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something to laugh at.

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can take children outside to pick out their own leaves. and see how leaves absorb water.

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Our latest science experiments for kids is all about leaves! We used colored water to observe how liquids move through the leaves of plants. This post also includes a free printable recording sheet.
NGSS: Disciplinary Core Idea LS1.C

With all the new growth in our yard this spring, we've been spending lots of time outside observing all the changes. Lucy has especially been interested in the parts of plants and flowers, so we decided to look more closely at the leaves of plants and trees in our yard with a leaf experiment for kids. (Be sure to check out our other plant & flower activities: Bean Dissection Experiment, Observing Plant Growth with Bulbs, and An Invitation to Explore Flowers.)

In this science experiment for kids we'll be observing how liquids travel through leaves over a period of three days. (This post contains affiliate links.)

Materials for Leaf Experiment

Procedure for Leaf Experiment

1. Start by taking a walk outdoors and collecting various leaves.

2. Snip off the bottom of each leaf stem. Then place each leaf in a glass filled about a third of the way with water.

3. Add red food coloring to the water. (We made our water a very dark shade of red to increase our chances of seeing changes in the leaves.)

4. Observe the leaves closely. (You can use a magnifying glass if you have one.) Record your observations of how they look on Day 1 of the experiment.

5. Observe them for the next two days. Be sure to record your observations in the correct area on your observation sheet.

What's Going On?

You should notice the red color move slowly through the leaf.

Here's a close-up of one leaf over three days.

The colored water was moving through the xylem tubes of the leaf. The xylem tubes of plants transport water and minerals up from the roots through the entire plant. (Their thick walls also provide support for the plant.)

Want to go even further?
Even more activities to inspire creativity and critical thinking for various ages.

Love awesome, hands-on STEM activities?

Check out our newest book, STEAM Kids with over 50 science, technology, engineering, art, and math activities to instill a love of learning and creativity in your child or students!

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Science for Kids: Exploring How Water Travels Through Leaves

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Our latest science experiments for kids is all about leaves! We used colored water to observe how liquids move through the leaves of plants. This post also includes a free printable recording sheet. NGSS: Disciplinary Core Idea LS1.C Follow our Science for Kids Pinterest Board!

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another cool activity to do with the children about planetariums

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Planetarium DIY Science Project with HobbyHarry by HobbyKidsTV

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A pretty cool gif to show the class when learning about volcanos

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Seeing how eggs reacts in different liquids, pretty cool!

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The Naked Egg Experiment | Biology for Kids

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The naked egg experiment is the perfect eggsperiment for a science fair project! Make several naked eggs to perform a science experiment with eggs in different liquids and learn about osmosis. With one egg in corn syrup and other eggs in salt water or seltzer water, kids may be surprised how the naked eggs change!

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super cool right? goes with multiple standards while making slime!

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Take This slime play to a whole new level with this amazing magnetic slime! slime recipe only takes a minute to make and requires few materials, making it one of my favorite play recipes for kids. Are you ready to

Rosie & Jewel love , so I knew that they would love
making slime that was "alive". Overall, this slime was easy to make, and it was so cool to watch my girls explore movement & magnetism with this amazing play material!

This activity is meant for children out of the mouthing stage, and close supervision is recommended. The is not safe to inhale or ingest. Be sure to wash kids hands once play time is over. magnetic powder Neodymium magnets are extremely strong. Please watch children closely. I recommend leaving the magnets attached to each other to avoid tiny fingers from getting pinched. It is also a good idea to keep the magnets away from electronics.

Combine the glue and the magnetic powder in a bowl, and stir until well mixed.

I recommend using a stirrer to mix the powder into the glue. We used a craft stick.

Once combined slowly add small amounts of liquid starch to the bowl and mix well. Continue to slowly add the starch & mix until the desired consistency is reached.

For most slime recipes we use equal parts of glue and starch, but for this particular recipe we needed more glue than starch, so I definitely recommend adding the starch SLOWLY. We used roughly 2 ounces of starch in total, and that gave us the perfect consistency for this slime.

Once you have the consistency down remove the from the bowl and knead it with clean, dry hands. After a bit of kneading the will be ready for play!

That is when the real fun starts!

Just look at those faces! Rosie & Jewel were AMAZED!

They played & played, moving and stretching the slime in magical ways.

Note: You need neodymium magnets for the slime to react, because traditional magnets aren't strong enough on their own, but you can still add other varying magnets to extend the fun. Combine a few magnets with t he neodymium magnets, and kids are sure to have a blast!

We love making our own play materials, but if you do not feel like making magnetic slime you can purchase a similar slime on Amazon here.

Magnetic slime can be stored in a zip-seal bag or airtight container between play, and it can be used again & again.

You can buy ferric iron oxide powder in most art & craft stores or online here.

You will need neodymium magnets for this, as regular magnets are not strong enough.

Liquid starch can be found in the laundry aisle of most stores or online here.

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Take This slime play to a whole new level with this amazing magnetic slime! slime recipe only takes a minute to make and requires few materials, making it one of my favorite play recipes for kids . Are you ready to Rosie & Jewel love , so I knew that they would love making slime that was "alive".

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super cute and cool idea for both the boys and the girls, while making their own

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This post may contain affiliate links.

This two-ingredient project has a big WOW factor, and it's become a favorite in our house. I am always on the lookout for cool science experiments for kids that I can do right in my kitchen. This growing crystals experiment fits the bill!

How to Conduct the Crystal Growing Experiment

You could make any shape, really, but we decided on bunny rabbits for Easter. Borax and boiling water are all it takes to grow crystals! And they are so sparkly and awesome.
You will need:

Pipe cleaners

Borax (found in the laundry section of stores)

Boiling water

Wide mouthed jars or other glass containers

Pencils

String

Food coloring (optional)

Instructions:

1. Bend the pipe cleaner into the shape you want and tie a string to it. Attach the other end of the string to a pencil.

2. Combine 1 cup of boiling water per 3 tablespoons of Borax. Our jars held 3 cups of water and 9 tablespoons of Borax. Stir until dissolved completely. Add food coloring, if desired.

3. Drop the pipe cleaner bunny into the Borax solution, making sure that it is not touching the sides or bottom of the jar. Lay the pencil across the top of the jar.

4. Let the experiment sit for at least 6 hours, or overnight. You will have beautiful, sparkly crystals all over the pipe cleaner.

5. Carefully remove the pipe cleaner from the Borax solution and place it on a paper towel to drain, then on wax paper to dry further.

Caution: This experiment should be done with adult supervision. Borax can cause irritation if it gets in the eyes and is harmful if ingested. Avoid breathing Borax dust.

The food coloring made the borax and water mixture look pretty while the crystals were growing but it didn't actually color the crystals. The crystals are actually white. It's the color of the pipe cleaner that comes through.

Clean up: Crystals will also likely grow on the bottom of the jars. To loosen them, fill the jar with hot water and use a fork or butter knife to free them. We loved examining the handful of crystals that came from the jar bottoms.

The Science Behind the Experiment

The Borax crystals experiment creates a chemical reaction between two ingredients: Borax and water.

Solubility is the degree to which one ingredient can dissolve into another. In this experiment, we are dissolving Borax into water. The solubility increases as the temperature increases, so the boiling water makes the Borax more soluble.

As the water cools, the Borax separates from the water and settles on the pipe cleaner and the bottom of the jar, forming crystals. More crystals form on top of crystals. Isn't that cool?

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Cool Science Experiments: Growing Crystals | Creekside Learning

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This post may contain affiliate links. This two-ingredient project has a big WOW factor, and it's become a favorite in our house. I am always on the lookout for cool science experiments for kids that I can do right in my kitchen. This growing crystals experiment fits the bill!

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great Idea, did the same thing when I was in 6th grade.

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Looking for a fun candy science experiment?! Learn about osmosis with this oh-so-simple gummy bear science experiment!

Go ahead! Raid your candy stash - and this time you can do it in the name of science!

Follow the simple step-by-step below and then grab 30 more easy-to-follow science experiments kids will beg to repeat (plus a no prep science journal to keep track of their results!) in our shop!

