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Category Archives: Science

What Gifts Do Tweens Want?

I don’t know about you, but I think that tweens are the hardest age for which to buy gifts. It’s sort of an in-between age– they’re growing out of dolls and superheroes, but aren’t teenagers quite yet. So, what presents do tweens want? Here are popular gift ideas for both girls and boys.

Gift Ideas for Tween Girls

Head to Toe Spa

Perfume Science

Heavenly Hair Kit

Rock Fashion Studio

Star Theater

Gift Ideas for Tween Boys

Air Pick Rebel Rock

Custom Rides Design Studio

Techno Gears Marble Mania Extreme

Star Scope Telescope

Vertigo Sky Shark

 

You can’t go wrong with kits for both genders such as craft kits or model kits. When it doubt, have the tween look through websites and catalogues and make a wish list. Make it a fun writing activity!

11 Fall Fun Ideas For Kids

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

What wonderful ways can kids enjoy nature during the fall season? 

1. Go on a nature hike. Bring a collection bag to collect rocks, leaves, seeds, or fancy sticks.

2. Hunt for signs of fall. Take digital photos for a fall book. Or, draw what you see in your fall nature journal.

3. Leaf play, art, and writing. 

4. Make pinecone bird feeders. Watch and observe what birds like the peanut butter. Write or draw in your nature observation journal.

5. Decorate gourds and pumpkins with sharpies, paint, glue, pom-poms, glitter, ribbons, felt, or other craft supplies. Or, hollow out and use as a vase for dried flowers.

6. Make chocolate chip pumpkin muffins – my kids' favorite pumpkin treat.

7. Rake leaves into pile and JUMP!

8. Visit an apple farm or a pumpkin patch.

9. Collect sticks and build a fairy house or tunnel.

10. Learn about letterboxing – an outdoor treasure hunt throughout the United States and world.

12. Stargaze and learn about the night sky in fall.

What other fall activities does your family enjoy?

Gak, Goop, Glop Science Ooze

Ready for some ooey, gooey science? 

Gak is simple to make and will provide a fantstically goopy fun way to learn science.

As a parent, I loved that it helped my child with her sensory issues (tactile overresponsiveness) to develop a tolerance of slime and rubbery materials.

As a child, my daughter loved it because she could make Gak with minimal help, and all her friends wanted some. (I poured and measured the Borax.)

Gak Directions:
(adapted from Education.com)

1. Pour a 8 oz. bottle of white (Elmers) glue into a large bowl.

2. Fill the empty glue bottle with warm water and pour in water.

3. Add food coloring (we used cake coloring to make it a strong color.) Careful, it stains!

4. Add around 4 Tablespoons of Borax and mix with your hands. Experiment with the amount to see what happens with more or less. (Borax is toxic if you eat it so don't.)

5. Store in a ziplock bag.

* To find Borax, look in the laundry area of your grocery store. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Once you start doing science experiments like this, you'll find that they're easy to do every week. I recommend finding a Science Experiment Kit for more ideas. Plus, you can supplement your child's science curriculum at home with many fun, hands-on activities like making Gak or any of the projects in the science kits. 

For ages eight and up, you might try the Big Bag of Science; it contains over 60 activities! 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

For ages five and up, consider the Stepping into Science Set. It offers you 25 experiments and is perfect for beginners.