My kids love anything that they can launch. Paper airplanes, nerf guns, bows and arrows… They like to see things fly. On one boring afternoon, I introduced them to straw rockets. They balked and rolled their eyes at when I first handed them paper and straws, but after I quickly created one and they saw it fly, they were hooked. Building Straw Rockets Straw rockets
Foil Boat Engineering Challenge
You don’t have to have a complicated supply list for an engineering challenge. Nor, do you have to create something something spectacular and life-changing. Simple is best. Kids learn from taking items from their everyday life and using them in new ways to do simple things. It helps them understand the world around them and how things work. For this engineering challenge, give each of
Paper Structures Engineering Challenge
You don’t have to have a complicated supply list for an engineering challenge. Nor, do you have to create something something spectacular and life-changing. Simple is best. Kids learn from taking items from their everyday life and using them in new ways to do simple things. It helps them understand the world around them and how things work. For this engineering challenge, we just used
5 Days Of Engineering Challenges
Over the years, we have done various types of engineering without really realizing it. None of our projects were part of any curriculum and many were just spur of the moment. We’ve done things like reverse engineering and snap circuits and gum drop structures. They were all fun and all memorable. I started to wonder why we hadn’t done more engineering projects more often. When
100 Engineering Projects For Kids
This post contains affiliate links. Join me and the bloggers of iHomeschool Network for 99 lists of 100 Things. I’ve been researching engineering projects for my kids, so I thought I’d share my list with you! UPDATED LIST!!! Now more than 100 engineering projects!!! Paper Building Blocks Build A Truss Bridge Build With Straws and Paper Towel Rolls Building With Paper Engineering Challenge Homemade Cardboard Construction
12 Haunted Science Experiments For Kids
The Halloween season is a fantastic time to do some truly spooky science! Here are some our favorite halloween science experiments and activities to do with kids. Halloween Window Gel Clings Make your own gel clings out of a few simple kitchen ingredients! This fun craft rolls science and art into one as you observe the viscosity of the liquid gelatin and how the gel
Earth Day Resources
It’s Earth Day! Looking for Earth Day resources and information? Here are a few great ones: The Homeschool Scientist took part in the Ultimate Education Guide put together and hosted by Allternativelearning.com. It’s amazing resource for all things Earth Day. While you are there, check out 100+ Ways to Celebrate Earth Day Everyday. Watch the recycling process in action. Make a water cycle bracelet. Learn about
Reverse Engineering Printable Worksheets
Some people see a pile of broken junk. I see an educational opportunity! Some people might call it tearing stuff apart. I call it Reverse Engineering. Learning By Destruction A few months back, I shared our Reverse Engineering adventures. We invited a friend over to take apart stuff like a computer keyboard, a bathroom scale and a mixer. The kids got to see what makes
Great Electricity And Magnetism Book For Kids
Welcome to 10 Days Of Great Science Books! We are on day 9. All 10 Days Of Great Science Books posts will be linked to one landing page. Bookmark it for reference! This post contains affiliate links that help keep the lights on here at The Homeschool Scientist. Thanks for your support. I was chatting with some online homeschooling friends and I mentioned that my
Great Science Experiment Books
Welcome to 10 Days Of Great Science Books! We are on day 3. (This post contains affiliate links.) My best friend was a homeschool veteran by the time I finally decided to homeschool. When I went to her to discuss science options for my then 3rd grader, she handed me a stack of Janice Van Cleave science experiment books and said “Just have fun!” That
Gumdrop Structures Engineering Challenge
*This post contains affiliate links. This is an engineering challenge idea that I’ve modified from one I found on Teacher’s Domain. My 5-year old son was up for the challenge, and I’ve also done the activity with science teachers at a professional development workshop. You’ll love this activity as part of an engineering unit, when you’re introducing shapes, or just for a fun Friday or rainy
Reverse Engineering
Some call it tearing stuff apart. We like “reverse engineering” better. This had to be one of the most fun, most engaging homeschool science projects we have done to date. My children and a friend (so, 2 seven year olds and an eleven year old) started with a computer keyboard, a bathroom scale, a hand-held kitchen mixer and a radio/alarm clock. They ended up with