Getting Ready

To prep, I gathered 2 small bowls, water, salt and gummy bears, of course. It couldn't get much simpler than that.

Growing Gummy Bears

In this candy science experiment, we compared gummy bears left in water to those placed in salt water.

To get started, we needed to make about a cup of supersaturated salt water solution. So, we added salt, a little bit at a time, to a cup of boiling water until no more salt dissolved. (Please use caution when allowing your little one to work with hot water.)

Once the water couldn't hold anymore salt, we let it cool in the fridge. If you use warm water for your experiment, you could melt your gummy bear.

When the salt water cooled, it was time to fill the bowls. My kids poured a little salt water in one bowl and plain tap water in another.

Next, we gathered our gummy bears and compared them to pick ones of similar size.

They placed a couple gummy bears in the salt water and a couple in the plain water. They wanted to eat the remaining gummies, but I reminded them we needed to save them as the controls. We wanted to be sure we could compare what happened to the ones we put in the different water solutions.

Now all we had to do was wait!

We started this experiment in the evening so we waited overnight.

You'll need to let them soak for several hours, but I wouldn't leave them for longer than overnight or they might fall apart on you.

My 5 year-old predicted the gummy bears in the plain water would expand and the ones in the salt water would shrink.

This is what we found the next morning....

The yellow bear was the control, the red was the salt water gummy and the green was soaked in plain water.

Both kiddos were surprised to see how much bigger the bears soaked in plain water had become. They noticed the bears soaked in salt water were a little bit bigger but not that much.

My curious 3 year-old decided he needed to eat his gummy and popped a salt water gummy in his mouth. Oh, was he surprised when it was salty on the inside!

The Science Behind Growing Gummy Bears

To make gummy bears, sugar, gelatin and flavor are dissolved in a warm water solution.

As the solution cools, water leaves the gelatin solution and the bears become firm but chewy. (Not all the water leaves the gelatin however, otherwise the gummy bears would be rock hard.)

It's this little bit of water that makes the gummy bears act as a solution of water, one with a lot of sugar dissolved in it.

The plain water in the bowl, however, had very little dissolve in it. We've learned from our egg experiment (the one with the dissolved shell) that different solutions of water will want to balance each other.

The plain water, with very little dissolved in it, will move toward the solution of water with a lot dissolved in it, the gummy bear.

This movement of a solvent from one of lower concentration to higher concentration is called osmosis.

The force behind that movement of water is called osmotic pressure.

In the bowl with the salt water, we tried to balance the amount of stuff (salt) dissolved in the water with the amount of sugar dissolved in the gummy bear.

Since our gummy bear placed in the salt water solution did expand a little bit, we knew our salt water solution did have a lot dissolved in it but not quite as much as the gummy bear did.

So, a little water moved into the gummy bear to balance the two solutions.

More Simple Science Kids Will Love

Inspire kids to LOVE science with 30 more jaw-dropping experiments they'll beg to repeat!

Grab the easy-to-follow directions (plus a no prep science journal to keep track of their results!) in our shop!

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Looking for a fun candy science experiment?! Learn about osmosis with this oh-so-simple gummy bear science experiment! Go ahead! Raid your candy stash - and this time you can do it in the name of science!

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super cool idea to try with the kids

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This is such a fun science experiment! These Lava Lamp Bottles are easy to put together and great for kids at any age. Lava Lamp Bottles are a fun science project children of all ages can make and experiment with! Get ready to inspire your little scientists with this super cool beginner Chemistry experiment. Your children will want to keep this bubbling hands-on activity going as long as they can. Have Fun!

Lava Lamp Bottles

Easy to Make Lava Lamp Science Experiment

This is a safe and fun science experiment you can do at home or in a classroom. It's a lot of fun if you have a group of children and each child can have their own supplies.

Lava Lamp Science Project

What you will need to make your Lava Lamp Science Experiment is in this picture below. However, I have it displayed in list form towards the bottom of the page. Have Fun!

affiliate links can be found on this blog at no cost to you.

This lava lamp experiment is super cool and your kids will love exploring the different colored water and oil. Have fun with hands on science projects.

How to Make Lava Lamp Bottles

Start your experiment by filling each empty bottle about ¾ of the way full with oil. Then fill it the rest of the way with water until it gets to be about 2 inches from the top.

Next, put in 4-5 drops of food coloring into each bottle. Kids love doing these few steps. Finally, have your child drop an antacid tablet into each bottle and watch all the bubbles start up and float all around like a lava lamp. These are such fun and easy lava lamp bottles.

After the tablets were all dissolved, and the bubbles calmed down, we added another tablet to each of the bottles and repeated the lava effect. The kids loved it and the more bubbles, the better for them.

Lava Lamp Experiment
If you want to talk Chemistry with your kids and you're looking for a simple explanation, try this.
Oil and Water don't mix because they can not form any chemical bonds together.
Alka-Seltzer tablets contain sodium bicarbonate and citric acid so when you mix them with water, they react by producing bubbling carbon dioxide.
Add that all together and you get a fun DIY Lava Lamp.

Lava Lamp Science Project Video

Lava Lamp Bottles
What's Needed
2 Empty Water Bottles or Gatorade Bottles
Oil (vegetable or canola)
Antacid Tablets, like Alka-Seltzer
Food Coloring, 2 colors
Water
Directions
1. Fill each empty bottle about ¾ of the way full with oil.
2. Fill the rest the way with water until about 2 inches from the top.
3. Put in 4-5 drops of food coloring into each bottle.
4. Drop an antacid tablet into each bottle and watch all the bubbles start up and float all around like a lava lamp.
5. After the tablets were all dissolved, and the bubbles calmed down, I added another tablet to the bottles and repeated the lava effect.
Fun Science experiment for kids to do!
Science Books for Kids

Pin This Fun Lava Science Experiment to Save for Later

SCIENCE FOR KIDS

Studies have shown that if you like this, you will also love the following articles. I have pulled them together for you right here!

Lava Lamp Science Project for Kids

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Lava Lamp Science Project - How to Make a Lava Lamp - Natural Beach Living

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This is such a fun science experiment! These Lava Lamp Bottles are easy Lava Lamp Project and great for kids at home or in a classroom. How to Make Lava Lamp Bottles with a homemade lava lamp science project, Lava Lamp Bottles are a fun science project children of all ages can make and experiment with!

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really good website to have.

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Kids are curious and always looking to explore, discover, check out, and experiment to discover why things do what they do, move as they move, or change as they change! My son is now 13, and we started with simple science activities around three years of age with simple baking soda science.

Here are great tips for making science experiments enjoyable at home or in the classroom.

Safety first: Always prioritize safety. Use kid-friendly materials, supervise the experiments, and handle potentially hazardous substances yourself.

Start with simple experiments: Begin with basic experiments (find tons below) that require minimal setup and materials, gradually increasing complexity as kids gain confidence.

Use everyday items: Utilize common household items like vinegar and baking soda, food coloring, or balloons to make the experiments accessible and cost-effective.

Hands-on approach: Encourage kids to actively participate in the experiments rather than just observing. Let them touch, mix, and check out reactions up close.

Make predictions: Ask kids to predict the outcome before starting an experiment. This stimulates critical thinking and introduces the concept of hypothesis and the scientific method.

Record observations: Have a science journal or notebook where kids can record their observations, draw pictures, and write down their thoughts. Learn more about observing in science. We also have many printable science worksheets.

Theme-based experiments: Organize experiments around a theme, such as water, air, magnets, or plants. Even holidays and seasons make fun themes!

Kitchen science: Perform experiments in the kitchen, such as making ice cream using salt and ice or learning about density by layering different liquids.

Create a science lab: Set up a dedicated space for science experiments, and let kids decorate it with science-themed posters and drawings.

Outdoor experiments: Take some experiments outside to explore nature, study bugs, or learn about plants and soil.

DIY science kits: Prepare science experiment kits with labeled containers and ingredients, making it easy for kids to conduct experiments independently. Check out our DIY science list and STEM kits.

Make it a group effort: Group experiments can be more fun, allowing kids to learn together and share their excitement. Most of our science activities are classroom friendly!

