Discover Science 4 Kids

Earl's Reindeer Snot...It's Santa Approved!

2011-12-14T22:45:00.000-08:00

I'm so excited to be heading back to the set of Your Life A to Z (Channel 3-Phoenix). Santa will be joining me this week and together we'll be concocting some Reindeer Snot. Yep, that's right...Reindeer Snot. You see, Earl the "other" Reindeer had a very snotty nose and his post-nasal drip even glowed in the dark. In the year 2011 some kiddos have become very savvy at tricking Santa about who was naughty and who was nice, so Santa enlisted the help of Earl. A bag of Earl snot outside the door on Christmas Eve lets Santa know who the good kids are.

Reindeer Snot, is a fantastic and fun educational tool to teach kids about polymerization. You know...polymers those long chains of molecules that we find in everything from pudding to plastic toys. Some are natural and some are synthetic, and we come across them everyday. The polymers that we use for our Reindeer Snot are alginates extracted from seaweed. This type of alginate is also found in foods as thickener and even toothpaste. Our alginate along with a binding solution give us a long stringy piece of slime that amazingly resembles a clear nasal discharge (ok...that was gross!!!) Then when you add a glowing powder (phosphorescence) you get GLOWING REINDEER SNOT!

So if you're in the Phoenix area tune in to Your Life A to Z at 10am on Friday, December 16th and check us out!

Earl's Reindeer Snot is Santa approved and can be purchased at www.scipreneur.org.

Arizona Teachers Get Messy!

2011-09-30T13:40:00.000-07:00

On Monday we had the opportunity to share our Science, Innovation and Entrepreneurship programs with teachers, administrators and after school coordinators from around the state. What better way to engage our participants, than to teach them about polymers through our SLIME LAB! They had their hands messy, they were laughing and collaborating and they were almost as difficult as our students to regroup. We shared with them the importance of creating relevancy with what we teach in our everyday lessons. The floam, flubber, slime and oobleck that we made all contain polymers. Plastics are made from synthetic polymers and we use products that contain them in our everyday lives.

Making It Relevant
We connected the importance of innovation and entrepreneurship with products that were innovated using the science of plastics and polymers. Across the tables we had scattered things like baby diapers, Silly Putty, Super Balls, ping pong balls, plastic bottles, cups and I even sprayed them all with some Silly String. They quickly began to understand the importance of sparking innovation, creating entrepreneurial opportunities and understanding that STEM subjects involve our everyday lives as consumers.

It's OK to Fail!
Our message to these teachers was to allow their students the opportunity for creativity, exploration and experiential learning and within those experiences allow them to fail! What better environment to allow students the opportunity to learn from their mistakes. The classroom shouldn't be a place where we push for identical results or cookbook experiments. The classroom is a space in which we should inspire, motivate and support individual results and innovation. Failure in the real-world is called Research and Development!

Discover Science 4 Kids: Having Fun on Your Life A to Z

2011-09-27T09:49:00.000-07:00

Discover Science 4 Kids: Having Fun on Your Life A to Z: On Monday I had the opportunity to share some "Kitchen Science" on Your Life A to Z. I had a great time! During my segment we did several ...

Having Fun on Your Life A to Z

2011-09-27T08:28:00.000-07:00

On Monday I had the opportunity to share some "Kitchen Science" on Your Life A to Z. I had a great time! During my segment we did several experiments, including Milk Molecules and the Density of Liquids. It was amazing to see the bright colors swirling around in the milk as we broke the surface tension with a drop of dish soap. And our liquid parfait was a cylinder of color, each stacking on top of the other. Below are the instructions for several of these simple labs that you too can do at home with your kiddos and make your time in the kitchen a "teachable moment."

Milk Molecules:

Materials- milk, pie pan or deep plate, food coloring, dish soap

Procedure-

Fill your dish with milk to completely cover the bottom (just below the rim)
Add about 12-16 drops of food coloring (the more colors the better) all around the plate
Carefully add 1-2 drops of dish soap to the center of the dish (Qtips work well for application)

Your colors should begin to swirl and make beautiful designs.

The Science- Because the milk is approximately 87% water, it contains water molecules that form an invisible skin on the top that we call surface tension. By adding the dish soap you break the surface tension and the water in the milk can move freely. The colors that you added are what allow you to see this happen.

Try a variable: Do this experiment using 2 or more different types of milk (skim, whole or low fat). Observe if there is a difference in your results.

A Liquid Rainbow (density of liquids)

Materials- corn syrup, rubbing alcohol, water, cooking oil, dish soap, a tall clear glass, food coloring

Procedure:

Color the water, rubbing alcohol and corn syrup with food coloring (mix well)
Don't color the oil and choose a dish soap that differs in color from the rest of your liquids
Carefully pour approx. 2-4 oz. of each liquid into your glass
Be sure to allow each liquid to pour down the side of the glass (don't dump it in)
It does not matter which order you add the liquid in
Allow your glass to sit for several minutes and then observe

The Science- Because the liquids that you used have different densities they will layer or stack on top of one another (most dense at the bottom, least on top).

Try a variable- Using approx. 1-2 Tbs. of salt and 2-4 oz 0f warm water (colored) create a salt water to add to your liquid rainbow. Does it layer itself with the rest? If so where?

A Salty Lava Lamp

Materials- salt, water, red food coloring, cooking oil, clear glass

Procedure-

Pour 1/4 to 1/2 cup of colored water into the glass
add 1/4 to 1/2 cup of cooking oil
Once your oil and water have layered themselves, slowly sprinkle salt over the top of your glass.
Continue to add salt as needed

The Science- Because the salt is the most dense of the 3 materials, it will sink to the bottom of the glass. As it sinks, it becomes covered with the oil that was in the top layer. Once the salt dissolves in the bottom of the glass, the oil that it carried down with it will rise above the water and back into the layer of oil.

Check Out the Latest Miss Science segments from Channel 12- Arizona Midday!

2011-08-22T17:08:00.000-07:00

SLIME Time!!!

We are learning about polymers and getting slimy!

SUGAR-ology!!!

The sweet science of sugar!

