Archive for the ‘science’ category

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Make It Rain In Your Kitchen & More!

November 22nd, 2011

Hi!  It’s Tuesday, November 15, 2011 and time for Science at ClickSchooling!

Recommended Website:
Science With Me

Age Range: 5-12 (elementary grades, with parental supervision)

Learn how to make it rain in your kitchen! This website offers easy to understand free science-themed activities, worksheets, coloring books, and songs!

The site was created by Elva O’Sullivan and Scott Rickard, scientists and parents of three young children. Elva has a Ph.D. in chemistry and Scott holds a Ph.D. in applied mathematics. They developed unique and challenging science projects to engage their own children and now offer them for free to all children ages 5-12.

When you get to the site you’ll see some of the featured articles and activities. To get right to the activities, click on the “Science with Mom” tab at the top of the page. A new page opens with a list of recent blog posts with science activities that include:

  • How To Make A Rainstorm In Your Kitchen
  • Let’s Make Homemade Toothpaste
  • How to Peel a Raw Egg
  • Why Do Onions Make Us Cry?
  • Let’s Dissect A fish
  • How to Make a Homemade Stethoscope
  • And Many More!

Just click on any one, and a new pages opens with instructions, pictures, printables, and more.

Use the horizontal menu near the top of the page to access science articles and activities by topic that include:

*Human Body – Learn about the human skeleton, teeth, eyes, ears, heart, skin, respiratory system, digestive system and more.

*Animals – Discover the creatures that live in the rainforest, grasslands, savannas, soil, and seas. 

*Plants – Find out about photosynthesis, plant cells, and pollination.

*Earth Science – Explore the science behind global warming, earthquakes, fossil fuels, volcanoes, ecosystems, and the water cycle.

*Astronomy – Learn about the solar system, black holes, galaxies, asteroids and meteors.

*Physics – Find out about color and light waves, measurement, the steam engine, and magnets.

*Chemistry – Turn your kitchen into a lab and make solutions, learn about chemical bonding, gas, matter, and the atom.

*Famous Scientists – Meet Galileo, Sir Isaac Newton, Leonardo da Vinci, Marie Curie, Benjamin Franklin, Archimedes, and Einstein.

Bookmark this site to return again and again.

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The Science of Thanksgiving Dinner!

November 15th, 2011

Hi!  It’s Tuesday, November 15, 2011 and time for Science at ClickSchooling!

Visit the following websites and amaze your Thanksgiving dinner guests with scientific
knowledge of the chemical composition and scientific aspects of the feast!

Recommended Websites:
Science of Thanksgiving Dinner
(See Below)

Age Range: 9 and up (with parental supervision)

Exploratorium Video: The Science of Cooking Turkey
In this one-hour video production a food expert explains the science behind cooking a turkey. What’s with the dark meat and light meat on a turkey? Learn how to be sure your turkey is thoroughly cooked. Is stuffing really a good idea?  How do you make the skin golden?

How Pop-Up Turkey Timers Work
How does this little device imitate a thermometer?

Everyday Mysteries: Sweet Potato or Yam?
Learn the scientific difference between a sweet potato and a yam.

NPR: The Chemistry of Thanksgiving Dinner
Listen to 2-minute excerpt from an NPR broadcast in which professors talk about proteins, peptides, alkenes, amino acids, tryptophan and more. Discover the chemistry and molecular structure lurking in your Thanksgiving dinner.

The Chemical Make-Up of a Potato
Discover the chemical content and nutritional value of a potato. Do green potatoes really contain a deadly toxin?

The Science of Cranberry Sauce
Find out why cranberry sauces that use the same ingredients produce different results. Why does one become a gelatin?

Punkin Chunkin
On Thanksgiving, pumpkins are on the menu and part of the décor. This year, invite your guests to try “punkin chunkin” – tossing a pumpkin as far as they can. The World Championship Punkin Chunkin Association is a nonprofit that raises money to benefit youth. Their annual pumpkin-launching event encourages entrants to use their science and engineering skills in a competitive quest for hurling a pumpkin the furthest distance. At this website you can read all about it, watch video footage of the 2011 event, and discover some of the science behind punkin chunkin.

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Cool Emerging Science Learning Tools!

November 8th, 2011

Hi! It’s Tuesday, November 8, 2011, and time for Science at ClickSchooling!

Recommended Website:
LearningScience

Age Range: 5-18 (grades K-12, with parental supervision)

This interactive website (a collaboration between some Pennsylvania public school educators and a nearby university) is an archive for sharing new and emerging tools that are available on a variety of websites to teach science keyed to the National Science Education Standards.