Science shows or documentaries: Watch age-appropriate science shows or documentaries to introduce kids to scientific concepts entertainingly. Hello Bill Nye and the Magic Schoolbus! You can also check out National Geographic, the Discovery Channel, and NASA!

Ask open-ended questions: Encourage critical thinking by asking open-ended questions that prompt kids to think deeper about what they are experiencing.

Celebrate successes: Praise kids for their efforts and discoveries, no matter how small, to foster a positive attitude towards science and learning.

Free Science Journal Worksheets

Create a science notebook with these easy-to-use science worksheets to accompany any experiment. Grab your free science process journal pack!

What is the Scientific Method for Kids?

The scientific method is a way scientists figure out how things work. First, they ask a question about something they want to know. Then, they research to learn what's already known about it. After that, they make a prediction called a hypothesis.

Next comes the fun part - they test their hypothesis by doing experiments. They carefully observe what happens during the experiments and write down all the details. Learn more about variables in experiments here.

Once they finish their experiments, they look at the results and decide if their hypothesis is right or wrong. If it's wrong, they devise a new hypothesis and try again. If it's right, they share their findings with others. That's how scientists learn new things and make our world better!

Go ahead and introduce the scientific method and get kids started recording their observations and making conclusions. Read more about the scientific method for kids .

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50 Fun Kids Science Experiments - Little Bins for Little Hands

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Over 50 fun science experiments for kids! Simple science activities you can do at home or in the classroom.

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10 different candy experiments to try with the kids

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We've been on quite a candy experiment kick lately! I mean, who doesn't love taking your favorite candy (or left over treats from Halloween) and turning them into learning fun? That's why I thought it would be really fun to gather this list of awesome candy experiments for kids!

{THIS POST MAY CONTAIN AFFILIATE LINKS TO MATERIALS I RECOMMEND. ANYTHING YOU PURCHASE THROUGH THESE LINKS HELPS SUPPORT LEMON LIME ADVENTURES. THANK YOU IN ADVANCE FOR CHOOSING TO SUPPORT US.}

10 Awesome Candy Experiments for Kids

Edible Rock Cycle with Starbursts

Sink or Float with Candy Bars

Dissolving Chemistry Experiment with Peeps

Predicting and Graphing with Tootsie Roll Pops

Dissolving Chemistry Experiment with Candy Pumpkins

Candy Potions with Skittles and Licorice

STEM Challenge with Candy Pumpkins

Density Jars with Skittles

Magic Ghosts with Pop Rocks

Disappearing M's with M&M Candy

And just to add a tad bit of entertainment, I have to add our favorite commercial we found while watching videos the other day on YouTube. The boys asked me if there was a way I could add it to the site, and this seems like the perfect post! This video is a science experiment testing the effects of candy on children! We hope you enjoy it as much as we did!

More Candy Experiments for Kids

A Massive Library of Candy Experiments | Candy Experiments.com

Candy Chemistry Experiments | Steve Spangler

Candy Activities for Kids | Learn Play Imagine

Do you have a favorite Halloween or Fall Science Experiment? I would love to know! Connect with me on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, Pinterest, Instagram or subscribe by email. I can't wait to hear your ideas.

ARE YOU READY FOR MORE SCIENCE FUN?

Every Saturday we will get so many wonderful ideas linked up from around the web that we have decided we want to feature some of these great ideas. That's why every Saturday, I will pick from the posts linked up and feature my absolute favorites. This might be a hard choice to make, luckily you can always head over to last week's post and check out more great science resources!

This Week's Feature: Halloween Chemistry for Kids
Planet Smarty Pants
VISIT THESE GREAT BLOGGERS FOR MORE FUN SATURDAY SCIENCE EXPERIMENTS TOO!

Candy Math and Science from The Science Kiddo

Weighing Activity Hands-On Math Play from Little Bins For Little Hands

The Science Behind Cranberries from Stir the Wonder

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10 of the most awesome candy experiments for kids all in one place! You have to see the video! It is awesome! Perfect for halloween candy or year round.

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fun and delicious experiment for students to try.

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Have you ever tried to make the M of an M&M candy float? We did! The floating M candy science experiment is easy, quick, and pretty cool! We went crazy with the candy science, candy STEM, and candy math activities this year. We have tons of holiday candy leftover, and we can totally use it for f un science and STEM instead.

FLOATING M SCIENCE EXPERIMENT FOR COOL CANDY SCIENCE!

Candy science is hands-on learning that's tasty, fun, and educational too! Of course, you might have to try a piece or two in the process like we did with our Candy Taste Test Experiment! Now that was a science for the senses!

Our latest candy science experiment with leftover candy is to see if we could get a floating m off of an M&M. Find out the science behind how the M floats off the candy below or is it magic?

MORE FUN CANDY SCIENCE, STEM, AND MATH
Looking for easy to print activities, and inexpensive science experiments? We have you covered... Click below to get your quick and easy science activities.
YOU WILL NEED:

M&M's in all colors. Making a rainbow is fun.

Shallow bowl or mini cups (you can try this in individual cups like you see below or in one cup like the video)

So how does a floating m happen? First, you need to fill your container{s} with water. Place M&M's m side up in the water. What happens to the M&M? It sinks. Have your kids make a prediction before dropping them into the water.

Or try a single cup version for a fun and unique effect too!
Looking for easy to print activities, and inexpensive science experiments? We have you covered... Click below to get your quick and easy science activities.
The floating m doesn't happen immediately, but the color dissolving off of the M&M happened almost immediately. You may have to wait up to 10 minutes to see this happen.

The materials used to color the m&m aren't afraid of water, so they dissolve quickly and make rainbow colored water! The chocolate on the other hand did not dissolve quickly, but we wanted to see the floating m!

SIMPLE FLOATING M SCIENCE

And there it is! The floating m! Why does the M float? Some parts of this favorite candy are water soluble. What does water soluble mean? It dissolves in water of course! Water molecules are able to surround the molecules of the solid and dissolve it into the water.

With this floating M activity, you can see the colored shell of the candy is water soluble. However, the special m is not! As the shell dissolves, the M floats free.

It's made out of edible paper. You can also see this paper on cakes. My son wanted to go out and get a piece to eat, but I convinced him it wouldn't taste that great!

Turn it into an experiment and check out if Skittles candy works the same way?

Some other fun science to think about what solids dissolve in liquids. Set up a whole candy dissolving science experiment with your leftover candy. Of course, the classic skittles science is always fun to watch (video too)!

The first to float was the red m&m. They did not all have a floating m immediately. In fact, the last to go was blue.

It took about 10ish minutes to see the first floating m. They all floated by 20 minutes. We didn't set a stopwatch, but that would be a fun addition for STEM learning.

Can you make an m float for your next kitchen science experiment? Dig into your kid's candy bucket to find out! There's so much to learn already available at your fingertips. Set up simple science anytime at home.

THE FLOATING M IS COOL SCIENCE FOR KIDS OF ALL AGES!
More great candy learning ideas..click photo Looking for easy to print activities, and inexpensive science experiments? We have you covered... Click below to get your quick and easy science activities.

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Floating M Candy Science Experiment for Kids Candy STEM

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The magic floating m! Have you ever tried it? The classic floating m candy science experiment is easy and fun for kids of all ages. Explore water solubility with this dissolving candy science activity. Also fun is the classic skittles science experiment! We have videos for both great candy science experiments.

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Another great way to teach the water cycle.

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These water cycle science fair projects are inspirations and fun experiments for teachers, homeschool parents, and students.

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This a great idea if you're teaching the rain cycle or even weather!

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Science was the last subject area I taught during our day in the classroom. After a morning of literacy, lunch, recess and math, it was finally time to teach some science lesson plans. Honestly, I was usually exhausted by the time science rolled around.

Overwhelmed with Science

Setting out a ton of materials and making sure I knew the procedures for a complex experiment was not something I wanted to do...like ever! The last thing I wanted to do was go on a late night run to the store. Or even worse, sending a kid down the hall to grab a material from another teacher.

Don't get me wrong, I love teaching science and love watching my students explore and investigate during our science lessons. However, I had to find something that worked for me.