Discover Science 4 Kids: Silly String....Educational?????

2011-08-20T11:33:00.000-07:00

Discover Science 4 Kids: Silly String....Educational?????: Ok....I admit it, I will do just about anything to make science fun. Our latest curriculum has kiddos actually analyzing S...

Silly String....Educational?????

2011-08-20T10:02:00.000-07:00

Ok....I admit it, I will do just about anything to make science fun. Our latest curriculum has kiddos actually analyzing Silly String! You know, Silly String. That fantastic can of stringy stuff that you oh, so conveniently spray all over your friends and relatives when they least expect it. Originally marketed as "Squibbly" Silly String is not only used as a novelty item, but our military has been know to use it to detect IEDs. http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1561143,00.html Although useful, Silly String has been banned in some cities, with fines of up to $1,000 dollars or up to 6 months in jail for breaking the city ordinance. So if you are hanging out in Los Angeles from October 31st-November 1st, be sure to leave your Silly String at home.

Now you're probably wondering how this all ties into science. Well...our latest curriculum Toys and Games (ie: polymers and plastics) is all about learning the science behind plastics in toys and games. Not only do students analyze Silly String to understand how resins, propellants, pigments, solvents etc... work, but they will experiment with tennis, golf and Superballs to understand the concepts of density and mass. They will dissect baby diapers to learn about super absorbent polymers and then learn how to create bio-plastic to build a proto-type game piece or toy. They will become game designers, developing their own products after learning from Biz In A Boxx how to build their own business around the product they develop.

This is not only a great way to teach science, but it teaches valuable skill sets as students will broaden their horizons in the arena of entrepreneurship. SIE (Science Innovation and Entrepreneurship) is also a fantastic way for student to understand the products they purchase as a consumer. Scottsdale Unified School District will be launching Toys and Games as part of their CTE (Career and Technical Education) middle school curriculum. Toys and Games goes beyond teaching students with the fusion of science and entrepreneurship, as students will also learn to collaborate and innovate new products using foundations in research, development, production, assembly, design and testing. Students will complete this program gaining knowledge that will allow them to innovate new products using scientific principles and entrepreneurial tools.

Other SIE curriculum offered through DS4K and BIAB include Solar, Consumer and Culinary Science. SIE curriculum is teacher friendly and works with any school or individual budget. It aligns with Core Standards, 21st Century Community Learning Centers Grant Programs and Career and Technical Education. If you are in Arizona, we will be at the 21st CCLC Fall Conference. https://www.azed.gov/Search_Results.asp?cx=004081734370198042837%3Atxfi0yfhqyi&cof=FORID%3A10&ie=UTF-8&q=2011+fall+conference&sa=Search

We'd love to help you get this great new curriculum into your school or outreach program. Contact us for more information.
info@ds4k.com
info@bizinaboxx.com

Discover Science 4 Kids: SLIME Time on Arizona Midday!

2011-08-13T14:24:00.000-07:00

Discover Science 4 Kids: SLIME Time on Arizona Midday!: "It's that time again!!!!
I'm heading back to the set of Arizona Midday on Thursday, August 18th to share some SLIME! I can't tell you how ..."

SLIME Time on Arizona Midday!

2011-08-13T13:53:00.000-07:00

It's that time again!!!!
I'm heading back to the set of Arizona Midday on Thursday, August 18th to share some SLIME! I can't tell you how much fun I have with each segment and having the opportunity to share with viewers how great science can be. This time we will be making slime from everyday household materials. We will also create slime that has different characteristics. One slime turns from a solid to a liquid, another includes a foaming agent (shaving cream) to make it light and fluffy and we will use regular white glue to make our third creation.

Slime is something that started out as a tactile preschool activity using cornstarch and water.I remember learning about this non-Newtonian phenomenon during my first early childhood development class in college. It's amazing how it has progressed and become a marketable material and even a tv. show for kids. Student's at Mohave Middle School will be using our latest polymer curriculum to analyze slime and then formulate their own experiment using various materials. Deep down I believe that we are all tactile learners, yearning for the day when life was simple and our academic highlight in school was playing with putty. Or....do you remember grabbing your egg of Silly putty and heading straight for the Sunday morning comics. I DO!

So find your inner child and play around with this pliable polymer and create your own concauction. I won't give you a recipe, but what I will do is give you a list of materials to work with.

Try using some of the following: Elmer's Glue, Sta-Flo Starch, shaving cream, corn starch. You will also need a binding solution made of 1 tbs of Borax and 40 ml of water and water for mixtures. ENJOY!!!

PS...If you want to check out my last AM segment "Sugar-OLOGY" click on the link.
http://www.azcentral.com/video/1049510980001

Science, Innovation and Entrepreneurship!

2011-08-01T13:52:00.000-07:00

We are so excited for the start of the 2011-12 school year. Before we know it, kiddos will be back in the classroom and teachers will be engaging them in great, creative learning opportunities. We are thrilled to announce that our SIE program will be landing in several classrooms across the Valley. Check out our latest video. If your school or organization is interested in offering the Science, Innovation and Entrepreneurship program on your campus, you can get more information by emailing me at sherri@discoverscience4kids.com.

Discover Science 4 Kids: Science Innovation and Entrepreneurship In Action!...

2011-07-12T00:13:00.000-07:00

Discover Science 4 Kids: Science Innovation and Entrepreneurship In Action!...: "We are so excited about the latest program to be offered by Discover Science 4 Kids and Biz in a Boxx. Check out our new video and see for y..."

Discover Science 4 Kids: Advanced Workshop Offered In 2 Locations!

2011-06-28T18:48:00.000-07:00

Discover Science 4 Kids: Advanced Workshop Offered In 2 Locations!: "Discover Science 4 Kids and Biz in a Boxx are excited to offer this new Advanced Workshop. Not only are we working to make Smart Cool, but P..."

Advanced Workshop Offered In 2 Locations!

2011-06-28T18:37:00.000-07:00

Discover Science 4 Kids and Biz in a Boxx are excited to offer this new Advanced Workshop. Not only are we working to make Smart Cool, but Profitable too!!!!

