Science Buddies Blog (Page 59)

Glow-in-the-dark Nighttime Summer Science

June 23, 2015 6:00 AM

A test tube of phytoplankton offers a no-mess way to let kids observe biochemical processes, circadian rhythms, and bioluminescence. Move over fireflies, phytoplankton live longer, which makes them a great option for home science. On the first night of a fifth grade camping trip earlier this year, our group leader shuffled us all down to the beach in the dark. The kids were on a phytoplankton mission, and the dark beach was the place to be. The… Read more

Heat up Your Summer with Solar Science

June 22, 2015 9:00 AM

Bright summer light is perfect for exploring solar energy. Science Buddies' kid-friendly science project ideas make it fun and easy! By Kim Mullin Summer is almost here, so get ready for fun in the sun! With school out, there will be plenty of time to play in the water, eat popsicles, spit watermelon seeds, and much more. What do you like to do with your summer days? Learning through Exploration and Discovery When deciding how to spend your free time this summer, be sure to… Read more

Golden Rules of Photography: Family Science Spotlight

June 18, 2015 12:30 PM

Try this hands-on science experiment to learn about the golden rules of photography and improve your photo compositions. When you take a photo, do you put the subject right in the center? What happens to the same photo if you move the subject to the right of the frame, or to the left? These are questions a photographer asks herself every time she gets ready to snap a photo. Where should the subject "go" in the frame? In making this decision, a… Read more

The Most Magnificent Thing: Science Reading

June 15, 2015 7:00 AM

Another great read aloud book puts the engineering design process in action and in the hands of a charming young girl who has an idea for something she wants to build—and sets out to bring her idea to life. The Most Magnificent Thing by Ashley Spires (Kids Can Press) is a wonderful story for young engineers. Similar in concept to Rosie Revere, Engineer, The Most Magnificent Thing is the story of a young girl engineer and her best friend, dog. From the outset, readers are told that… Read more

Building Paper Bridges: Family Science Spotlight

June 11, 2015 11:00 AM

Build bridges from paper to explore civil engineering in this family STEM activity. Does the shape of the materials make a difference? What helps make a bridge strong? In this family science activity, explore bridge engineering with kids by making paper bridges that stretch between stacks of books. How does changing the shape of the materials (the paper) change the strength of the bridge? This is a fun and creative science activity you can do with… Read more

Do Even More with Your Raspberry Pi Projects Kit

June 10, 2015 11:00 AM

The new Raspberry Pi Projects Kit gives kids a chance to explore computer programming and electronics with a suite of creative projects using their own Raspberry Pi. After working through the Science Buddies activities, Adventures in Raspberry Pi is a great way to explore other things to do with Raspberry Pi and move on to programming with Python. With the Raspberry Pi Projects Kit, students can get up and running with a brand new Raspberry Pi (probably hooked to the living room TV!) and… Read more

Rosie Revere and Iggy Peck: Engineering Inspiration

June 8, 2015 8:00 AM

Don't miss this rhyming pair of picture books for STEM-focused summer reading. Each offers a charming illustration of engineering spirit. Kids can be engineers, too! For boys and girls alike, Rosie Revere, Engineer by Andrea Beaty and illustrated by David Roberts offers an exciting story of the engineering process and the importance of working and reworking designs. If you pick this book up, be prepared to read it out loud. Told in a singsong rhyme, this is the story of Rosie, a little… Read more

A Honeybee Mystery: Science Reading

June 3, 2015 10:45 AM

Readers of The Hive Detectives are treated to beautiful photographs and in-depth information about bees as they follow the path scientists took in tracking a global bee population crisis first identified in 2006. Image: "Beehives in Mankato, Minnesota" by Jonathunder via Wikimedia Commons Did you know that beekeepers keep beehives in stacked containers like the ones shown above? They look almost like sets of drawers! As you learn in The Hive… Read more

Throwing Balls and Trajectory: Weekly Family Science Activity

June 1, 2015 7:00 AM

In this week's spotlight: a physics-focused family sports science activity that may make a difference in your next game of catch! At what angle should you throw a ball if you want it to go as far as possible? This week's sports science activity helps students observe and quantify the relationship between launch angle and distance by getting outside, throwing balls with different trajectories, and seeing how far they go. What happens when you throw a ball very high, very straight, or with… Read more

The Video Game Science of Hit Boxes

May 28, 2015 3:56 PM

The classic game of Galaga provided inspiration for this sixth grade student as he designed his own video game to learn more about the role of hit boxes in creating a successful game. Above: Kolben with his 6th grade project on video game design. For kids who love video games, working on science, technology, engineering, and math projects that involve computer coding and video game design can be an exciting way to combine a personal interest with science exploration and the… Read more

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