And simplifying my science activities was the answer.

Simple Science Experiments

Simple science experiments are my favorite to use and by far a hit with my learners because...a happy teacher makes for a fun experiment. Am I right???

I have a few experiments that are on the top of my science list because they are easy to plan, prep and teach with little learners. One of the simplest experiments that my learners enjoyed so much was showing how clouds make rain.

Time for Prep

Some of the strangest things are usually staples in a kindergarten classroom. A jar or clear cups , shaving cream and food coloring might seem like random materials to have in a classroom, but alas, they are the norm. The fact that I could grab these materials from my own room without a late night trip to Walmart is always a bonus.

Collaborate Science

Not only is the prep easy, but the experiment is simple enough for little ones to join in. First, we walked through the experiment together in a group. This way, I was able to engage my learners with questions before, during and after the experiment.

After we did the experiment together, my little scientists learned how rain falls down from clouds. Then, I let them get some practice. After writing the procedure in their science notebooks they were able to break up into groups and practice on their own.

Hands On Science

I love hearing how this simple science experiment is working in other classrooms and homes. It is one thing for it to work with my learners, but to hear that others are enjoying the simple science fun makes it even better.

We did this experiment last year, and my students loved it! We had such great conversations about the types of clouds and how they change when it gets windy or stormy. It was wonderful. Lets just say when six kids go through a whole can of shaving cream and are choosing to repeat the experiment over and over, you know it was a success! I will definitely be doing this one again this year! - Jenny

Science Tools

Another way I keep science simple is with my science notebook. Not only are there specific science activities, but the general experiment and exploration pages always save the day when I am in a crunch. I usually create a science chart based on my science notebook pages to complete together. Then let my learners create their own using a printable for their notebook.

Free Science Chart

My goal is to make science and specifically this simple experiment easier for you in your classroom. I have a free science chart printable that will help you create an engaging visual for your learners during this activity. Just grab the printable by click the MJCS download image at the bottom of this post.

And follow these four, yep...just four, steps for your science procedure and science chart.

1. Fill the cup with water (air)

2. Add a thin layer of shaving cream (clouds - water vapor)

3. Place drops of blue food coloring on the top of the shaving cream (water droplets)

4. Wait for the "rain" to fall

For this experiment it is important to remind learners that this activity shows how the water gets heavier on the top of the cloud and gravity makes it fall as rain. Let them know that we use the shaving cream and food coloring to represent the different forms of water we can easily see. Want to check out my science notebook?
Check out why I use a science notebook in my classroom here.

Another great resource to use with this experiment is my Weather Watcher's Thematic Unit! Turn your little learners into little meteorologists! They will love observing the weather each day along with learning the tools that it takes to measure our weather!

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Simple Science Experiment: Let's Make Rain - Mrs. Jones Creation Station

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Science was the last subject area I taught during our day in the classroom. After a morning of literacy, lunch, recess and math, it was finally time to teach some science lesson plans. Honestly, I was usually exhausted by the time science rolled around.

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The place to go if you want to find a funny science t-shirt to wear while you do a specific lesson

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Funny Science T-Shirts, Hoodies & Tank Tops | SnorgTees

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Shop SnorgTees.com for a huge collection of original, unique and funny science t-shirts, hoodies, and tank tops for men, women and kids. Chemistry, biology, physics, space humor and more.

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Cool idea to make fake snow and to get into the holiday spirit!

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How many times have you been stuck inside with the kids on a cold winter's day? Take advantage of those days to do some awesome snow science while staying cozy inside! In this post you will discover how to make a snowman that magically gets bigger and bigger.

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Funny gif that shows the plants

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cool science Gif, that acknowledges how we do need to listen to science.

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Funny science poster to have just for the laugh of it.

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This site is a curated collection of phenomena for the NGSS, along with help for how to use phenomena in 3 Dimensional teaching and learning.

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shows students that being able to try is a super job!

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Many years ago when I was just beginning teacher training in college I remember being told to start a bulletin board portfolio. We were required to take photographs and create displays of ideas. During my observations and then internship I dutifully took pictures and kept my scrapbook of photos. I don't remember, but I probably got an A on that little assignment.

Truth: That scrapbook did not prepare me for making bulletin boards. Those photos did not teach me how to attach border quickly or how to add doo-dads to make the boards more interesting.

And now here I am in my teaching journey and I still have to make bulletin boards. And to this, I say, "Thank you Pinterest and cute fonts!"

And, thank you to the party section at Target... Keep reading!

Is This Really Easy? YES!

So, let's make this as easy as possible. In fact, I love lists (as much as I love bulletin boards) so follow my simple steps:

1. Choose a quote you like. (I have tons of ideas!)

2. You need a nice background on your board. (I prefer a chalkboard paper because it makes the letters pop.)

3. Pick your border. (More about that below.)

4. Print your letters and cut them out. (More about that below and it really does not take long to cut the letters out. I do it while listening to an audiobook!)

5. Grab some easy to make decor and attach everything to your board! (Target or Hobby Lobby both have so many options in the party departments.)

Choosing Border and Letter Colors

When I first started printing letters and creating bulletin boards like these, I just grabbed my colored cardstock and picked colors I liked. Well, that sometimes works, but I have a better plan for you!

First, choose a border that you like and also one that somewhat fits your theme. For one of my more recent boards, I picked an animal print made of neon colors.

After you have the border chosen, then pick your letter colors. It's so much easier to do this after you have the border! To go with that animal print border I just chose several colors of Astrobrights cardstock.

Science Boards are the BEST!

This board was inspired by some challenges we were completing that involved Newton's Laws of Motion. I picked the green border because I knew I was using a lot of red for the letters and decor.

I made the large apple out of tissue paper. I just cut out the apple shape using about 20 layers of tissue. Then I used a glue stick to randomly glue pieces together. When I opened it a honey-comb effect was created. No, I didn't invent this- I had already purchased a honey-comb package for another board and just copied it!

Speaking of three-dimensional shapes! If you like those spherical shapes try the party section at Target. You can get so many colors of spheres and other shapes. They are made to make a fully round shape, but for a bulletin board just open them halfway.

I love this one about Mistakes. I picked the blue border because I knew I was going to use that superhero girl. The pile of spheres in the corner didn't seem to be enough so I made paper fans and attached those, too.

This quote made me focus on the word Magic and what represents that better than a magic wand! So I made one using a large paper star and some ribbon streamers. I had a dowel stick already, but if you don't have one you could just use a roll of paper or some straws.

For this one about Weird Science, I picked the border first and then added the spots as decorations. Super easy to make!

DISCLAIMER

Do I make bulletin boards all the time! NOPE! I have nine foot long boards and section them into three small boards. All the samples I am sharing are made on those smaller areas! And I leave them on display for a while! Like more than a month or two...

Our Newest Displays - STEM Boards

Someone recently asked if I had bulletin board templates that were more for STEM than Science. Well, I didn't, but I decided that would be an easy fix! Take a look!

The one below is one of my very favorites! I love the quote and it was really simple to make. I used the letter template and just played with the letter sizes on my copier. Once I had the letters in the sizes I thought would work then I just had to arrange the words into a lightbulb shape! I love the way it turned out!

This quote is perfect for STEM Class because we do always work together. The quote made me think of how puzzle pieces fit together so that's what I used to decorate the board. The pom-pom garland is another Target find!

Of course, I thought about STEM class when I found this quote and making the gear structures was so fun. I made the large gears out of rolls of paper and then added some gear covers to some of those towers. It is a very dimensional board! When I finished it I thought it needed a little something more so I wound yarn around some of the gears to connect them!

This is another one that I love! I used the same structures that are on the board above and just made them shorter. They look like dimensional flowers!

Here's another TRUTH: I chose the border and printed the words before I started putting it all together. I later discovered I did not have enough border to go all the way around! So I used paper scraps and made a fringe at the bottom of the board to match the large flowers on top! Win-win!

I hope you love these as much as I loved making them! Both sets are in my Teachers Pay Teachers store. Just click on any of the images to view them!

In this post, for your convenience, you may find Amazon Affiliate links, which means Amazon passes tiny amounts on to me- if you purchase something through that link, at no extra cost to you. This helps keep this little blog running!

