Share it! Science

Reader Survey and Science Book Giveaway!

noreply@blogger.com (Sarah- Share it! Science) — Wed, 09 Apr 2025 16:00:00 +0000

Hello! I am so glad to have so many awesome readers and subscribers to Share it! Science. It's hard to believe I've been adding content to this blog since 2014. Without you, this would not be possible!

I would like to get to know my readers a bit better so that I can create content that serves your needs.

If you have a few moments would you help me out? First, be sure you have subscribed to my newsletter, then answer a quick survey and as a thank-you enter to win a fun book giveaway.

This post may include affiliate links, see disclosures for more information.

Step 1: Subscribe to my Newsletter

First, if you are interested in more science, STEM, and STEAM resources and activities, sign up to receive my newsletter here:

Step 2: Answer a Quick Survey and Enter to Win

Once you've subscribed, answer this quick 3 question survey.

In the survey you'll also have a chance to win a copy of 1,001 Amazing Science Facts.

Thanks for your help!

Giveaway Terms and Conditions:

No purchase necessary. You must be a Share it! Science Newsletter Subscriber to enter. Giveaway begins 12:00 Noon E.S.T. April 9th, 2025 and ends at 12:00 Noon E.S.T April 21st, 2025. Prizes ship within the United States only. Winner will be selected at random and notified via e-mail. By providing your information in this form, you are providing your information to me and me alone. I do not share or sell information and will use any information only for the purpose of contacting the winner.

Maple Syrup: Sweet and Sticky Science

noreply@blogger.com (Sarah- Share it! Science) — Tue, 18 Mar 2025 18:08:00 +0000

In New England the sap buckets are going up on the sugar maple trees. As the thaw begins maple farmers are beginning to harvest sap for one of my favorite treats...maple syrup!

There is so much to learn in the process of maple sugaring. Science, math, botany, engineering, history! Here is some background on the process of making maple syrup and lots of learning resources. Whether you hail from an area that makes syrup or not, there is something here to help you teach kids about maple syrup.

When you are finished with the learning, may I suggest consuming some pancakes and syrup as a capstone to your maple syrup unit?

This post contains affiliate links, meaning I make a small commission from purchases made from these links at no additional cost to you. Please see disclosures for more information.

Making Maple Syrup

Maple syrup is a versatile sweetener full of antioxidants. A secret treasure humans have borrowed from nature.

Maple syrup is a product made from the sap of a sugar maple tree. When winter begins to thaw into spring and temperatures fluctuate back and forth from warm to freezing the sap begins to flow.

Positive pressure builds in the tree when temperatures rise above freezing. This pressure forces the sap out of holes made in the tree for sugaring. Then as temperatures dip to below freezing again, negative pressure develops. This causes suction to draw water into the roots, replenishing the sap. The freeze-thaw cycle allows sugar farmers to collect sap during a short window of time as winter turns to spring.

Native Americans and European settlers collected the sap of sugar maples as it began to flow during early spring thaws. Much as we do today, they painstakingly boiled it down into a syrup. It was an excellent way to preserve food without refrigeration.

Today trees are still tapped and sap is collected in buckets, as has been tradition for years. More modern methods include collecting syrup through a series of plastic tubing and utilizing methods like reverse osmosis to maximize the time spent harvesting and boiling sap.

Sap is boiled down into syrup. In general it takes 40 gallons of sap to make 1 gallon of syrup. It is a time and labor intensive process for a small yield. Remember to thank a maple farmer next time you are enjoying some glorious maple syrup!

Maple Sugaring Teaching Resources

If you are fortunate enough to live near a sugar bush, then perhaps you can take your class or children on a maple syrup field trip! If not, here are tons of other learning resources for learning at home or in the classroom.

A maple video and worksheet for each grade Kindergarten through Junior high from Cornell: Maple in the Classroom.

When will the sap run? A free printable math activity, identify which days the sap will run based on a month of temperature fluctuations.