The New Kid on the Block

2011-06-10T18:05:00.000-07:00

DS4K is just now entering its 3rd summer of offering great STEM camp opportunities for kids entering 1st-8th grades. When we started in 2009 it was to add supplemental camp opportunities for the siblings and graduates of the preschool at a local church. Our intention was not to compete with other programs, but rather to offer a convenient, fun camp where parents could enroll their kiddos in one location.

Three years later we find ourselves drawing students from East Mesa to Goodyear. We are now on the map and competing with larger programs, and providing great experiences for students in grades 1st-8th.

At DS4K, we work hard to develop a curriculum that engages kids through all levels of learning and multiple integrated curriculum opportunities. They spend their mornings learning about innovation through robotics and connect innovation and entrepreneurship concepts to scientific principles in the afternoon.

Some might think this seems too rigid or lacks creativity, but it works just the opposite. What better way to promote problem solving and critical thinking skills, than applying what they are learning to the world around them. Building bridges, not only includes design, but it also consists of specifications for building, a budget and background information about the client that they will bid a project for. Squid dissection isn't only about the anatomy of squid, but also applying the understanding of fishing industries and marine habitats that are being exterminated by the size of fishing nets. Making these connections not only allows students the opportunity to apply what they are learning to how they live, but it promotes a higher level of thinking and inspires farther exploration and a quest for greater understanding.

We are excited to be the new kid on the block, but what's even more important is that every student leaves camp each day excited and ready to apply what they've learned beyond camp. When we receive emails from parents telling us how excited their kids are, or spend time talking with them as they drop their kids off for the day they are excited to share with us what makes it successful for them. That makes us happy and grateful to be able to instill a love for learning while promoting "Making Smart COOL!"

View what happened in Session 1!

Solar Science and Crafting!

2011-05-21T19:07:00.000-07:00

As the weather starts to warm up and we become more aware of the Sun's UV rays, I couldn't think of a more appropriate topic for my next segment on Arizona Midday (Channel 12-Phoenix). This Tuesday, I will be sharing with Destry a few of the fun crafts you can do with Solar Science. This will also be a part of our "Ologies" workshop at the Scottsdale Microsoft Store on Saturday, May 28th. During our segment we will take a look at solar beads that change colors when energized by the Suns ultraviolet light. We will perform experiments using our UV beads and sunblock, which will teach us the importance of protecting ourselves from the Sun's powerful rays. We will also use Nature Print paper (paper that is sensitive to the sun) to create beautiful solar art and we will show how to make a solar S'more cooker from a pizza box. Our best and yummiest craft of the day will be our Solar System made completely from candy! Follow the directions below to make your own.

14" Paper Plates or Piece of Paper (Candy Solar System is not to scale)
Protractor
White Frosting (or glue if you don't want to eat your art)
Butterscotch (Sun)
Orange Jujube (Mercury)
Sno Caps (Venus)
Blue Skittle (Earth)
Red Skittle (Mars)
Candy Sprinkles or Pop Rocks (Asteroid Belt)
Peppermint with a Red Hot glued to the top (Jupiter)
Lemon drop or candy coated almond and a peach ring (Saturn)
Green Jujube (Uranus)
Purple Skittle (Neptune)
One Nerd (Pluto)

First, use a protractor to measure out your orbits. (approx. 1/4 in. space for inner planets; approx. 1/2 to 3/4 in. for the outer planets). For older children, (or those who might need a challenge) you can design your candy solar system to scale by going to www.exploratorium.edu/ronh/solar_system/index.html

Be sure to put the teachable moments into the fun. A few questions to ask...

Why are the planets different colors and sizes?
Why do you think there is a Red Hot on Jupiter?
How are the inner planets different from the outer planets?

Remember, the best part of this project is to get kids to start generating questions about what they are learning. If you don't have the answers, DON'T WORRY! Do some research with your child and find the answers together. Children retain information better through inquiry. To have your child summarize what they have learned (in a fun, engaging way), create a learning blog using Power Point or Word to build a visual report about the information that has been collected.

Sites to visit:
www.athena.cornell.edu/educators/lp_01.html
www.kidsastronomy.com/solar_system.htm
www.nasa.gov/audience/forkids/kidsclub/flash/index.html

Making Smart Profitable!

2011-04-14T11:49:00.000-07:00

Discover Science 4 Kids and Biz in a Boxx in a partnership with the Scottsdale Microsoft Store have been offering a series of "Ologies" workshops. The focus of Science, Innovation and Entrepreneurship allows for fun, hands-on activities, while developing real-life business skills. The SIE program has been well received, and we have just completed the development of a curriculum for middle school students. In taking our "ologies" curriculum one step further, middle school students will be able to develop STEM AND 21^ST century skills with an end goal to innovate new, marketable products. A recent CNBC article http://www.cnbc.com/id/42497934/

discusses, kids and creativity infused with innovation! Take that concept one step further to develop entrepreneurial skills and you have the DS4K and Biz in a Boxx, Science Innovation and Entrepreneurship program. This one of a kind SIE program will be offered to middle schools throughout the United States. This summer, select students from the greater Phoenix area, will have the opportunity to participate in an SIE summer camps. To have your student apply for the Science Innovation and Entrepreneurship Summer Camp, or for more information on the SIE program, contact sherri@discoverscience4kids.com

Discover Science 4 Kids: Summer Camp...What to do!

2011-04-09T14:09:00.000-07:00

Discover Science 4 Kids: Summer Camp...What to do!: "April is zipping by and before we know it school will be out and summer vacation will begin. Longer, hot days bring on a need to keep t..."

Summer Camp...What to do!

2011-04-09T12:15:00.001-07:00

April is zipping by and before we know it school will be out and summer vacation will begin. Longer, hot days bring on a need to keep the kids busy and engaged in something other than X-box and the endless hours of watching cartoons and favorite programs. Summer camp has been a tradition for many families for generations. From overnight camps, to theater camps, science camps and sports camps the choices can be overwhelming.