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Science and STEM Bulletin Boards! Templates for four boards with great ideas for elementary science or STEM displays and projects for classroom teachers. Images are included to customize your boards by printing letters and designing your own displays. Easy and fun ideas to add a science bulletin board to your classroom!

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Despicable me scientist bulletin boards.

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Despicable me scientist bulletin boards.

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these cute minions will help students remember to bring supples and to be creative!

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Prep for the school year with these fun Minion classroom ideas!

The "Despicable Me" Minions are no strangers to kids. What better way to celebrate their new movie release than to create Minion-themed classroom decorations? Here are 8 different ways decorate your classrooms with Minions:

1. Download a printable Classroom Management Set.

Get your students excited about being in the classroom with these awesome Minion-themed labels! There is no better way to manage the class than with Minion-themed decor. You can purchase these labels and the rest of the Minions Classroom Management Set here.

2. Dress up the classroom door.

There are a "Minion" ways for you to decorate your classroom door! Find more inspiration for door decorations on Pinterest here.

3. Decorate the bulletin board.

Show off your students' work on a cute bulletin board like this one!

4. Print out a Minion-themed calendar.

If a bulletin board isn't enough, you'll love these Minion calendar friends that can be used every single day of the week! Print these out and laminate them for Minion fun all year long! You can purchase yours here.

5. Create your own posters for the classroom.

Instead of purchasing and printing out labels and decorations, get creative by making your own informative posters for the classroom! Learn how to make this lab safety poster here.

6. Give your students Minion bookmarks.

These DIY popsicle bookmarks are fun and your students can write their names on the bottom so they know which one is theirs! Learn how to make these guys here.

7. Give your students a Minion name tag.

A super easy craft and perfect for the beginning of the school year.

8. Have a movie day filled with Minion themed snacks.

Put on "Despicable Me" and treat your students to a movie day with some of these adorable Minion-themed treats!

You can find the recipe for the Minion cupcakes here.
You can find the Minion Munch instructions here.

Get ready to have your best school year yet with more resources for the classroom!

Learn how to master lesson planning with our free "How To Build the Perfect Lesson Plan" eBook! Filled with 8 printable templates, tips from teachers across the country, and direct links to additional online resources, this is the only lesson planning guide you'll ever need.

This post was written by Linda Cheung, a social media intern at BookPal. She is currently readingModern Romance by Aziz Ansari.

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8 Minion Classroom Ideas You'll Want to Try This Year

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The "Despicable Me" Minions are no strangers to kids. What better way to celebrate their new movie release than to create Minion-themed classroom decorations? Here are 8 different ways decorate your classrooms with Minions: Get your students excited about being in the classroom with these awesome Minion-themed labels!

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fun tools and cool ways to explain and present science and science safety to the teachers.

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One of my most often asked questions during back to school time is, "When do we start science?". I've never met a child who didn't love science and especially science experiments. These teaching ideas and beginning of the year science activities will help you introduce science in your classroom and lay a foundation for future science studies.

Discuss & determine what scientists do

Most students arrive in my classroom knowing what a scientist is and have an idea of what a scientist does. Expand on that knowledge by reading books about scientists and the process they use. Take the opportunity to discuss science as knowledge and understanding about our natural world that is based on facts that scientists learn through observation, experimenting, collaboration, and problem solving.

I like to center my lessons around questions I pose to students. Each day we have a mini lessons to ask and answer a new question. Students are paired for partner talks to discuss them further before coming back to the group and sharing their thoughts. Some of the questions they discuss are, "What jobs do scientists do?" and "What skills do scientists use to do their jobs?". Build on this throughout the year as you introduce technology, engineering, and math into your science lessons.

Identify ways we use science

Students are always amazed by all of the ways they use science in their daily lives. Most have been taught in prior grades that science is all around them but when they think about the daily impact and get specific, the list is pretty impressive. Have your students write their ideas on sticky notes and add them to a class chart.

Familiarize students with science tools and their purpose

In addition to learning the names of science tools it is important to teach students their purpose. Many tools can be used for more than one task while some are used specifically for one job.

Use picture cards to introduce science tools and explain their purpose. Help students categorize the tools by asking, "Which tools are used to measure?" and "Which are used to magnify?".

Teach science safety rules at the beginning of the year

At the beginning of the year, and definitely before conducting experiments in your classroom, introduce science safety rules and teach the routines, and procedures you will use. Setting expectations at the start and reviewing them before each class activity and experiment will help avoid accidents, keep behavior in check, and keep things running smoothly.

Use practice activities to reinforce the rules and give students situations to consider.

Set up a science journal routine

As you plan science at the beginning of the year set up a journal routine. Whether you use blank composition books or make lesson response journals for each science unit you teach, have your students keep a science journal. Students can use these to record new vocabulary, write to explain procedures, take notes, record data, and plan experiments.

Introduce the steps of the scientific method

There are many processes scientists use to test ideas and and answer questions. One process is the scientific method. Teach students the steps to this method that scientists use to guide them while experimenting and testing hypotheses. Help students to understand that all scientists use this method as an organized and formal way to answer questions and prove or disprove a theory.

While there are many other processes scientist use that include math, engineering, and technology, teaching the scientific method is a good place to start and solid first step in laying a foundation that you can build on throughout the year.

Conduct an experiment to practice

Conduct a simple science experiment for students to practice the steps and apply what they have learned. always a favorite is this experiment using milk and cookies to explore buoyancy.

Mini cookies and small cups of milk work great for 2-4 students to share and the results are not what kids expect!

All of the resources pictured in this post are part of my introduction to science unit, Scientists & The Scientific Method. The unit also includes 11 days of detailed lesson plans, a 10-lesson teaching Power Point, student journal activities, science extension centers, plus 3 science experiments. It has everything you need to get started in science. Click HERE to read more about it.

Beginning with the basics is beneficial to all students and a great way to begin the year in science. I hope these teaching ideas help you introduce science in your classroom and begin building a foundation for all of your future science units.

Happy teaching! ~Linda

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4 Things to Teach in Science at the Beginning of the Year - Around the Kampfire

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During the first days of school, "When do we start science?" is the most often asked question in my second grade classroom. These engaging, beginning of the year science activities and teaching ideas will excite your students and build a foundation for future science lessons.

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Have children make their own "stain glass" butterflies and display them on the board! The quote allows scientists to know that its normal to change! especially in science!

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If nothing ever changed there would be no butterflies bulletin board | School | Pinterest | Bulletin boards, Boards and Classroom

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If nothing ever changed there would be no butterflies bulletin board

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this is a great story about a girl who went to the white house to do an experiment.

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More specifically, on making a machine smile. It should work like this:

A person smiles in front of a camera. The computer program focuses on a single color, drawn as eight dots on a person's lips. An Arduino micro-controller translates that into action. A tiny, inexpensive motor pulls the edges of a cardboard mount, causing the attached plastic "lips" to express sadness, surprise or happiness. (It can also smirk).

The team, coached by the staff of Iridescent, a non-profit that encourages STEM education, is also working on an eye, in the hopes of creating a moving face.

"We have been so busy, we haven't had a chance to give it a name," O'Brien said.

She isn't kidding. They come into Iridescent, located in a former currency printing facility in the Bronx, twice a week after school to tutor younger kids ranging from third-graders to middle-school students. On Fridays, they get to focus on dreaming up their own inventions.
Role Models
Emily Calandrelli, visiting scholar in Harvard's NASA Tournament Lab and host of an upcoming science show on FOX, made a job out of encouraging girls to pursue STEM careers. Her show, "Xploration Nation: Outer Space," an educational program aimed at teens, premiers this fall on FOX.

Calandrelli told NBC News that her own love affair with science started at Morgantown High School, in Morgantown, W. Va., where she was part of the robotics team.

The after-school program was her "main window into cool engineering projects," a place where science and math were not just theories in a book, but theories that were useful in real life. Her love of stem STEM took her to West Virginia University and then to MIT, where she earned master's degrees in aeronautics and astronautics.

Now, she has her sights set becoming on the next Bill Nye the Science Guy or Neil deGrasse Tyson, with one major difference.