For grades 4-5th, 26-pages of background and student activities for maple sugaring season.

Make your own maple candy from syrup in this Science Buddies activity.

25-page digital download with videos, Maple Syrup Making Unit Study.

K-2nd grade activity, Be a Sugar Maker, students role-play the process of maple sugaring.

Maple sugaring picture book list.

3-5th grade activity, Nature's Factory at Work, build a model of a tree and learn the process of photosynthesis.

Tree rings activity, learn the age of a maple tree.

Maple Mini Study for PreK-2nd grade.

6th-12th grade, learn about Maple Sugar Molecules and Crystals while making your own rock candy.

Free, downloadable maple information posters.

Preschool and elementary Maple Syrup Study Unit, 8 activities.

Many more Maple Syrup learning resources here!

More Maple Syrup Fun

Use that maple syrup with these awesome maple syrup recipes for kids!

Some picture books to share with the kids on maple sugaring.

The Great Sneeze Experiment

noreply@blogger.com (Sarah- Share it! Science) — Mon, 17 Mar 2025 15:02:00 +0000

Achoo! Cold, flu, and allergy seasons are fabulous times to learn about germs and how to keep them to ourselves. Kids are not always great at covering up a sneeze. The Great Sneeze Experiment will help children understand the importance of sneezing into an elbow.

This science experiment is inspired by Zoey and Sassafras: Gnomes and Sneezes. This is the latest book in one of our all-time favorite series. A fabulous mix of fantasy and science concepts appropriate and engaging for kids ages 4-10.

This post contains affiliate links, meaning I receive a small commission from purchases made through these links, at no additional cost to you. See disclosures for more information.

Gnomes and Sneezes

In book 10 of the Zoey and Sassafras series, Zoey discovers gnomes in the secret room of her friend's new house. The gnomes have a case of the sneezes! Zoey systematically works through the gnomes' symptoms and the environmental factors in their living space to identify what it causing these sniffles. Readers see her use graphing as a way to collect data.

You'll have to read the book to discover what is making the gnomes sneeze! We thoroughly enjoyed Zoey and Sassafras: Gnomes and Sneezes, and it inspired my kids to read the entire series over again (this will be the 3rd time for one of them!). If you want to encourage kids to test things out, experiment, and use logic and creativity to solve their problems, this series is the best!

You can grab a free Zoey and Sassafras science journal at the bottom of this post.

The Great Sneeze Experiment

In this simple experiment students will collect data on a "sneeze" that has not been covered and a "sneeze" that has.

The Great Sneeze Experiment Materials:

Paper, construction or butcher paper are good choices
Painter's tape, or another tape that will be gentle on walls
Water
Food colors or paint (optional)
Spray bottle
Small towel
Markers
Ruler or tape measure

The Great Sneeze Experiment Procedure:

Tape a piece of paper up about kid's chest level on the wall. (We used re-used paper from packaging.) Mark a place to stand a short distance away from the wall.

Fill up the spray bottle with water. If your paper is dark, using plain water will work just fine. You can also experiment with different colored water. If more than one kid is using the same piece of paper, colors can be helpful to tell whose "sneeze" is whose.

Standing in the spot marked on the floor, hold up the spray bottle at chest level and spray once. It's optional but fun to let out a big "ACHOOO" sound when you do this.

Draw a circle* around all of the spray drops on the paper from the "sneeze". Measure how wide the circle is. Note this on a data sheet.

*This step is important if you are using plain water for your experiment. The wet spot will evaporate and dry fairly quickly, so note your results!

Now, cover an arm with the towel and position your spray bottle as close to the same position as possible. Spray behind the towel covered arm. This represents sneezing into your elbow. Let out another "ACHOOO!"

Again, circle any spray from the "sneeze" you see on the paper. Measure the spots and note them in a data table.

The Great Sneeze Experiment: Results

What did you find out? I don't think I want to be in the way of that uncovered sneeze! If you are completing this experiment as a class, compile all the data before discussing it.