Choosing the Right Camp

What better time for children to discover other interests than during summer camp. I often hear from parents that they are hesitant to enroll their child in a camp that they've never been to, or that their child hasn't shown an interest for. Any camp worth your money should be engaging, even if your child attends with no prior knowledge or experience about the subject matter. Summer camp, just as informal science should empower children to think beyond standard curricula and engage in activities that allow them an opportunity to experiment with different processes and discover new outcomes.

Ownership, empowerment, self-esteem and team building along with self control and regulation are just a few of the outcomes that students who attend DS4K Summer Camps develop. Campers will develop their skills in becoming independent thinkers and learners, while understanding the importance of collaboration and effective communication. Teachable moments are brought to the forefront while allowing for imagination, investigation and positive risk taking to occur.

In 2009 Discover Science 4 Kids was founded as a summer camp for students entering grades second through sixth. Our original philosophy in developing a camp, was to make Smart Cool! Now entering our third season of summer camp, we have expanded our camps to offer learning opportunities for students entering first grade through middle school. We have also extended our curriculum to include STEM (Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics) concepts through robotics and the continued development of hands-on, engaging experiments and projects.

As a Parent...

As a parent, I have encouraged my own children to explore their options for learning and participation in extracurricular activities. I have a football player, who has discovered a love for theater, and a budding biochemist that loves to sing and play softball. I want my children to be well-rounded individuals that have the opportunity to experience as many things as they can and to help develop an understanding for what they will become truly passionate about. Sometimes as parents, I think we tend to choose activities for our children that we are comfortable with our knowledgeable about.

You Never Know!

My suggestion for those parents that aren't sure about what camp to choose for the summer, take a risk and choose something that your child has never done. Explore your options and have your child engage in some new opportunities. This doesn't mean scrap the camp that they've always been to, as each year camps work hard to develop new and exciting adventures. Just give something new a try as well. You never know what your child might learn.

EGG-ceptionally Fun Science!

2011-04-04T16:35:00.001-07:00

Today was a blast! I had the opportunity to make my eighth appearance on Arizona Midday (KPNX Channel 12) and this one was EGG-specially fun. I brought my friends Kat and Maddie with me from the Mohave Middle School STEM-Girls club. They were great! We shared with the viewers some interesting facts about eggs and some cool experiments that you can do during your egg decorating activities. I've added the experiments below. Email me with questions, comments or pictures of your own experiments. A very special thanks to Cari Trickel at Tie-Dye Tricks for the fantastic, colorful table covering. Check her out at http://www.tiedyetricks.com.

MAKE a BOUNCING EGG!

When we think of eggs, we don't think of something that can bounce. Try this experiment and see what happens.

Materials: One egg, vinegar

Place the egg in a container of vinegar and leave it out on the counter for 36 hours.

What is happening?
The shell is dissolving! Vinegar contains acetic acid, which breaks apart the solid calcium carbonate crystals that make up the eggshell into their calcium and carbonate parts. Carbon dioxide gas makes the bubbles that you see.

EGG-Spin

Materials: One hard-boiled egg, One raw egg, flat surface

1. Get both eggs spinning on the kitchen table.

2. Stop both eggs, then release them. Watch what happens.

3. The hard-cooked egg will remain stationary, but the raw egg will start spinning again. That’s because the liquid inside didn’t stop moving when you stopped the shell. The moving liquid starts the shell moving again.

4. Set the raw egg aside. Spin the hard-cooked egg again. Get it spinning very, very fast. Once it’s going fast enough, the spinning egg will spontaneously rise up on end and spin like a top.

5. If you don’t get the egg to stand on end the first time, try again. To stand on end, the egg must be spinning faster than about 10 revolutions per second. It took us a few tries to get the egg spinning fast enough.

What’s Going On?

The short answer is: Friction between the eggshell and the tabletop pushes the spinning egg up.

This trick astounds people because the egg appears to be defying gravity. Rather than lying down comfortably (as many of us prefer), the egg spontaneously stands on end.
Some of the energy of the egg’s spin (kinetic energy) is converted to potential energy, the energy that’s stored in an object that has a distance to fall. When standing on end, the egg has more potential energy and less kinetic energy—at least for a few seconds.

EGG IN A BOTTLE (you will need an adult for this experiment)
Materials: one peeled, hard-boiled egg; a milk bottle or jar with a diameter just slightly smaller than the egg.

1. Cut a strip of paper approx. 2"x6"
2. Light the paper and place it inside the bottle.
3. As the paper smokes and burns out, set the egg on top of the bottle.
4. Observe what happens.

What's Happening?
The pressure of the air inside and outside of the bottle is the same, so the only force that would cause the egg to enter the bottle is gravity. Gravity isn't sufficient to pull the egg inside the bottle.

When you change the temperature of the air inside the bottle, you change the pressure of the air inside the bottle. If you have a constant volume of air and heat it, the pressure of the air increases. If you cool the air, the pressure decreases. If you can lower the pressure inside the bottle enough, the air pressure outside the bottle will push the egg into the container.

What's So Super About a SUPERMOON?

2011-03-18T09:43:00.000-07:00

On March 19th, the Moon will make its closest approach to Earth in 18 years. There's a lot of buzz about the moon causing earthquakes and natural disasters on our planet due to its closer proximity, but no conclusive evidence has ever been found to support these theories. However, Peter Goldreich, an emeritus professor for the Astronomy and Planetary Science Department at Caltech University states that seismic activity has been detected on the Moon during a super moon or also know as a lunar perigee.

So if we let our imaginations run wild during this supermoon, we can create visions of extra shape-shifters and werewolves howling throughout the night, catastrophic waves coming ashore and the Earth rocking and rolling. In reality, the supermoon that we will experience tomorrow, will only come 1/4000 closer than it was last year.

What will you see?

Don't discount the supermoon of March 19th, as it will be a beautiful sight. The moon will appear 14% larger and 30% brighter. It will create higher tides on Friday through Sunday, but not much different from those of a normal full moon. The best time to view the supermoon will be at sunset, because it will be closest to the horizon and will be much larger and organish in color.

