Egg Drop Challenge: An engineering based science project

egg drop challenge with a completed whole egg dropped off the observatory roof

A messy engineering challenge that fosters creativity Egg Drop Challenge for creative afternoons. The egg drop project is one of those science projects that can really fluster kids. But it also really helps them think outside of the box and apply engineering skills.  You don’t need much for the egg …

Read More

Magnetic Slime Recipe

magnetic slime recipe for magnetic goo fun

What you’ll learn: What magnetic fields look like, and the chemistry of magnetic slime. Key takeaways: To see magnetic fields we need to trap small magnetic particles with a magnet in some type of fluid. Magnetic fields are really fun to play with. Kids love them as evidenced by their …

Read More

Learning Osmosis: Gummy Bear Experiment

gummy bear osmosis experiment results

It’s fun to learn in a gummy bear osmosis experiment!When studying Egypt, or preparing for an extra spooky Halloween you might consider making a chicken mummy. But chicken mummies take about a month to create, so seeing the process of osmosis can be very slow. To see the process of osmosis quickly …

Read More

Mold and Cast Fossils

Our fossil unit is all about learning how fossils formWhere can we find fossils?  To learn more, let’s turn into paleontologists. That means getting our hands dirty and carefully digging up fossils. If you don’t have fossils (or animal bones) in your backyard, or just want to learn about how mold …

Read More

Making a mass spectrometer!

Scientists carbon date ancient artifacts using a machine called a mass spectrometer. A mass spectrometer separates atoms by, you guessed it, their mass. When carbon dating an artifact, like a mummy, scientists look at a ratio of two atoms – Carbon 12 which is stable, and radioactively decaying Carbon 14.Carbon 14 …

Read More

Kids Astronomy: Finding Planets

Young astronomers kids astronomy activity

Nothing screams kids astronomy like finding planets! Astronomers look out into the night sky all of the time searching for planets. Stars in the night sky stay in the same spot – but planets? Planets orbit. They are constantly moving their location, and that is what astronomers look for when …

Read More

Natural pH Indicator: Cabbage vs. Beets

natural pH indicator, comparing color pH scale of cabbage and beetroot pH indicators

Natural pH indicators: Cabbage vs. Beets Learn how to make your own natural PH indicators and the difference between using cabbage or beets as your indicator liquid! Plus its a ton of fun to see the colors change, great for little kids. Project Ingredients: Beetroot juice and/or purple cabbage juice …

Read More

Edible Optics: Jello Laser Projects for Kids

Jello Optics Laser Experiments for Kids

Light experiments for kids just got another great activity – edible optics.There are not many resources for teachers and parents when it comes to optics for kids, but this new edible optics STEM activity does a great job blending fun with college-level science. Our Jello optics lab has all of these …

Read More