Some discussion questions:

What does covering the sneeze do?
How is this experiment like real life?
How is it different from real life?

More Zoey and Sassafras Science Investigations!

We love Zoey and Sassafras! Here are two other Zoey and Sassafras inspired experiments to try.

Exploring Heat Transfer with a MEL Science Kit

noreply@blogger.com (Sarah- Share it! Science) — Mon, 03 Mar 2025 03:38:00 +0000

My kids were so excited to try out another MEL Science kit. In the Heat Transfer set we completed activities that taught us about heat. Through the use of a thermochromic screen included in the science kit we were able to actually see heating and cooling.

This was a very engaging set that kept the kids busy long after the original activities were completed. Read on to learn more about our experience this physics set from MEL Science and for an exclusive promo code!

This post contains affiliate links meaning I receive a small commission from purchases made from these links at no additional cost to you. Please see disclosures for more information.

Heat Transfer Physics Kit from MEL Science

The Heat Transfer kit from MEL Science includes everything you need to complete three physics activities. We were able to make heat visible in the "heat trace" activity, explored evaporative cooling, held a thermal race.

Directions for each activity are in the kit, and you can also follow animated step-by-step instructions on the free MEL Science app.

This kit is intended for ages 8 and up. As I was doing the experiments with my kids, my 8-year-old and her 5-year-old sister worked easily and safely together. Although the younger one didn't grasp as much of the science, they both found these activities engaging and fun.

Making Heat Visible

The activities in the Heat Transfer physics kit make use of a thermochromic screen. Thermochromic means a substance that changes color as it changes temperature.

Thermochromic pigments and liquid crystals are used in familiar items such as color-changing mood rings, forehead thermometers, or if you grew up in the late 80's and early 90's like me, those popular Hypercolor shirts! (If you are looking to share a little nostalgia with your kids, you can still get heat-sensitive color changing shirts here.)

The thermochromic screen makes an excellent tool for allowing students to see heat in action. You can see how heat transfer through conduction works if you press your hand on the screen for a few seconds. You can also see how warm your breath is if you breathe on it through a straw. This particular screen changed color in a temperature range of 75-93 degrees F.

Evaporative Cooling

Another way heat is transferred is through evaporative cooling. This is when temperature is reduced due to moisture evaporating and removing heat from a surface. When we sweat we cool down due to evaporative cooling.

We once again experimented with the color changing screen. It was neat to see the heat dissipate as the water from a paintbrush evaporated. My daughter explored painting with water on the thermochromic screen for quite a while.

Heat Conduction: A Thermal Race

Lastly we experimented with two different metals to see which would be a better conductor of heat. It's so cool to be able to see the temperature change!

Heat Transfer Kit

The Heat Transfer Physics Kit from MEL Science got a big thumbs up at our household. My kids also really enjoyed building a music box while studying sound waves with a MEL Science STEM Kit. You can read our review of the Sound Waves kit here.

MEL Science also offers subscription plans and bulk prices for schools and other groups. You can learn more about school and bulk ordering here.

If you'd like to try out MEL Science kits in your home or school, use our promo code: SHAREITSCIENCE for 50% off your first box.

Thermochromic Fun

The thermochromic screen in our kit has really been put through its paces, but I'm sure it will be played with more before it is worn out. When the time comes, we would be excited to order this heat sensitive color-changing sheet. It's bigger too, so many possibilities!

If you are looking for another heat transfer project with thermochromic pigment, try this project about ectotherms (cold-blooded) and endotherms (warm-blooded) creatures!

Exploring Sound Waves with a MEL Science STEM Kit

noreply@blogger.com (Sarah- Share it! Science) — Sun, 17 Nov 2024 04:31:00 +0000

We recently explored the science of sound waves with a MEL Science STEM kit. My kids built a music box on their own with supplies from the kit. They also learned about vibration and sound waves with a lesson on the free MEL STEM app. They definitely learned a lot and enjoyed the activities in their STEM kit. Then we extended our learning with one of my favorite easy sound wave investigations.