Activities about the Moon that you can do with your kids:

1. Moon Phases
We can see the Moon on Earth, because it's reflecting the light from the Sun. The Moon doesn't change shape, but as it orbits the Earth, the amount of light that we see produces the Moon's phases.

Track the Moon's phases: (Supplies: paper, pencil)
1. Draw 8 circles to represent the Moon
2. Next to each circle write "time, date"
3. On the first night (clear night) observe the shape of the Moon and color the first circle on your paper to represent the Moon in the sky
4. Wait two nights and observe the Moon's shape and record it. Complete the 2 day pattern until all of the circles are complete.
Be sure to discuss your results.

2.What is Your Weight on the Moon?
The gravity on the Moon is about one-sixth of what it is on Earth. Neil Armstrong and Edwin Aldrin were two astronauts from the United States and in 1969 were the first people to walk on the Moon.
Calculate Your Weight (Supplies: bathroom scale and a calculator)
1. Use your bathroom scale to find your "Earth Weight" (your normal weight)
2. Divide your weight by 6 and that will be your "Moon Weight".
3. Ask the questions: Which is greater, your Earth weight or Moon weight? Why?

No Lack of Creativity WIth These Kids!

2011-03-10T07:30:00.000-08:00

When I was working in a classroom at the Arcadia Neighborhood Learning Center on Tuesday, I noticed that the class had been learning about inventions. Up on the wall was the outline of a house and inside the house were it's rooms (laundry, bathroom, bedroom etc...) Inside each room, students wrote what inventions are used in those rooms today and how each invention helps the person living in the home. I had to laugh that they boys tended to write more about the garage, while the girls took pride in bathroom inventions.

I posed this question to the class, "If you could invent something for other people to use, what would it be?" Each child took a moment to think and then quickly began to share their answers. This class was definitely not one that lacked creativity. Due to inside of the box thinking, high stakes tests, and teaching habits that don't allow children the freedom to actually learn, our country has hit a creativity crisis. There was no crisis going on here!

Gina Brown's class was teeming with creativity and it was inspirational to see a group of kids that could be free thinkers and apply their ideas to products and services that could change the world. I heard inventions from "mood clothes" that would allow someone to observe how a person is feeling, before you approach them (think of how many conflicts could be avoided) to gum that would feed the hungry. Another invention that really stood out to me was a "lick-it medicine dispenser." We talked about how useful that would be, and how it could also sense which patient the medicine was intended for to include safety measures. In their moments of creative thought and expression, these students exhibited pride and a sense of self-respect.

The ideas that I witnessed are a statement of how we need to allow for creativity and imagination in our classrooms. We have so much to learn from these kiddos and if I was a corporate executive that was looking to develop and manufacture new products, I would go to a group of third and fourth grade students like these to get some terrific ideas!

Kudos to you Gina Brown and your crew of "inventors" at ANLC!

Is the Emperor Wearing Any Clothes?

2011-02-18T11:35:00.000-08:00

The 21st Century Asian Empire and its educational; tactics have a lot to boast about. With its new role in the global economy and students topping the ranks in reading, math and science, countries such as Singapore, Hong Kong and South Korea are making their mark, leaving American education with a black eye.

Or are they?

Educational Styles Between Cultures

There has been a recent obsession with Americans and the Asian culture. For several years now we have been working to change our teaching and testing methods to emulate China’s and now the Tiger Mom has come to tell us that she and her streak of other Tiger Moms are more superior to American moms who are raising misdirected youth.

The Educational Saviors

The imagery of the classical tale, The Emperor's New Clothes, comes to my mind when thinking of people taking this hype to heart and human nature. It's no secret that the United States could resemble that of the Emperor; after all, for decades we have been the leader of the free world. Inside our vanity, we have allowed our economy to slide and the quality of our educational system to skate even farther downhill while the rouge scramble to save our system. Basing our new national fashion on high-stakes testing and principles for teaching rather than learning, we have bought into a new wardrobe, just as the Emperor did. Now, in the story it is revealed that the Emperor was wearing an invisible cloak, but not before he had proudly marched through the town wearing nothing but his underwear. The emperor believed that he was dressed to the nines, but in reality he was naked and vulnerable. It wasn't until a small child spoke from the crowd to reveal the secret and what the Emperor realized he'd been had.

The Educational Hype

In making room for our new cloak, we have thrown out some of the staples from our wardrobe, such as creativity, innovative thinking and actual learning. We are so worried about emulating the Chinese model that we have left behind the things that do work. There's no denying that our system needs change; however, as fast as we are trying to work towards the Chinese model they are working just as hard to gather the garments that we are leaving behind. They have realized that rote learning and conformist thinking aren't going to be the only things that help them to farther their efforts in becoming global leaders. Educational leaders from China have been quoted in recent reports stating that they are learning to respect creativity and are looking to make some change in their educational process. While I can appreciate the success of the 21st Century Asian Empire, I'm not buying into the hype that it is what we have to become. And as an American mom, I have a few words for you, Tiger Mom. First, calling your child "garbage" or rejecting a birthday card that your daughter made for you because you "deserve better" might work for you, but I beg to differ. Raising successful children doesn't require insults, fear and control. I seriously doubt it if Bill Gates or Mark Zuckerberg were raised by tiger moms! Successful children come from support, boundaries and unconditional love, and they must have an educational system that can support their needs while instilling a passion and fire to become life-long learners.

Discover Science 4 Kids: Sugar-ology was a SWEET Success!

2011-02-12T16:47:00.000-08:00

Discover Science 4 Kids: Sugar-ology was a SWEET Success!: "Have you heard the story about the boy whose stomach blew up when he drank Coke and ate Pop Rocks? Well...today at the Microsoft Sto..."

Sugar-ology was a SWEET Success!

2011-02-12T15:09:00.000-08:00

Have you heard the story about the boy whose stomach blew up when he drank Coke and ate Pop Rocks? Well...today at the Microsoft Store we BUSTED that myth. By using pop rocks and diet coke, we learned that when we mixed the two, there was just enough carbon dioxide gas produced to slightly blow up a balloon.

