It really can’t get easier than this. It’s just hot glue on a toilet paper roll. Yeeeeep. Use your fingers to support the roll as you imprint it into playdough, or stick it around a rolling pin if it fits! We’ve made so many variations of this so far, including these mermaid scales and a honeycomb print!
Original idea from @playtime.messy.madness on Instagram!
This is so simple that I hesitated posting it because, well, you’ll see! But this is by far the easiest way you’ll find to make your Flisat table (or any two plastic bins!) into a light table!
Ok get ready for it. Take a bin and put some fairy lights in there:
Put the other bin on top of it:
You’re all set! Have fun with your new light table! It works like a charm!
Some of the best gifts for babies are books. They help their big eyes focus, help them learn about the world, and expose them to new words every day. Below, find some fun gifts to pair with some of this year’s most popular science books for babies!
The product links below are affiliate links, buying from them will earn me a small amount of money with no extra cost to you. I appreciate your patronage! Also, I wrote some of the books included below so that’s a bit of a conflict of interest 😉
Nuclear Physics for Babies
The sky and weather always grab my baby’s attention, and I describe the current atmospheric conditions to her just as something to talk about. If you or a baby in your life also pine for precipitation, this pairing is for you. Weather
There is a world all around (and on, and in!) us that young ones obviously can’t fathom, but if you or the parents have a tendency for teeny things, look no further. Bacteria and Antibiotics
Organic Chemistry for Babies
This lucky theme has two wonderful books to chose from (or just get both!), Baby Loves Gravity!
The adorable new release, 8 Little Planets
Who else has these adorable periodic table blocks
The “U” words on the bottom row were official placeholders for these yet-to-named elements. They are Latin for the individual numbers in the atomic number (118 is ununoctium for 1-1-8). The atomic number is the number of protons in the nucleus. If the number of protons is changed, you have a different element; whereas, if the number of neutrons is changed (the other subatomic particle in the nucleus), you have a different isotope.
Fun thing about all these super heavy elements is that the scientists who got to name them MADE them. We knew their existence was possible, but you just don’t find these on Earth. The nucleus is so heavy and unstable that they decay to another element almost immediately. Elements after atomic number 104 decay within minutes or less, and elements after Uranium (92) are generally not found on Earth (with a few exceptions).
Why do scientist make these huge elements if they don’t last long enough to do anything with them? Elements on the periodic table are arranged in a certain way because electrons arrange themselves into predictable groups/patterns called orbitals. Arrangement of electrons in orbitals dictates an element’s properties. Elements in the same vertical period on the table have similar reactivities. Through some (I imagine) pretty complicated math, one can calculate the orbital filling order and energies and begin to predict characteristics of these elements that haven’t been made yet. Being able to make these short-lived elements is the first step to exploring their chemistry. And supposedly, things get pretty freaky around 164.
Get your set here
Sources:
Morss, L., et al. (2006) Dordrecht: Springer ISBN 978-4020-3555-5
Karol, et al. Pure Appl. Chem. 88 (2016) 139.
Karol, et al. Pure Appl. Chem. 155 (2016)
This post gives some examples of puzzles you can set up using our magnetic-tile circuits to help develop spatial reasoning skills… and because they’re just really fun.
Continue reading “Spatial Reasoning Puzzles with Magnetic Tile Circuits”
This project is for ages 3+ as it uses small parts which are dangerous when swallowed. Supervise young children.
Ready to make an already awesome toy even more awesome? All you need is less than $20 in special supplies (copper tape, LEDs, and button batteries), tape, scissors, and some magnetic tiles to start to snap together basic circuits.
If you don’t have magnetic tiles, you can also use these same supplies to make paper circuits.
Continue reading “Magnetic-Tile Circuits”