"Girls need to see somebody that looks like them talking about science and technology," she told NBC News.

Positive female role models, events like the White House Science Fair, and programs that encourage young girls to pursue STEM send a strong message, she said.

"They say, 'You are welcome at the table. This is also for you.'"
Dismantling the Boys Club
The STEM gender divide really takes off in middle school, Jane Margolis, senior researcher at the UCLA Graduate School of Education and Information Studies, told NBC News.

"That is where a lot of girls start seeing themselves as not science and math kids," she said.

Not only do they face pressure to be cool from other girls, she said, but they also start caring about what the boys in their classes think.

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Girls Make the Grade at the White House Science Fair

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More specifically, on making a machine smile. It should work like this: A person smiles in front of a camera. The computer program focuses on a single color, drawn as eight dots on a person's lips. An Arduino micro-controller translates that into action.

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A bulletin board that allows scientists to expand their horizons and to be more positive

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I needed a new approach with my hallway bulletin board this year, due to my new teaching position. I'm usually cutting out owls or Minions or popcorn at this time of year, but instead of welcoming a new crop of third grade students, I needed something more general and inspirational for all students.

I can't take credit for the clever word arrangement. I saw a picture on Pinterest, but the link was dead, so if you happen to know who masterminded the arrangement of these words, please let me know so I can give proper credit. 🙂

I received many questions about this bulletin board after posting a picture on Instagram, so here are the details about how it came to be. I am using it as a back to school bulletin board, but it would be a great display at any time of the year for a wide range of grade levels. I hope that you can duplicate it for your own classroom!

I had visions of big, bright letters on a black background for this bulletin board, so I picked up some black fabric and then headed over to A.C. Moore for some scrapbooking paper. I really liked the color assortment in this heavyweight paper and if you look very closely you will notice that it has some raised polka dots that add a nice texture to the display. Of course, the 40% off sign was also very persuasive.

Next, I took the paper squares home and cut them down to 8 and a half by 11 sheets that would fit in my printer. I used PowerPoint to make some large letters as show below.

You can see in the formatting palette that I used the KG font called Behind These Hazel Eyes. This font by Kimberly Geswein is free for personal use and can be downloaded here. I set the font size to 680.

I only wanted the outline of each letter, so I formatted the text by giving it a white fill.

I set the text line to black, which would give a nice line for me to cut. Then I just printed the letters, page by page on the scrapbooking paper. Even with the texture and thickness, it went right through without a problem.

I used a different color for each word. Then I carefully cut out each letter.

Finally, I headed to school and pieced everything together on the board. I started in the middle with the vertical, white word "LEARN" and then worked my way out on either side. The words fit perfectly, but there was a lot of extra black space on the edges, so I found some matching pompoms to use as accents. They were sold in sets of two for $1.99 at Christmas Tree Shops.

Here is a close up of the letters.

Now, here's hoping that my students will do a lot of reflecting, solving, creating, growing, thinking, and learning this year!

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Growth Mindset Bulletin Board - Undercover Classroom

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I needed a new approach with my hallway bulletin board this year, due to my new teaching position. I'm usually cutting out owls or Minions or popcorn at this time of year, but instead of welcoming a new crop of third grade students, I needed something more general and inspirational for all students.

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fun books for young girls about a girl scientist who goes on all these adventures and does all these cool experiments.

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While there has been a ton of media focus on girls in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) in the past few years, the stats still tell us that girls and women are underrepresented in these fields, especially minority women. It isn't just the girls we need to tell that they can do this. It's also the boys who we have to tell girls can do this just as well as you. So this is not a book list just for girls, it's a list for all kids.

This book list contains affiliate links.

Ada Twist, Scientist by Andrea Beaty, is a wonderful tale of a little girl who is a born scientist. Ada is curious and a little chaotic too! She asks questions and seeks answers and can't stop even when she is sent to the thinking chair. I love spirited and determined Ada. As annoyed as her parents are with some of her behavior, they ultimately accept and love her and her super curious mind.

Rosie Revere Engineer by Andrea Beaty is more than just a book about an engineer who happens to be a young girl; it is about not being afraid to be different, especially when being different is amazing. It's not always easy to march to the beat of your own drummer, and Rosie has a hard time at first but after a pep talk from a special mentor, everything changes.

Zoey and Sassafras Series by Asia Citro are amazing, and I am not just saying that because the author is a close friend and I got a chance to watch her develop these books. Just click through and read all the Amazon reviews, these books aren't just about science and magic they are magic. Zoey is a young scientist with an open mind and a heart for helping others. WIth her trusty cat Sassafras, that is just what they do, with science and a little bit of magic too. With many illustrations, these chapter books are accessible to much younger children but exciting enough to keep older kids engaged too. The series is my go to gift for birthday parties.

Goodnight Lab by Chris Ferrie is a tongue and cheek parody of Goodnight Moon that actually captures some of the reality of working in a lab ( or so I have been told by my friends who have). At first glance, it seems like this is just a joke book for parents, but kids love it too! While it doesn't speak specifically to women in labs, it's illustrations include a woman of color in the lab which is a nice touch!

Mary Walker Wears the Pants: The True Story of the Doctor, Reformer, and Civil War Hero by Cheryl Harness is an amazing story of Mary Walker. She was one of the first female doctors in the United States. She was also a Civil War surgeon and prisoner of war, and a Medal of Honor recipient. If you have never heard of her don't feel bad. I hadn't either, but I am glad I have now. This was an awesome book to read with my daughter who like Mary marches to the beat of her own drummer, and thank goodness they do. Mary Walker carved many paths in more than just the world of medicine, and sharing her story is important.

Little Robot by Ben Hatke is a sweet little story about friendship with wonderful illustrations. A chance encounter between a little girl and a robot turns into friendship. It then cements into an adventure when bad robots try to take her robot friend away. She must save the day with courage and good thinking. This book is for early readers, but younger children love it too.

Have Fun Molly Lou Lemon by Patty Lovell is all about how Molly Lou Mellon uses her imagination to engineer toys when other children use toys that do all the playing for them. When a new neighbor Gertie moves in, Molly Lou Mellon stays true to herself even with Gertie's super cool toys. She even shows her new friend how to use her imagination and her hands to build amazing things!

Marvelous Mattie: How Margaret E. Knight Became an Inventor by Emily Arnold McCully is a book that all kids should read. I had never heard of Mattie but I should have, we all should have. Many of her inventions are still in use today... Like the paper bag that stays upright. She made history many of us just didn't know it. Her story of invention, entrepreneurship, and strength of character are stunning. She stands up for herself, learns from her mistakes, and follows her passion even though it's not the easy or even the "only kinda hard" road. All the way she faces challenges and just keeps going. This is far more inspiring than any girl power book that I have read before, and it's true.

The Girl Who Thought In Pictures; The Story of Dr. Temple Grandin by Julia Finley Mosca was sent to me by the publisher and I am so glad I was sent it to review. As many of you know Temple Grandin is a world renowned scientist and autism advocate. This rhyming biography does a great job at introducing her life and contributions to science. It also shows why including others is so important. I like the message in this book that being different is not being lesser. Many kids of all walks of life need to hear that, not just girls interested in STEM. Another thing I love about this book is that most of the books out there about Autism have boys as the main character. This isn't surprising since more boys are diagnosed than girls, but it makes this book that much more important!

The Doctor with An Eye for Eyes: The Story of Dr. Patricia Bath by Julia Finley Mosca came to me in the same package as the previous book, and I was just as glad to have it. This book looks at a different kind of adversity that girls and women of color in STEM must face. Dr. Bath is an amazing pioneer in her field of medicine. This book looks at the path she took to get there. The text is rhyming and fun to read, and the illustrations by Daniel Rieley complete the package. Biographies like this are a powerful tool. Using them in addition to fictional stories helps when teaching children about diversity and trying to encourage them to face challenges.

11 Experiments That Failed by Jenny Offill is hilarious. My son and I first read this book many years ago, and immediately he started designing his own experiments. The book follows a young scientist as she conducts 11 misguided experiments around her home, all with terrible, hilarious consequences. Besides the dry humor, the best part of this book is that each experiment follows the scientific method!