On our tour of the mall's "sweet spots" we spent time at the Sweet Factory and Godiva Chocolates to see how different confectioners market their products and then we made our own marshmallow taffy by using friction and heat from our hands. It was finger-licking good! We stepped outside to experiment with centrifugal force and demonstrate how its principles are used in making sugar floss (aka. cotton candy).

Back inside the Microsoft Store, Melissa from Biz in a Boxx worked with us on marketing our taffy as we designed our new candy logos and created homepages for our websites using Power Point. We spent the last part of the workshop collaborating and sharing our ideas, logos and web pages for the new sweet product that we had created.

Join us on February 26th to learn about the science, innovation and entrepreneurship of Slime-ology!

The Sweet Science of Sugar!

2011-02-03T14:31:00.000-08:00

Last week at our Microsoft workshop on Science, Innovation and Entrepreneurship we focused on GERMS! Our "Germ-ology" workshop took us out into the mall swabbing elevator buttons to grow gross, disgusting things in our petri dishes. We also learned about hand-sanitizer, how it's made and even better....how we can make it, package it, come up with a cool logo and SELL it!

Well...Valentines Day is upon us, and what better way to celebrate, than to learn about the science behind making candy! The steps for making candy can show us principals of physical chemistry and engineering while creating a yummy product that we consume in our everyday lives. I would never chew on glass; however, learning about candy making can also illustrate the principals for glass making and help us to better understand crystallization, viscosity and more!

At our February 12th workshop, we will learn the change that sugar goes through when heated, how cotton candy is made by using centrifugal force and what to do when changing a marshmallow into taffy. Biz in a Boxx will teach us how to start our own "candy biz" and the Microsoft Store will help us get started in building our own marketing website! Go to http://www.bizinaboxx.com/blog/events/ to register. This program is intended for kiddos in grades 3-6, is free and fills quickly.

Getting Lost on Our Way To the Top

2011-01-26T18:54:00.000-08:00

In a time where every academic area is tied to assessment and accountability, I'm thrilled that I have the opportunity to teach for fun! Science tends to be the other "S" word for some. It comes with a stigma, is difficult for some parents to discuss with their children and many elementary teachers are uncomfortable teaching it. Science is natural and everybody does it.

What's the matter...you! Everything in our world has matter and it matters...it's science! There is a science to breathing, the water that you drink is made up of two Hydrogen atoms and one Oxygen atom (and maybe a few other things depending on where you live) and the cookie that you ate...well...it's made up of different ingredients, all made from different elements and it undergoes a change when baked. Learning should be fun! Don't get me wrong, there is a need for standards and accountability, but how come we are taking all the fun out of learning?

It was a real eye-opener to me the other day, when a parent stopped me and said "I want to show you something." She pulled 3 school pictures from her wallet. The pictures were school pictures of her son from kindergarten through second grade. In the first picture, you could see a little boy, with a bright smile. He was happy to be at school and proud to have his picture taken at a place where he loved to be. The first grade picture resembled his kindergarten picture. A nicely dressed little boy with a big smile, but you could see that the twinkle in his eyes from the year before had all but faded. By the third picture there was no twinkle and the now second grader was missing a smile. In all reality, the picture resembled a mug-shot. The happy kindergarten boy was gone, and replaced by a student that seemed to look as if he was just one of many. No excitement, no smile, no twinkle, just an expressionless little face as if picture day was just one more "have to" in his everyday routine at school.

This boy was clearly not enjoying his academic career and he was only in second grade. I'm not saying that school should be all fun and no fundamentals, but why can't there be both. In a high-stakes, one size fits all system, we are losing focus on the one thing that matters...the student. I never hear about the student anymore, only about test scores, standards and competitive new twists by schools to bring dollars to their facility. Teachers that do well in balancing fun and fundamentals tend to burn out faster than most. We lose the great teachers too often.

I love teaching and inspiring young children to find their passion (my choice would be science) whatever it might be! Through science I aim to open their eyes to the world around them and the opportunities that lay ahead. I want science to become a subject that rolls off the tongue just like reading, writing and math do. Science should be something that is used for families to spend time together, experiment and explore the world around them. In a perfect world, we would all be passionate about the professions that we choose, be rewarded both monetarily and intrinsically and inspire those around us, whatever their passion might be. My only specification is that they could apply the "S" word to whatever it might be.

Microsoft Here We Come!

2011-01-18T22:10:00.000-08:00

In December, DS4K and Biz in a Boxx partnered together to bring students an afternoon of Science, Innovation and Entrepreneurship at the Microsoft Store. Well they loved it and want more! Starting on January 29th we will hold 5 workshops and the Microsoft Store will be joining in on the fun to provide the technology skills! Our first workshop will be GERM-OLOGY! Come join us and in collecting baceteria samples from around the mall...GROSS!!!! Then learn the science behind making and marketing your own hand sanitizer!

Why are science and entrepreneurship so important??? Well... how do products such as hand sanitizer, toothpaste, soaps and the foods we eat make it to the market place? It takes research, development, a business plan, distribution and a lot more to get the things that we consume on a daily basis into our homes. Have you ever thought about how the gum you just purchased was made, or how plastic that holds your household cleaners was developed? Most people don't give it much thought, but the scientists and inventors who developed or improved upon these basic products did, and many of them have made a FORTUNE!

So the next time you pick up some play-dough or use a magic erasing sponge, think about how that product was developed and the journey that it took to get into your hands. Question the scientific process, look at the packaging, pay attention to the product and ask yourself why you find that product appealing.

So come join us on January 29th! Who knows...maybe your child is holding back on the next "big thing!"

Happy New Year!

2011-01-02T22:04:00.000-08:00

While reflecting on how quickly 2010 flew by, I decided to grab some photos (some that have been seen and some that have not) and test my skills at creating an iMovie. So, click on the link and enjoy :)

Happy New Year!!!

Discover Science 4 Kids: Science Verse!

2010-12-30T10:00:00.000-08:00

Discover Science 4 Kids: Science Verse!: "Last week, a group of students from all over Scottsdale joined me to have some fun and learn about all things SCIENCE! We spent 3 days lea..."

Science Verse!