MEL Science offers monthly subscription box STEM kits for kids. The kits come with everything kids need to complete a STEM project. My children loved doing the activities and made some great science connections and discoveries.

This post contains affiliate links meaning I receive a small commission from purchases made from these links at no additional cost to you. Please see disclosures for more information.

Find out what we thought about our MEL STEM kit below. I've included a discount promo code so that you can try out MEL Science too!

You will also find out how you can teach about sound waves at home or school, whether you have a subscription STEM service or not.

Exploring Sound Waves with MEL Science

We were excited to dive into our MEL Science STEM kit. The box came with everything necessary to complete the project, including some extension activities and access to digital resources.

Our box, "Sound Waves" is part of the MEL STEM subscription box line. This subscription is designed for kids ages 5 and up. It was perfect for two of my children, ages 5 and 8.

We really liked that the instruction booklet included a story. As the kids built their music box, the story played out. It was an engaging way to connect with the science concepts in a kid friendly way.

By taking turns the kids were able to work together independently to complete their task with very little arguing! They are familiar with LEGO and the instruction booklet is laid out in a similar way to a LEGO kit. Each page had a diagram for a single step and the materials needed to accomplish it.

Want to try a MEL Science STEM kit, too? Take 50% off your first box with our exclusive promo code: SHAREITSCIENCE Click here to get started.

Building a Music Box

The music box activity was a great way to connect the concept that vibrations make sound to a real life scenario. The kids were able to create their own songs by moving around the pieces that would make the hammers strike.

In the finished product we wished the hammers hit the bars more accurately and firmly so the sound was louder and more consistent. However, this did give us the opportunity to think like engineers and discuss how we might redesign that one element to make it better.

Augmented Reality Sound Wave Lesson

In addition to the hands-on STEM project, we had access through the free MEL STEM app to a short science lesson on sound waves. We watched our interactive lesson using Augmented Reality (AR). The kids really got a kick out of seeing the animations sitting right on our kitchen table. We liked the characters and kid-friendly explanations.

While building my kids connected the concepts from the AR science lesson to their build. They recognized that the different sized bars would make either low or high sounds based on how fast they were vibrating.

MEL Science Perks

The instruction booklet offered several ideas for extension activities. With some adult assistance, kids can get a lot more out of their MEL Science STEM kit.

MEL Science also offers subscription plans and bulk prices for schools and other groups. You can learn more about school and bulk ordering here.

Want to try a MEL Science STEM kit? Take 50% off your first box with our exclusive promo code: SHAREITSCIENCE Click here to get started.

We Recommend MEL Science STEM Kits

We really enjoyed our MEL Science STEM Kit. I asked my kids what they liked best about it compared to other subscription box kits we've used before and they said they liked that there was an illustrated story in the instruction book. I agree that the story was a fun way for the kids to engage with the project.

I liked that my kids could easily work together to build something that they could use again later. Through the sound waves augmented reality science lesson on the free app they connected with science concepts in a fun and accessible way. The MEL Science Sound Waves box inspired some curiosity and a desire to continue to explore and play with the concept of sound waves.

We would highly recommend MEL Science to other families and students who enjoy hands-on building projects!

If you'd like to learn more about MEL Science kits, check out our review of the Heat Transfer physics science kit.

Dancing Salt: A Sound Waves Experiment

We played around with the concept of sound waves some more. Here is a little experiment I have used in the traditional science classroom.

For this sound waves experiment you will need:

A speaker or device that can produce loud sounds
An empty plastic container, like a yogurt tub
Salt, sugar, confetti (something small and light weight)
Plastic wrap or aluminum foil
Rubber band

Put some plastic wrap or foil over the opening of the recycled container. Set the container on or very close to your speaker. Sprinkle just a bit of salt, or something small and light weight on top of the plastic. Start your speaker at low volume and slowly increase.

What happens? Can you make the salt dance? What happens when you change the type of music? How does the vibration of high notes and low notes differ? Do you notice any patterns or interesting motion as you experiment with volume and music type?

