Through Currclick.com you can purchase this month’s nature study from Simple Schooling for only $1.99. This month the study is about evergreen trees – perfect for the Christmas season!
 Hottest New Title  Simple Schooling November Nature Study Evergreen Trees |
I just ordered my kit for our homeschool group! I’ve heard that this is a lot of fun. Register now because they have a limited number.
PhysicsQuest 2011: Spectra Heats Up!
REGISTER NOW FOR YOUR FREE KIT
Sign up to receive a FREE PhysicsQuest kit. Students will do experiments relating to heat and temperature as they try and help Spectra solve the mystery of Tesla Junior HighÂ’s mysterious weather. Kits contain all the materials needed to do 4 fun and exciting physics experiments as well as a manual and comic book. As the students complete the activities they will be learning the physics they need to save the world, or at least Tesla Junior High. There are a limited number of kits so sign up now!
A few weeks into their second year at Tesla Junior High the gang realizes things are really changing, well, the temperature at least. Why is Lucy’s pool too hot to handle? Snowed in in the middle of September? No one can figure out what is going on. On top of all this physics confusion, Lucy is being harassed by the newest student at Tesla Junior High, Tiffany Maxwell. Could she be behind the odd things happening or is Lucy just blaming her because she is trying to steal her spot on the relay team? Is she just a typical “mean girl” or is there more to her than her well-manicured nails, high-heeled boots and a sharp tongue? Join Lucy Hene (aka Spectra) and her gang as they once again use their physics knowledge to save the world, or at least Tesla Junior High.
If you have questions or comments about PhysicsQuest, please contact:
Becky Thompson, PhD
Head of Public Outreach
American Physical Society
physicsquest@…
301-209-3206
I bought this Bubble Gum Factory at our local hobby shop for $19.99. Later I saw that Amazon has it for $12.99. Bummer. Oh well, it was still worth it because it was super fun and gave my kids great pleasure. My almost-8 year old has only had gum once in her life because I had not been able to find any that is soy-free. Needless to say, she was thrilled with today’s “science lesson.” (We had been talking about states of matter.)
As soon as I opened this box I read in the directions what is not listed on the outside: that you must have microwave to do this project. They sort of imply that you can use a double boiler, which we did. In another post I’ll explain why we have not had a microwave in over 3 years (maybe more?)
Here’s what we did:
Melt the gum base and the corn syrup. (This would be much easier in a microwave!)
Once the mixture is cool, knead it like dough. If it gets too sticky, add powdered sugar.
Roll your “dough” into small balls or roll out into small sticks.
You can either knead some of the flavoring into your gum or roll your balls in it when they are finished. Choose from watermelon, blueberry, or mint. There is citric acid in case you’re the sour puss type – - and BOY, IS THAT STUFF SOUR! WOW! Be forewarned.
You can also add food coloring at this point, but we try our best to stay away from artificial colors so we skipped that part. Plus we have a wedding coming up and I’d rather my girls not have green, blue or purple hands.
When you’re almost 8 years old and you blow your first bubble using gum you’ve made yourself, it is cause for serious celebration!
Note: We only used a fraction of the ingredients so we will be able to make this same amount (about 16 gum balls in all) many more times. If you are an adventurous parent you might try this at a birthdday party! I’d say you’d have enough ingredients for at least 15 kids.
Excuse me now while I try to clean my pan with peanut butter.