2010-12-29T13:07:00.000-08:00

Last week, a group of students from all over Scottsdale joined me to have some fun and learn about all things SCIENCE! We spent 3 days learning about surface tension, water molecules, space, insects and much more! We also combined our scientific study with literature. Our themes for the week were based on the book, Science Verse by Jon Scieszka. Illustrated by Lane Smith. Years ago I fell in love with Jon Scieszka's, The Stinky Cheese Man and Other Fairly Stupid Tales, and his latest book has not left me disappointed. Scieszka's collection of scientific poems are fun, cute and compliment science curriculum in a matter that helps children to better conceptualize what they are learning and discuss what they are reading. The integration of literature and science seemed so natural and this is a curriculum that I plan to continue offering for a long time!

Need Some Extra Time???

2010-12-15T10:57:00.000-08:00

Christmas is fast approaching and time is running out to do the traditional holiday tasks of shopping, cleaning and cooking. Well... you are in luck! Discover Science 4 Kids is offering a Winter Science Camp and it just happens to be located down the street from Scottsdale Fashion Square. Come for one day or all 4!!!! When your child attends our DS4K Winter Camp, you can be assured that he/she is having a great time learning about science through fun, interactive experiments, great books tied to what we are learning and hands-on projects. For more information go to susd.org/communityschools and click on the "camps" link.

Happy Holidays and we hope to see you at camp!

Miss Science and Biz in a Boxx team up with the Microsoft Store!

2010-12-13T10:17:00.000-08:00

On Saturday, December 11th DS4K and BIAB spent the afternoon at the Microsoft Store in Scottsdale Fashion Square, to teach kids about science through entrepreneurship. We had a great time learning about sensory science, chemistry and how to make bathbombs. Then Melissa from Biz in a Boxx shared with us the secret to earning money from our science project (the bathbomb). We learned the importance of making something appeal to our senses. Not only the smell of the bathbomb and how it feels, but also how we can package and market what we sell by making it visually appealing for potential buyers.

We started our workshop off by learning about sensory science and how companies actually employ people based on the quality of their sense of taste and smell. Some people are even paid to sniff armpits!!!! We learned the history of essential oils and how they have been used in many cultures for thousands of years. Then we took a look at the solvent for our bathbombs that we would make...H20! We learned about Hydrogen and Oxygen atoms and even made edible water molecules. Then we learned about acids and bases and how when they are combined through dissolving in this case, cause a chemical reaction. During this chemical reaction we are able to understand 3 states of matter. The bathbomb (solid), water (liquid) and the carbon dioxide gas that is produced from the bubbles that are created through the chemical reaction.

After we made our own bathbombs, Melissa gave us several examples of different types of packaging. She showed us what our cost would be for the products that we used, and what our profit would be if we used different packaging to charge more for our product by appealing to the buyer. We learned that you can start a business at any age and saw pictures of kids who have started companies selling everything from lemonade to bacon and more!

In the near future we will be offering more classes at the Microsoft store, partnering up with them as well to create an integrated curriculum that is Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics based (STEM). We'll keep you posted :)

Spooktacular Science Night at ANLC!

2010-12-10T15:51:00.000-08:00

Ok.... I'll be honest... up until now I haven't been very good about keeping up with my blogging. My new goal (before the New Year) is to post a minimum of one blog per week. So, I'm working backward.

I can't let October pass (and come on...it was the last week of October so technically it was closer to November) without posting about our 2nd Spooktacular Science Night at ANLC. ANLC's great PTO (Friends of ANLC) understands the importance of community science experiences and had me back for a 2nd year to have some SPOOKTACULAR SCIENCE fun! This year's them was The Spooktacular 5 Senses.

We learned about the chemistry of acids and bases by making bloody handprints, sight with eyeball dissections and much more! The best part of the night was the Pumkin Explosion! Always a fan favorite, Mr. Griser (aka. Dr. I. N. Stein) and myself thrilled the crowd and stimulated their sense of sound with our magic (ok...science)!

Checkout the Video!

Why?...Innovation

2010-12-06T21:37:00.000-08:00

In October, I had the opportunity to tour the "idea factory" of Thomas Edison at Greenfield Village in Dearborn, Michigan. To step into the lab where Edison created the incandescent light bulb and to actually stand in front of something so small, but would change the world, was needless to say...Amazing!

To think that Thomas Edison was a child that teachers found difficult and that he was eventually home-schooled by his mother also amazes me. Today, we would be quick to slap the label ADD on little Thomas and give him a hearty dose of daily medication to keep his mind from wandering. In today's society, where innovation and creativity are critical, why are we so focused on making students become convergent learners. To me, focusing on convergent learning, fosters narrow-mindedness and the inability to see the correlation in what surrounds you.

As a small child, Edison was always asking "why". Curiosity lead him to accidentally burn his fathers barn down and he was constantly conducting experiments. What would life be like for Thomas Edison in 2010? Would he go on to develop over 1,000 patents in his name? Unfortunately, I think not. So how do we bring creativity back? Our children are growing up in a world where they play with toys that do everything for them. There is no sense of developing something individualistic or unique.

Like young Thomas Edison, I have to ask WHY? Why does our culture celebrate instant gratification instead of analytical thinking and brawn over brains? Why do sports stars make $300,000 per week, while those who worked to educate and coach them in there formative years make around $900. WHY has science and its related fields like engineering, technology and mathematics earned a stigma, rather than celebration?

I don't have the answers, but hope work towards some solutions. 21st century skills are critical to the prosperity of our country, but should not be facilitated in an isolated fashion. Instead, let's take what we have and think like Edison. Go divergent. Push yourself to make connections with other subjects and find the relationships between each. As Thomas Edison once said: "If we did all the things we are capable of doing, we would literally astonish ourselves".

DS4K Hits the Airwaves

2010-05-29T01:34:00.000-07:00

On May 14th I had the opportunity to spend some time at Channel 12 and appear on Arizona Midday. It was so much fun! Three ANLC students and myself spent time with Destry Jetton talking about some fun science experiments that you can conduct in the kitchen. We spent our time on the air, teaching viewers how strong an egg can be and a little something about inertia. Then on Saturday, May 15th I hung out in the KFYI studio with my friend Jan D'Atri. We had the best time talking about some of the egg science we had done on Arizona Midday, as well as the importance of bringing kids into the kitchen. What a great weekend. You can go to www.discoverscience4kids.com and check out a clip from Arizona Midday, as well as listen to the podcast from Jan's show.