Here is just a short clip of our experiment. In this clip we are using a microphone that is attached to the speaker.

Try it!

Must-Have Resources for Observing the Night Sky

noreply@blogger.com (Sarah- Share it! Science) — Tue, 17 Sep 2024 03:24:00 +0000

With the right resources, observing the night sky children can be an exciting activity. Whether it is a celestial event like a meteor shower or lunar eclipse, or just regular stargazing, here are some of my favorite resources for learning astronomy.

These are my favorite resources and can be used in the classroom and out. However, its not always possible to get into the field with students. Maybe you only see the kids during the day, or city lights or weather prevent them from observing the night sky. Some of the digital resources in this post can help with that too!

This post contains affiliate links, meaning I make a small commission from purchases made from these links, at no additional cost to you. See disclosures for more information.

Free Resources for Understanding the Night Sky

You don't need expensive equipment to enjoy stargazing. A dark clear area is all you need, a decent pair of binoculars and a star wheel are a bonus.

If you are not feeling confident with your astronomy skills, here are some resources that will be helpful to you, and are also fairly kid-friendly.

Download and explore Stellarium. This is a free open-source planetarium. You can choose a location and time and see what the night sky in your area will look like. This is a powerful free resource for becoming familiar with astronomy. Encourage your students to have some free exploration of the software. They can turn on and off constellations, locate planets, "observe" moon phases, etc. It is especially useful when you are in a situation where observing the night sky is not possible.

When you look up at the night sky and notice a really bright object but have no idea what you are looking at, you need Google's free Sky Map app. Just point your device at that part of the sky and see it labeled on the app. This can be super handy. (Then once you have identified what you are looking at, turn off the device and enjoy nature!)

Download this free star wheel from Sky and Telescope and print it out. You can turn the wheel to the current date and find out what you should be able to see in the night sky in your area.

Observe and Track the Moon

A fabulous way to connect with the night sky is observing and tracking the phases and position of the moon. It is a great assignment for kids too. Observe what the moon looks like each night for a month, or even just a few times a week. You'll understand a piece of nature more fully and get some fresh air to boot!

Assign kids a moon observing and tracking project. Here are some printable downloads that make great hand-outs for this assignment:

Astronomy Books for the Science Library

There are tons of astronomy books out there, but here are the three I'd start with in my collection.

Chet Raymo's 365 Starry Nights : An Introduction to Astronomy for Every Night of the Year is the perfect opportunity to hone your amateur astronomy skills. Something to learn or observe each day of the year, illustrated and clearly explained.

H.A. Rey's The Stars and H.A. Rey's Find the Constellations are also indispensable classics. Kids will gravitate to the appealing illustrations.

Now get outside and LOOK UP! I think you'll be glad that you did!

10 FREE Online Science, STEM, STEAM Classes for Kids- September and October 2024

noreply@blogger.com (Sarah- Share it! Science) — Wed, 04 Sep 2024 03:00:00 +0000

If you are looking for a little something extra for your kids in the science, STEM, and STEAM department, then this post is for you! I've rounded up 10 different online classes that your child can try for FREE this fall.

Science inspired book clubs, princess and wizard STEM, dinosaurs, biology, current scientific research and more!

Use my code: MSSARAH2020 for a $20 credit you can use towards any class on Outschool. (New enrollments only.) Each of the classes I've listed in this post are $20 or under. Use your credit to try a class for FREE!

STEM, STEAM and Science Fantasy Fun!

Who says you can't mix in a little fiction with your science? Check out these magical classes:

Science is Magic: STEM Alchemy for Young Witches and Wizards

In this class for ages 7-10 kids will complete fun STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math) projects through scientific spells, potions and alchemy! Learn more here.

Zoey & Sassafras: A Hands-On STEAM and Book Club Experience

This class/book club combines reading comprehension with STEM and STEAM projects for ages 6-9. Learn more here.