The Most Magnificent Thing by Ashley Spires is an important addition to this list because while the end product is important, this story focuses on the process of creating, and failing. Making amazing things is awesome, but it's not always an easy road. This book tackles the idea that failing, then trying again is part of the creation process.

Baby Loves Aerospace Engineering by Ruth Spiro is the most basic look at how things fly that your kids will love, especially toddlers! This is a colorful fun book that also teaches some pretty great things about aerospace engineering. For little ones that ever wondered how the airplane to Grandma's house stays up this book covers that, in a kid-friendly, simplistic way. Like a few other books on this list, there is not focus on the character being a girl. It is just the norm, which is a nice choice to have on your bookshelf.

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Girls In STEM Book List - No Time For Flash Cards

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While there has been a ton of media focus on girls in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) in the past few years, the stats still tell us that girls and women are underrepresented in these fields, especially minority women. It isn't just the girls we need to tell that they can do this.

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some fun stem books I would like to have in my classroom.

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STEM stands for Science, Technology, Engineering and Math and it is a popular topic around our house. My kids are lucky enough to have a STEM lab in their elementary school and get time each week to create and learn more about STEM from a designated teacher. During the summer I have dedicated Wednesdays to our SUMMER STEM LAB where we explore different themes and test out different STEM toys and kits.

This post contains affiliate links.

This week we are focusing on STEM books - I wanted to share our experience with littleBits super cool robot kits but I am off to Washington DC to speak at the Scholastic Reading Summit and I can't upload a video on the plane wifi... I think there is a lesson in here somewhere about leaving things to the last minute. Robots will have to wait one more week, but if you want a little preview check out littleBits here.

Rosie Revere Engineer by Andrea Beaty is more than just a book about an engineer who happens to be a young girl; it is about not being afraid to be different, especially when being different is amazing. It's not always easy to march to the beat of your own drummer, and Rosie has a hard time at first but after a pep talk from a special mentor everything changes.

Iggy Peck Architect also by Andrea Beaty is a hilarious and touching book about a young boy named Iggy, who doesn't just like to build, he HAS to build. It's in his bones. Not everyone appreciates his talents but in the end his ability to build and solve problems saves the day. I love the rhyming text that never sacrifices the perfect word for a rhyme, it all just fits.

Awesome Dawson by Chris Gall was an instant hit with both my children. Dawson is an amazing little boy who invents new things from other people's trash. Dawson is just like other children who try to find ways to get out of their chores so he can get back to the important work of play. He's one step ahead of most kids though and invents a robot to take care of this chores, but things don't go as awesome as he hoped. That's when he must re-invent himself into a superhero to save the day. I really love this book and how inspiring it is for kids exploring the idea of invention and tinkering.

Fraidyzoo by Thyra Heder is a wonderfully creative book about a family who creates zoo themed costumes from A-Z in an attempt at guessing which animal at the zoo their youngest child is afraid of. The homemade costumes captures the spirit of the maker mentality and after reading this with my daughter she was off to create her own. Perfect right? The book is also a really great lesson about fears and how your family can be your support if you allow them to.

Have Fun Molly Lou Lemon by Patty Lovell is all about how Molly Lou Mellon uses her imagination when other children use toys that do all the playing for them. When a new neighbor Gertie moves in Molly Lou Mellon stays true to herself even with Gertie's super cool toys and even shows her new friend how to use her imagination.

Monkey with A Tool Belt and The Noisy Problem by Chris Monroe is a hilarious book about a monkey who is not only handy with his tools, he is also a fantastic problem solver. The perfect combination to demonstrate to young readers what STEM is all about. He creates, builds, and fixes the noisy problem. This whole series of books are fantastic and the author-illustrator is a genius at combining a fun story with illustrations that will suck kids in. Do not try to read this in a hurry because each page deserves a long long look at every single detail.

11 Experiments That Failed by Jenny Offill is hilarious. My son and I first read this book many years ago and immediately he started designing his own experiments. The book follows a young scientist as she conducts 11 terribly misguided experiments around her home, all with terrible and hilarious consequences. Besides the dry humor the best part of this book is that each experiment follows the scientific method!

The Most Magnificent Thing by Ashley Spires is an important addition to this list because while the end product is important, this story focuses on the process of creating, and failing. Making amazing things is awesome but it's not always an easy road and this book tackles the idea that failing, and trying again is part of the creation process.

Mechanimals by Chris Tougas isn't just about a farmer who builds robot animals when his are swept away in a tornado, it's about overcoming adversity. What is a farmer supposed to do when his animals are gone? Certainly not admit defeat, use what you have and create something new! What an incredible lesson in resourcefulness, problem solving, and determination. Awesome book!

If I Built A Car by Chris Van Dusen is so much fun and will remind parents of The Jetsons, at least it reminded me of that childhood favorite of mine. A little boy takes you through the incredible car that he built and every awesome extra special feature it has. Like Andrea Beaty, Chris Van Dusen manages to create a fantastic rhyming book that is zips along so effortlessly that you wonder how they do it. The story is inviting and the illustrations invite readers to dive even further into the author's imagination.

If I Built A House by Chris Van Dusen is even BETTER than If I Built A Car, at least I think so, which is why I bought it. I love how this book inspires children to create house plans for themselves and imagine their own dream house. The details in the illustrations captivated me, and the little inventions included in the house got us all wondering what we would invent for our house. Great book to spark the maker mentality in all readers.

Do you have a favorite STEM picture book perfect for preschool or kindergarten? Tell me about it here in comments or on my No Time For Flash Cards Facebook Page.

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11 STEM Picture Books - No Time For Flash Cards

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STEM stands for Science, Technology, Engineering and Math and it is a popular topic around our house. My kids are lucky enough to have a STEM lab in their elementary school and get time each week to create and learn more about STEM from a designated teacher.

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How art and science can be mixed together!

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How art and science can be mixed together!

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stem and steam compare and contrast but when mixed together it is a fun and unique way way to do art and science!

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STEAM takes the STEM model and adds in the arts to the sciences and math. Creating a bridge to connect the creatives and the innovators at a young age.

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some fun halloween science activities are the way to go!

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October is a great time for some hands-on, fun Halloween STEM activities! Find all of our favorite spooky STEM ideas below!

Get ready for November with 20 Thanksgiving STEM Activities!
Halloween STEM Activities

Halloween is a fantastic time to break up your regular routine and do some hands-on learning with STEM activities and projects. The following 20 ideas will have your kiddos loving learning and digging into all new concepts in science and mathematics!

If you're familiar with STEM activities and projects, you probably know that STEM stands for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics. But around here STEM projects take on a whole new meaning in October!

Read on to find 5 slime recipes, 5 tricky treats for some hands-on science in the kitchen, 5 Halloween themed experiments, and 5 monstrous activities!

Looking for a print-and-go activity? Check out these cut-and-paste picture sudoku puzzles with Halloween and fall themes. Fun logic puzzles for beginners!

Find more print-and-go activities for Halloween at the bottom of this post!
Halloween Stem Activities: S is for Slime

There's no stickier, gooier way to get in some hands-on science than slime! Check out these fun slime chemistry lessons perfect for Halloween!

Halloween Spider Slime
This purple, glittery, Borax-free slime recipe from the Tip Toe Fairy is equal parts creepy and sparkle!

Frankenstein's Phlegm
This is exactly what it would look like if Frankenstein sneezed! Find this Borax based recipe on Dream a Little Bigger.

Bubbling Fizzing Slime Volcano
You'll feel like a mad scientist in your lab with this cool chemistry experiment from Little Bins for Little Hands.

Pumpkin Guts Slime
Finally something fun to do with the inside of your pumpkin! Fun idea from Parenting Chaos.

Ghost Slime
Clear slime is the coolest! Check out this fun lesson from Preschool Powol Packets.

Halloween STEM Activities: T is for Treats

The holidays will soon have you cooking up a storm, but these recipes are more than just tacky treats. Measure, combine ingredients, and learn the science behind these creepy treats!

Make creepy candy with flexible molds and instructions from STEAM Powered Family.

