A few of our favorite things

Awesome science books:

Michael Recycle by Ellie Bethel

A child superhero cleans up a garbage-filled town and shows that amazing things can be built with recycled materials.

Rosie Revere, Engineer and Iggy Peck, Architect by Andrew Beaty

These books feature creative and enterprising young characters whose imaginations lead them to wonderful adventures and inventions.

Another excellent science book:

We’d be remiss not to mention Crazy for Science by Carmelo the Science Fellow! It’s full of do-it-yourself experiments to promote scientific observation, exploration, and analysis in young kids. Plus, it’s chock full of Carmelo’s kid-tested jokes.

Cool science APPS:

Jr.Brainpop.com These science apps do a wonderful job of teaching young kids the basics of science in an entertaining way.

Tinybop.com This Brooklyn-based design studio makes stunningly designed, open-ended educational apps for kids. Choose from Simple Machines, The Robot Factory, The Human Body, and more.

GREAT IDEA #1:

Institute a science night at your house. At the Piazza’s, Friday night means it’s time for experiments! You don’t need fancy equipment: you can make oobleck, a fluid that has the properties of both a solid and a liquid, for example, by mixing water and cornstarch. A touch of food coloring is optional.

Here’s how: Start with 1 part water in a bowl and add 1.5 to 2 parts cornstarch a bit at a time. Keep stirring until it has a gooey consistency. (You might want to use your hands.) Then, go to town! Grab it, squeeze it, let it ooze through your fingers. Or put it in a plastic container and shake it or quickly bump it against a table. If you roll some oobleck into a ball, it becomes solid. But when you stop moving it, it will melt back into your hand!

Great idea #2:

Before bringing those broken electronics to the e-cycling center, get a screwdriver and take them apart with your kids. This will get them using tools and give them an inside view on how machines work.

Favorite Experiment:

Carmelo shows kids how to make water disappear. Hint: he uses a simple powder that fully absorbs water.

Watch here

Second favorite experiment:

The Underwater Volcano. Using water, plastic cups, and food coloring, Carmelo shows kids how heat rises and cold air sinks.

Watch here