paper? Diamond!

Snowflake DIY CraftSnowflake DIY STEM Craft

Fold a square once, then again, and cut another triangle on the fold. Open the paper to reveal not one, but two diamond shapes (or a great Halloween mask!).

STEM DIY Snowflake

Older kids might even be able to begin making some mathematical predictions. If folding the paper twice and cutting one triangle results in two diamonds, what will happen if they fold the paper three times? If your kiddo guessed four diamonds, you’ve got a total STEM smarty on your hands (hint, the number has to do with the number of panels you’re cutting).

DIY STEM Snowflake

Okay, back to the instructions. To make a basic snowflake, here’s what you’re going to do:

Cut your piece of paper into a square large enough to fold several times. (Hint – bring the bottom corner of the paper across the sheet until the sides meet perfectly. Cut the paper above the folded edge off.)DIY STEM Snowflake Craft

Fold the triangle in half, corner to corner, to make a smaller triangle. Younger kids may want to stop folding here and start snipping, being sure to leave some areas of the folded edges in tact to keep all of the layers from falling apart. This is also the way to create a square or diamond-shaped snowflake. To create a more complex, round snowflake, follow the remaining steps.DIY Snowflake STEM

Fold the edges of the triangle inward, roughly in thirds, as shown below.Snowflake DIY CRAFT

Cut the bottom off this tall triangle to leave a flat edge.STEM Snowflake

Start snipping! Use any shapes you like – triangles, circles, squares… Encourage your kids to experiment with shapes – they’ll be surprised at the different patterns different shapes make when the snowflake is open. Again, just remind them to leave some of the folded edges intact.DIY Snowflake STEM

Carefully unfold the paper to reveal your one-of-a-kind snowflake pattern! Share with your kids that each real snowflake is also completely unique. Water droplets freeze onto dust particles creating ice crystals that vary depending on the temperature and humidity. No two are ever the same!DIY STEM Snowflake Craft

Making snowflakes is endless fun. Once your kids have the basics down, take it a step further and watercolor your paper in winter colors or make STEM snowflakes out of wrapping paper!

Snowflakes STEM

DIY STEM Snowflakes!

We are walking in a winter wonderland with this snowy STEM craft!

Cutting paper snowflakes is a time-honored tradition and can make for some seriously beautiful holiday decorations! Glue them together to make a wreath, string them to make a garland, add a hook and you’ve got an instant ornament. Plus, all that snipping stimulates STEM learning.

So let’s get started! Follow the step-by-step instructions below to create beautiful paper art AND spend some quality time with your crafty kiddos.

DIY STEM Snowflake Craft

First, gather your supplies. This should be easy – you really only need paper and scissors. You can make snowflakes out of any kind of paper, really, but it has to be square and thin enough to cut when folded several times. Printer paper is probably easiest for beginners. 

Before you get too serious with the instructions, let your child experiment a bit on their own. Fold a sheet of paper in half and have them cut a triangle shape out of the folded edge. It’s a triangle now, but what happens when you open the paper? Diamond!

Snowflake DIY CraftSnowflake DIY STEM Craft

Fold a square once, then again, and cut another triangle on the fold. Open the paper to reveal not one, but two diamond shapes (or a great Halloween mask!).

STEM DIY Snowflake

Older kids might even be able to begin making some mathematical predictions. If folding the paper twice and cutting one triangle results in two diamonds, what will happen if they fold the paper three times? If your kiddo guessed four diamonds, you’ve got a total STEM smarty on your hands (hint, the number has to do with the number of panels you’re cutting).

DIY STEM Snowflake

Okay, back to the instructions. To make a basic snowflake, here’s what you’re going to do:

Cut your piece of paper into a square large enough to fold several times. (Hint – bring the bottom corner of the paper across the sheet until the sides meet perfectly. Cut the paper above the folded edge off.)DIY STEM Snowflake Craft

Fold the triangle in half, corner to corner, to make a smaller triangle. Younger kids may want to stop folding here and start snipping, being sure to leave some areas of the folded edges in tact to keep all of the layers from falling apart. This is also the way to create a square or diamond-shaped snowflake. To create a more complex, round snowflake, follow the remaining steps.DIY Snowflake STEM

Fold the edges of the triangle inward, roughly in thirds, as shown below.Snowflake DIY CRAFT

Cut the bottom off this tall triangle to leave a flat edge.STEM Snowflake

Start snipping! Use any shapes you like – triangles, circles, squares… Encourage your kids to experiment with shapes – they’ll be surprised at the different patterns different shapes make when the snowflake is open. Again, just remind them to leave some of the folded edges intact.DIY Snowflake STEM

Carefully unfold the paper to reveal your one-of-a-kind snowflake pattern! Share with your kids that each real snowflake is also completely unique. Water droplets freeze onto dust particles creating ice crystals that vary depending on the temperature and humidity. No two are ever the same!DIY STEM Snowflake Craft

Making snowflakes is endless fun. Once your kids have the basics down, take it a step further and watercolor your paper in winter colors or make STEM snowflakes out of wrapping paper!

Snowflakes STEM

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