Make your own spooky homemade root beer with instructions from Steve Spangler Science.

All Natural Color-Changing Witches Brew
Surprise your kiddos with a color changing brew, then learn the science behind the experiment! Recipe from Lo Carb So Simple.

Gross and Jiggly Halloween Jello Worms
Schooling a Monkey does a great job describing the science behind these creepy crawlers.

Candy Pumpkins STEM Challenge
If you're not into cooking (or cleaning up), check out this fun alternative - a building challenge with candy pumpkins from Lemon Lime Adventures.

Halloween STEM Activities: E is for Experiments

Halloween is a great time to experiment with some new bubbling, fizzing, and tricky hands-on science!

These dancing worms are sure to give your kiddos the heebie jeebies! Experiment instructions from Playdough to Plato.

Wizard's Brew
Make a bubbling wizard's brew with yeast, hydrogen peroxide, and instructions from Little Bins for Little Hands.

Ghost Rockets
Use chemistry to make these ghost rockets fly! Instructions from Growing a Jeweled Rose.

Jack-o'-Lantern Optical Illusion
This is a cool experiment with no mess! Make a pumpkin turn into a jack-o'-lantern with instructions from Edventures for Kids.

Brain Surgery Experiment
What mad scientist hasn't experimented with the brain? Try this cool experiment with directions from Schooling a Monkey.

Halloween STEM Activities: M is for Monsters

Ready for some creepy, scary, monstrous fun? These activities all about your favorite Halloween monsters will keep you busy all month long!

Spiders with Light Up Eyes
Use circuits to create a cool spider with creepy light up eyes! Easy-to-follow directions from The Learning Hypothesis.

Monster Play Dough Invitation
Younger kids will love building and creating their own monsters with this invitation to play with monsters from Fantastic Fun and Learning.

Halloween Mystery Boxes
Use your sense of touch to figure out what monstrous mysteries are inside the box. Classic Halloween game instructions from Christina's Adventures.

Create your own flying bat with printable instructions from Education.com.

Learn about the effects of static electricity with this quick and easy static experiment from Science Sparks.

Check out these print-and-go activities for fall!
Click an image to learn more.

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Halloween STEM Activities: 20 FUN Ideas for October!

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20 fun Halloween STEM activities including Slime, Treats, Experiments, and Monsters. PLUS print-and-go activities for October!

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This allows students to to understand that you won't always get it right the first time, but keep trying and you will get it!

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Poster "Experiment. Fail. Learn. Repeat." - Startup Vitamins

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Thick, durable, matte perfection, shouting out your message

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be able to make the regular volcanos with a fall twist...... APPLES.

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Baking soda and vinegar experiments are huge at our house! I'm constantly out of one or the other and have to keep a stash hidden from my little scientists. They love to watch the chemical reaction that occurs when you combine the two.

I knew they would love apple volcanoes, but wanted to take it a step further. I gave them a red and green apple and asked them to make a predictions: will one type of apple produce more of a reaction (fizz) than the other.

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Our oldest starting doing volcano projects in preschool. With Daddy's help, he built a paper mache volcano and used the reaction of baking soda and vinegar to create a volcanic eruption. For three years, they made one and did a demonstration for his classmates.

The Science

When you combine baking soda and vinegar a chemical reaction occurs that releases carbon dioxide. The baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) is a base while the vinegar (acetic acid) is an acid. When they react together they form carbonic acid, which breaks apart into water and carbon dioxide, and creates fizzing as it escapes.

Supplies

Baking soda

Vinegar

Dish or container to catch the fizz

Knife to cut center from apple

Apples

*We used Red Delicious and Granny Smith.
Testing

1. Prep your apples by cutting a hole in the top of each apple. (Dad completed this step.)

2. Put equal amount of baking soda in each apple.

3. Pour vinegar into each apple and watch it fizz.

4. Draw your conclusions. There was only a slight difference in the reaction between the two apples, but after a few test runs, we were able to draw our conclusions. The reaction of baking soda and vinegar produced more fizz with the granny smith apple. We believe it might be due to the higher acid content in this apple.

*We would love to see your apple volcano experiments and whether you have the same outcome. Tag us on Instagram or Facebook with your experiments.

I didn't get a picture, but once they finished with their apple volcanoes, the kids had a fun sensory experience getting their hands in the fizz.

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Apple Volcanoes Science Experiment - The Resourceful Mama

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Baking soda and vinegar experiments are huge at our house! I'm constantly out of one or the other and have to keep a stash hidden from my little scientists. They love to watch the chemical reaction that occurs when you combine the two.

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using food coloring to dye flowers! by putting the food coloring in the water.

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Now that my girls are older I wanted to revisit the experiment, this time with a different flower variety so that we could compare our results.

Begin by trimming the flowers down so that they fit nicely in whatever vases or glasses you are using. Giving the flowers a fresh cut also helps them to absorb the colored water more quickly.

Fill your vases with the desired amount of water, and then have kids add a few drops of food coloring and a flower to each vase.

Have kids make observations and hypothesize what will happen to the flowers as they live in the colored water. Then, place the flowers in a sunny spot.

Have kids observe the flowers over the next several days. As the flowers drink the water they will magically change color.

Ok, so it's not magic so much as it is science, but this experiment is still quite magical! Rosie and Jewel were excited to check their flowers each day, and they were delighted to see them grow more colorful over time.

So colorful and fun!

This experiment takes more time with certain flowers. The first time we tried this we used white roses, and those changed color overnight. I was surprised to discover that the daisies took much longer. While they started to change after a few days they were not fully saturated until 14 days after we began the experiment. However, this was not necessarily a bad thing. This only extended the life of the experiment and was also a good lesson in patience.

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Now that my girls are older I wanted to revisit the experiment, this time with a different flower variety so that we could compare our results. Begin by trimming the flowers down so that they fit nicely in whatever vases or glasses you are using.

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glow in the dark volcano! not your average elementary school volcano! needs a small black light to bring the colors to life

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glowing volcanoes glow in the dark eruptions for kids

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a fun way to see color in a whole new perspective. Just by adding oil and food coloring to make the cool colors come alive.

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Exploring with oil and water is a simple and fun activity that my kids love. If I am trying to get dinner on the table and the girls are melting down a tray of vegetable oil with pipettes is often my "go to" boredom buster. If you have five minutes you can set this up and keep the kids playing for hours!

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Begin by filling a shallow dish with oil. We used baby oil here, but other oils will also work. Set this aside.

In a cup combine 3-5 drops of food coloring with water and mix, using one cup for each color of water that you wish to make.

Give kids pipettes and have them squirt the varying colors of water into the pan of oil.

What happens? The water and oil do not mix. Instead, amazing effects are produced!

No matter how much water is added to the oil the two liquids will not mix!

Pretty cool, right? Rosie loved the way the water beaded up in the oil and had lots of fun creating varying patterns as she explored.

Give kids a clear container of oil so that they can explore with these polar liquids in a different way. Fill the container with oil, and then have kids squirt the water colors into the container. Then, observe the reaction between the two liquids.

My girls were in awe when we tried this and loved watching the water bubbles dance and move in the oil. Overall, this was a really cool experiment, and the activity in itself is lots of fun!

If you ever need to get dinner on the table and the kids are hitting that "witching hour" keep this activity in mind. All you need are few common items, and the kids will play for hours!

Why does the water not mix with the oil?

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Exploring with oil and water is a simple and fun activity that my kids love. If I am trying to get dinner on the table and the girls are melting down a tray of vegetable oil with pipettes is often my "go to" boredom buster.

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will need to use this in the future. Will help with student teaching and future lesson plans.

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This page is for displaying the resources of a particular module (derived from the module folio), filtering it and organizing it based on user role and entitlement. This is an all-purpose page in that it works across all roles and entitlement levels.

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Scientific method board

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With a clear dishwashing-liquid bottle and a couple plastic straws, the child can easily make a hummingbird feeder that can demonstrate the effects of atmospheric pressure at the same time. The clear bottle works best because the birds will be attracted to the red color which is made from sugar water as well as to the water's scent.
Great for 5th grade!