We love the Zoey and Sassafras books! A great combination of fantasy and science for young readers.

(Learn more about this book series in these blog posts: Design an Insect Investigation with Zoey and Sassafras: NGSS Linked Activity and this one, perfect for fall: Monsters and Mold: An Apple Experiment)

Princess STEM Club- A Magical Hands-On STEM/STEAM Club with a Princess

Hands-on STEM projects with a princess!! For ages 4-9. Learn more here.

STEM-ology (a Hands-On Exploration of Mythology and Fantasy + STEAM challenges)

Hands-on STEM and STEAM projects through storytelling for ages 7-11. Learn more here.

Classes for Kids Wild About Animals and Dinos

Junior Paleontologists: Dinosaur Collectors' Club (STEM Science for Dino Lovers)

Students travel back in time to learn about dinosaurs and fill in their dinosaur field guide along the way. For ages 4-8. Learn more here.

Ocean Animal Inspector Club: Show and Social

Investigate a new ocean animal each week in this science and art class for ages 4-9. Learn more here.

Free Online Science Classes

Maybe you're looking for a science curriculum. Check out these Hands-On Science courses.
Hands-On Science 4/5! for ages 8-11, or Hands-On Science 6/7! for ages 10-13.

In Biology for Beginners: Life Science for Curious Learners students learn the basics of life science, including classification and observation skills, etc. For ages 7-10. Learn more here.

Build the Human Body with Clay- Learn Anatomy, Biology and Life Science

Learn about the human body by building models with play dough for ages 6-11. Learn more here.

Science Journal Club: Let's Discuss Current Research Articles Like Scientists!

What an awesome opportunity to think like a scientist! In this class for ages 10-13 students discuss current scientific research in articles adapted for kids. Learn more here.

Funding for Online Science Classes

Be sure to use the code: MSSARAH2020 when you checkout on Outschool to redeem your $20 credit. This code is only valid for students who have not enrolled in an Outschool class before. If you did not see something you liked in this post, there are so many other courses available! The $20 credit will work towards any class, in any subject.

If you are in search of additional funding for Outschool online classes, and live in Arizona, North Carolina, South Carolina, Texas, Utah, Indiana or New Hampshire you can use your ESA funds through Classwallet for Outschool Classes. You'll find more information here.

Solar Oven Recycled Crayons Activity

noreply@blogger.com (Sarah- Share it! Science) — Mon, 12 Aug 2024 19:41:00 +0000

Recycling your bits of broken crayon into new crayons is always a fun activity. Have you ever built a solar oven to recycle your crayons in?

When the sun is hot and you're looking for something to do with your kids or students, this makes for an engaging STEAM project. Not only will you create something new that you can make art with, there are science and engineering concepts inherent in each step of the process. Plus, making crayons in the solar oven is adaptable across a wide range of ages.

Create an engineering challenge out of designing a solar oven, or build a simple one and focus on the science of heat transfer, phase changes and melting point. If the kids are really young it is a great opportunity to identify and sort colors.

This post contains affiliate links, meaning I receive a small commission from purchase made through these links at no additional cost to you. Please see disclosures for more information.

Build a Solar Oven

First, decide how you will go about building your solar oven. You can make this an engineering challenge in and of itself. I had kids build them annually for years and it is always a super engaging learning experience. You can see how I've given students a solar oven engineering design challenge here.

While I enjoy seeing kids create their own solar oven designs, this time around we were focused on the recycled crayon portion of this project. So we built a solar oven out of a pizza box with these directions from Science Buddies.

Preparing the Crayons for Recycling

First you'll need to gather up the bits and bobs of crayons from the crayon box. This crayon prep work is excellent for small hands.

We measured to determine which crayons were keepers and which would be recycled. Then we made sure all the crayons that we were using to recycle had been peeled.

Next we sorted the crayon bits by color. There is a lot of discussion surrounding this. Do they have to be the same shade of the color? Can you make a rainbow crayon? The sky is the limit here, so anything goes.