Night of Art and Science at ANLC

2010-05-13T22:30:00.000-07:00

I can't believe that this year is coming to a close. We just finished our 2nd Science Family Night at Arcadia Neighborhood Learning Center. We finished the year with a BLAST....literally! We had so much going on, including paper rocket launching (some ended up on the roof of the gym), making slime, and learning about oil spills. We also used liquid nitrogen to freeze bananas and strawberries and then crushed them into pieces with a hammer. My hands are blue now, from coloring bubble containers. And the WHOOSH bottle was a HUGE success. I wish I had pictures to share...but I was so busy having fun, that I forgot. If you took pictures, can you please forward them to me so that I can post them? THANKS for a great night!

Allowing Kids the Opprtunity to Explore

2010-05-06T11:15:00.000-07:00

So many times this year parents have told me, "I'm so happy that you do this stuff at school, so there won't be a mess at home". As a mom of 2, I see their point. Whether kiddos are creating a mess in Science Club, or at home, the important message is that they need to EXPLORE. Exploration seems to be a thing of the past. Kids today aren't offered the opportunity to just explore. Classroom assignments and lessons have become so "results focused", that children are being denied the opportunity to just take a minute and play, explore, dissect and observe.

Last week during our final Electricity and Energy Science Club we "dissected" old electronics. It was a HIT! For 5 weeks our club had been working on circuits, motors, switches and electromagnets. For our last club, I went to the local Goodwill and bought a bunch of old remote controls, tape recorders, and calculators.It was EXTREMELY inexpensive, with a total cost of $7.63 (just my luck...Thursdays are DOLLAR DAYS). I brought in screwdrivers and VOILA! They had the best time dissecting these electronics to see all of the things that they had been learning about. They found motors, learned about transformers through electromagnetism and were working so hard that they didn't want to stop when their parents arrived.

Allowing children to discover how things work for themselves, not only helps them to become independent learners, but also gives them the opportunity to experiment in a "non-results" oriented environment. Their natural curiosity is peaked and they begin to develop a love for something that is conceptually very difficult and could be intimidating in any other learning environment.

So get messy, go crazy and HAVE FUN WITH SCIENCE!

2010-04-01T09:12:00.000-07:00

Girls and Science

According to Braincake.org (Girls, Math & Science Partnership, a program of Carnegie Science Center)gender equity research shows that:

* The gender gap for math is closing;however, males still out number females represented in high-level math and science classes and in corresponding college courses.

* The American Association of University Women presented research pointing to environmental and social barriers that continue to block woman's participation and progress in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics).

* The Bayer Corporation surveyed its female and minority chemists and chemical engineers, and found that 40% reported that they had been deterred from pursuing a STEM career at some point-and many faulted the American educational system for being a discouraging environment for girls interested in STEM.

* Researchers at Cornell University found that women often opt out of STEM careers, and leadership positions in other fields, due to family demands.

We saw indicators for these statistics during our first session of robotics. Out of 18 students during the first session, only one girl was registered. Once we split the classes to include a boys and girls robotics class, we had a full class of girls (plus a waiting list). Boys have also outnumbered girls attending science club classes.

Jennifer Stancil, executive director for the Girls Math & Science Partnership states, "by helping girls to define themselves as bright and curious problem solvers, team players, and risk takers, GMSP is providing girls with creative ways to both connect to science and be captivated by it."

Parents and classroom educators need to provide and model positive science opportunities for girls. Science is in everything. Take the time to talk about science in your daily life (cooking, gardening, driving, eating...)whatever it may be. Turn your life and time with your child into a science experiment!

EGG-citing Science!

2010-03-31T10:27:00.000-07:00

At this time of the year we think of bunnies, eggs, flowers and everything that comes with Spring (including allergies):) Here's a fun and quick experiment that you can do with your children while decorating eggs.

EGG SPIN!
2 eggs- (one hard boiled one raw)
Flat surface (Kitchen table or counter)

1. Get both eggs spinning on the kitchen table.

2. Stop both eggs, then release them. Watch what happens.

3. The hard-cooked egg will remain stationary, but the raw egg will start spinning again. That’s because the liquid inside didn’t stop moving when you stopped the shell. The moving liquid starts the shell moving again.

4. Set the raw egg aside. Spin the hard-cooked egg again. Get it spinning very, very fast. Once it’s going fast enough, the spinning egg will spontaneously rise up on end and spin like a top.

5. If you don’t get the egg to stand on end the first time, try again. To stand on end, the egg must be spinning faster than about 10 revolutions per second. It took us a few tries to get the egg spinning fast enough.

What’s Going On? .

The short answer is: Friction between the eggshell and the tabletop pushes the spinning egg up.

This trick astounds people because the egg appears to be defying gravity. Rather than lying down comfortably (as many of us prefer), the egg spontaneously stands on end.
Some of the energy of the egg’s spin (kinetic energy) is converted to potential energy, the energy that’s stored in an object that has a distance to fall. When standing on end, the egg has more potential energy and less kinetic energy—at least for a few seconds.

'Legislative Alert 3-30-10'

2010-03-30T09:51:00.000-07:00

'Legislative Alert 3-30-10'

Discover Science 4 Kids STEM Summer Camp

2010-03-26T00:36:00.000-07:00

This year we will embark on our second year of Science Camp. I'm very excited to announce that our camp will take place at the Ocotillo Center for Creativity (Camelback and Granite Reef, Scottsdale). We listened to the feedback that we received from last year's camp and have added afternoon sessions and Fun Fridays. Something new to DS4K this year is ROBOTICS! We will offer 3 sessions of robotics, using the LEGO Mindstorm. This Class is filling FAST! For more information, please email me at sherri@discoverscience4kids.com

Happy Camping!

Sherri