What better way to get kids excited about science than with an experiment straight out of a spy novel? Write a secret message using colorless ink, wait for it to dry, then use a special secret solution to reveal the message. This activity was inspired by the Berlin blue experiment in this chemistry ...
Science
Extracting DNA from a Strawberry
This site uses affiliate links. I receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thank you!
Extracting DNA in the kitchen? I know what you're thinking. That *sounds* cool, but I'm sure it's way too complicated. At least, that's what I thought. I'd seen some instructions in the past that involved weird ingredients and lots of waiting and I figured, my kids won't be up for that. Then we did ...
Homemade Spinning Brushbot
This site uses affiliate links. I receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thank you!
What better way to get kids interested in science and technology than fun, hands-on projects that move on their own? This simple, homemade, spinning brushbot was inspired by the book How to Build Robots. This book recommends taking apart a battery-powered, electric toothbrush to get the parts for ...
Sassafras Science Adventures Review
This site uses affiliate links. I receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thank you!
I discovered Elemental Science's Sassafras Science Adventure series while searching for science curricula to use with my oldest child during his first grade year. It has become one of the few things that I've used all year long without modification. We like it so much, I plan to continue the ...
Simple Homemade Robot Car
This site uses affiliate links. I receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thank you!
Do your kids think robots are cool? I know mine do. We started off with our wigglebot and wobblebot which both moved in fun ways while more or less staying in the same spot. Then I made a propeller car which moved in a straight line by pushing air with a propeller. The supplies for all of these ...
Paleontology Cards
This site uses affiliate links. I receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thank you!
My oldest child has been very interested in dinosaurs since he was a toddler. Even though he's going on 7, whenever I ask him if there's anything he'd like to learn more about, "dinosaurs" is always at the top of his list. Over a year ago, I made these free dinosaur cards and lapbook to support his ...
Homemade Propeller Car
This site uses affiliate links. I receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thank you!
My kids love when we make little homemade "robots" that move and wiggle around. I've been wanting to make something more car or rover-like with wheels for awhile, but I wasn't exactly sure how to connect the motor to the wheels. This little propeller car kind of feels like cheating, since the ...
Homemade Steady Hand Game
This site uses affiliate links. I receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thank you!
Instead of having kids glued to hand-held devices this summer, why not have them make their own? A homemade, single-player, steady hand game is a fun, easy project for elementary-aged kids that teaches them a little bit about electricity. To play the game, kids try to follow a curved wire path with ...
Homemade Weather Vane and Compass Activity
This site uses affiliate links. I receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thank you!
There's been a lot of weather in my life recently. We just had a couple weeks of awesome summer weather followed by some sleet, snow, and hail. (Unfortunately, I wasn't paying much attention to the changes in weather and my 4 year old dressed herself in shorts and flip flops during one of our ...
Color Changing Acid-Base Experiment
This site uses affiliate links. I receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thank you!
When most people think about a stereotypical scientist, they probably envision a white lab coat, goggles, and test tubes. (For good reason...chemical reactions are fun!) When two substances are mixed together and the result is unexpected, you feel like a real chemist. I think all kids should have a ...
Michelle has a PhD in Engineering from Stanford University and a Bachelor's Degree from the California Institute of Technology. 