Then we put the sorted crayons into our silicone mold. You can use any shape silicone mold, or even a muffin tin. If you choose to use a muffin tin, spray with cooking spray ahead of time to assure your new crayons slip right out.

We like this set of molds that looks like building bricks and LEGO mini-figures. We got ours on Amazon, but you can find silicone molds in a variety of shapes anywhere they sell candy making and baking supplies.

As you can see the silicone molds are a bit stained. They have been used to make milk plastic (the directions for milk plastic can be found in the STEAM Kids activity book, which you can find digitally here or in print here) and many times for recycled crayons. The silicone molds work great for this, but I would suggest dedicating a set specifically for craft projects and science experiments and not for food.

Make Recycled Crayons with Solar Power

Find a spot that will remain sunny for several hours. Take note of the direction and angle of the sun and set up the oven where the sun is shining down. You may need to adjust the position of your oven throughout the day as the sun shifts. You can even build a sundial while you wait for your crayons to melt!

How long does it take before your crayons begin to melt? You may want to put a thermometer inside your oven, or use an infrared surface thermometer and periodically check the temperature.

Once the crayon bits have turned completely into a puddle, then very carefully move the solar oven into the shade, or bring it inside where it is cooler. We brought ours inside in the late afternoon. Just to be sure we didn't break any bits that hadn't solidified all the way we waited until the following morning to pull them out of the mold.

Once they are completely cooled, carefully pull them out of the mold.

Time to color!

Science Lessons with the Solar Oven

There are so many learning opportunities within this project. You could think about melting point and phase changes. With older children this may lead to further study. Check out this middle school lesson about melting point from the American Chemical Society. Or try this melting point experiment I like to do around Thanksgiving with pop-up poultry timers.

With younger children a discussion about melting point and phase change could include a simple experiment to see what materials melt in the heat of our hand. Does our hand make as much heat as the Sun? Does a crayon melt in our hand? How about a chocolate chip? Different materials have different properties.

We also took the opportunity to discuss why the construction paper had changed color after being exposed to the sun for hours. If this is something you observe, you could continue this study by making nature prints with construction paper and natural objects in the sun. Or you could extend this idea to help answer the question, "Why do we need sunscreen?" and experiment with sunscreen and construction paper.

Back to School: Cool Decor for Your Science Classroom

noreply@blogger.com (Sarah- Share it! Science) — Sat, 03 Aug 2024 20:35:00 +0000

It's back to school time already! Time to get the classroom and homeschool space ready. Here are some inexpensive and creative ideas for decorating your classroom walls. From classy science-themed gallery walls and informative famous scientist posters to funny science puns, you'll find the goods here!

You and your students log many hours in your classroom space, so it makes sense to make it a spot you enjoy spending time in! I'm sure you will find something inspiring here. Bonus, many of these are digital downloads so you can use them and print them out year after year.

This post contains affiliate links, meaning I receive a small commission for purchases made through these links at no additional cost to you. For more information please see disclosures.

Posters for the Science Classroom

I love these colorful and funny science fact posters. For example, did you know a group of porcupines is called a prickle? I think kids will find them super engaging, too.

Older students will get a kick out of these science pun posters. I love a horribly nerdy science pun, don't you?

This classy set of science career posters includes intriguing STEM careers such as storm chasers, food chemists and theme park engineers.

This stunning collection of 24 posters each features an inspirational quote from a famous scientist and watercolor portrait of the scientist.

8 more engaging posters featuring motivational quotes by inspiring scientists.

Great Decorating Ideas from Seasoned Science Teachers

Here are some great ideas for decorating the middle school science classroom from Captivate Science. Some of these creative ideas are pre-made, some are DIY and all are tried and true from a fellow science teacher.

Check out this link for lots of aesthetically pleasing and functional science classroom decorating ideas from the Trendy Science Teacher.

You'll find several great ideas for incorporating student work into your science classroom decor here.

Bulletin Boards and Gallery Walls

Looking to set up a new bulletin board?