When you get to the site you’ll see an icon menu. Just click on an area of science that interests you such as:

  • Physical Science
  • Life Science
  • Earth and Space Science
  • Science and Technology

Depending on which area you select, you may then need to choose your desired topic and grade level. From there, you’ll discover a menu of links to top student-friendly websites with engaging lessons and activities.

NOTE: I only visited a few of the recommended sites. Parents (as always) should preview the sites and supervise all Internet use.

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Beautiful Images of Biological World

November 1st, 2011

Hi!  It’s Tuesday, November 1, 2011 and time for Science at ClickSchooling!

Recommended Website:
The Exquisite Beauty of Life

Age Range: All (with parental supervision)

This website, created by Roger C. Wagner, vividly demonstrates how computers can be utilized to enhance biological images, such as electron micrographs of molecules and cells, and models of biological entities.

When you get to the site, click on the text above any of the photos to see a collection of stunning computer-enhanced images. The photos are categorized according to the method of enhancement used. (Click each link for a brief explanation of what that enhancement entailed.)

*Colored Electron Micrographs – Color was Photo-shopped into gray-scale photos taken by electron microscopes, with positively amazing results.

*3D Models of Biological Structures – These models were constructed using 3D imaging software (click the link for a full description of how they were made.)

*Confocal Microscopic Images – More advanced students may wish to read up on this time-consuming process as described on Wikipedia, but everyone can enjoy the clear detail and radiant color of the resulting images.

*Anaglyph Stereo Images – Get your red-green 3D glasses ready to see the beautiful stereoscopic images that resulted.

*Imaginary Life Forms and Imaginary Worlds – These fantastic creations showcase what computers can do to enhance anything that can be imagined and sketched.

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Exogeology Rocks!

October 25th, 2011

Hi! It’s Tuesday, October 25, 2011 and time for Science at ClickSchooling!

Recommended Website:
Exogeology Rocks!

The Bentley Family was recently interviewed about unschooling on the “Today Show.” The segment included information about Zoe Bentley’s passion for Exogeology. Zoe, a teenager, created this terrific website with information on exogeology that combines the sciences of geology and astronomy in the study of planets, asteroids, moons, etc.

When you get to the site, you’ll see information about “Zoe’s Geo Party,” a trivia game she invented that involves weekly video clues that are posted on the site. Scroll down the page to see the archive of past clues and games.

You can also click on links to watch the Bentley Family’s segment on the “Today Show” and visit their blog to get their reaction to the piece.

To begin learning about Exogeology, use the menu under the headline “Things To Do” on the right side of the homepage that includes a definition of Exogeology, information on how to use the site. You can also learn more about Zoe. You’ll also find:

*Exogeology Rocks: Episodes/Meet Real Exogeologists – Watch Zoe’s on-camera interviews with exogeologists who explain what their work entails.

*How To Become An Exogeologist – Get information on what it takes to have a career in exogeology.  Kids will find suggested activities and links to further information about:

  • NASA
  • Rock collecting
  • Dig-sites
  • Stargazing
  • Visiting geologic formations

*Games & Puzzles – Enjoy playing crossword puzzles, word searches, and jigsaw puzzles themed around geology, astronomy, and exogeology.

You’ll also find a photo gallery, a great list of resources to explore, and more!

This is an incredible demonstration of where interest-initiated learning and unschooling can lead, and may inspire your homeschooler or unschooler to explore their passions with the same gusto.

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Science With Fall Leaves & More!

October 4th, 2011

Hi!  It’s Tuesday, October 4, 2011 and time for Science at ClickSchooling!

Recommended Website:
Science Made Simple: Fall Leaves

Age Range: 5-13 (about grades K-8, with adult supervision)

It’s fall and kids everywhere are asking, “Why do leaves change color in the Fall?”  This site answers everything kids want to know about autumn leaves that includes scientific information, quick-and-easy science experiments, and a fun word-scramble puzzle.

But wait, there’s more!  When you’re through satiating your curiosity about Fall leaves, look at the menu on the left side of the page and click on “Home.”  In the center of the page you’ll find, “Easy Science Projects” using common household items that explore topics such as:

  • What is static electricity?
  • Why is the sky blue?
  • How do animals spend the winter?

Next to this group of choices you will find “Science Articles” that contain information and activities on a variety of science subjects.

Use the blue horizontal menu bar near the top of the home page to find more “Kids Science Projects” with complete instructions for conducting experiments at home.

If you like what the site has to offer, you can sign up for their monthly newsletter for a fee and access even more science projects and resources.

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