I like these "Science Talk" ideas for a bulletin board, which are prompts for science discussion. For example, "A possible result of __________ is ___________." or "I can demonstrate this by __________." You'll find the digital download to print out here.

Here is a quick and easy printable for Science Safety Rules, would be great for multiple locations in your science lab.

This classy periodic table inspired "Be Kind" (Beryllium, Potassium, Iodine, Neodymium) sign can be framed for a wall of the room.

Frame these gorgeous science images for a gallery wall that will really make the room pop!

This "SCIENCE" decal would be awesome above the whiteboard or classroom door.

Other Fun Science Classroom Decor

If you're looking for other unique science classroom decor you should check these out:

DNA Double Helix Pencil Holder

Quirky Science Squirrel Throw Pillow

Periodic Table Elements Throw Pillows

Good luck with your back to school prep! I hope you have a great year!

Everything you need to track, juggle and thrive all school year. Shop Back to School at Etsy.com.

Freshen up and expand your fall science lessons with these must-have printable downloads.

Summer Olympics: Science, STEM and STEAM Activities

noreply@blogger.com (Sarah- Share it! Science) — Thu, 25 Jul 2024 03:09:00 +0000

The summer Olympic games are about to begin in Paris, France and we are so excited. The games teach us so many life lessons: perseverance, camaraderie, grit, trust, hope, sportsmanship, honesty, compassion...etc.

Olympic sports can also teach us some really cool science! In this post I've piled together some fun ideas for Olympic science, STEM and STEAM activities. Perfect for home, camp or summer school while you wait for your favorite summer Olympic sport to compete.

Olympic Games Science Activities

First things first, let's light the Olympic torch! Check out this cool static electricity Olympic flame experiment.

Try this Olympic flame spin on the popular "fireworks in a jar" science activity.

Experiment with the physics of spinning and reaction time here.

Learn how to experiment with and build a shot put catapult here.

You will find a ton of Olympic sports science activities and experiments from Science Sparks here. From javelin throwing to rock climbing, some super projects to keep the kids busy.

Ibex73, CC BY 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons

STEM Activities for the Summer Olympics

This a great article highlighting three approaches to bringing the summer Olympics into your STEM curriculum.

You'll find a series of videos highlighting engineering in the summer Olympic sports from the National Science Foundation here.

Here are 10 excellent summer Olympics STEM challenges here. Hours of building and experimenting fun organized for different learning levels.

Which turf is best for playing certain sports? How does your heart rate compare to an Olympian's? Answer these questions and more with the sports STEM activities here.

Tons of STEM challenge ideas organized by sport.

Summer Olympic Inspired STEAM Activities

Get drawing, designing and flex that creativity with these fun and free Olympic game inspired STEAM activities.

Build an Olympic torch with circuits!

Use this post to help you build the Olympic rings out of LEGO, or take it a step further and create your own design for an Olympic logo out of your bricks.

I hope you are inspired to learn while you enjoy your favorite sports! Let the games begin!

10 Reasons to Visit the New England Aquarium

noreply@blogger.com (Sarah- Share it! Science) — Wed, 26 Jun 2024 01:40:00 +0000

We love visiting zoos, nature centers and aquariums as a family. Years ago I wrote about our trip to the Shedd Aquarium in Chicago, which was amazing. Recently we were lucky enough to visit the New England Aquarium in Boston, and we had a blast!

It had been a few years since we had visited and we were excited to see some of our old favorites. I could write pages about our day, but instead will highlight 10 reasons why you should visit the New England Aquarium if you have the chance.

African Penguin Colony

1. Penguins! One of the first animals you encounter upon entering the New England Aquarium are the endearing African Penguins. A bustling, and sometimes boisterous, group inhabits this enclosure that surrounds the Giant Ocean Tank, the four-story centerpiece to the aquarium. Hailing from temperate habitats, you won't see ice and snow here, but you will see a lot of interesting penguin behavior in the water and on the rocks.