Participate in cutting-edge science with Citizen Science

Posted on March 26, 2013 by Alicia Brown

At Heath Scientific, we’re all about hands-on learning. And what better way to learn than to participate in actual, cutting-edge science inquiries?

Citizen science allows ordinary people–like you, me, and our kids–to participate in science. For example, The Lost Ladybug Project asks people to find and photograph ladybugs, in an attempt to find rare ladybug species. A 10 and 11 year-old boy and girl made the first major breakthrough in the project when they found a rare 9-spotted ladybug–the first seen in the eastern United States in 14 years!

Can you imagine the power behind citizen science? Students aren’t just learning about science, they’re participating in it! They are making science happen. Along the way, they’ll learn observational skills and apply the scientific method, as a matter of course. They’ll also learn about the topic at hand, whether it’s neutron stars or backyard birds.

Are you ready? These fantastic websites have curated lists of citizen science projects for you to participate in!

Cool Cat Teacher lists 17 citizen science projects for schools, teachers, and parents
Hack Education describes 5 apps that encourage citizen science
The Daily Green has a slideshow of 25 citizen science projects
SciStarter indexes hundreds of projects including Moon Zoo and a DIY Laser Harp

We’ve also made a Pinterest board tracking citizen science opportunities.

Engage Students with Creepy Crawly Hands-on Science

Posted on March 13, 2013 by Alicia Brown

Launching your lessons with a hands-on activity is a great way to get kids re-engaged in your classroom after Spring Break!

Our most popular items for your students’ return are bugs and critters. Kids of all ages love exploring the world of creepy crawly bugs. Explore metamorphosis! Or teach about the critters’ roles in the ecosystem. Gather a variety of critters and host a bug show.

If you prefer to not have live critters, consider life cycle models for a hands-on, but not creepy-crawly, way to explore the life cycle of insects.

Caterpillars and butterflies.

We also provide classroom and individual student kits

Ants.

Harvester ants are HUGE and easy to observe. Keep them contained in a habitat.

Ladybugs.

Don’t forget a habitat!

Mealworms.

We also provide a growing kit with food, burlap, mealworms, pupae, and beetles; as well as an experiment kit to explore the mealworms’ sensitivity to light.

Praying Mantid egg case and habitat or individual egg case.

Pill Bugs.

These harmless roly poly bugs are a great choice for those of us who might be a tad bit squeamish about other bugs.

Snails: land and pond

Earthworms

Crayfish

Water Fleas

Crickets

Desert Millipede

Redworms

Hydra

Milkweed bugs and eggs

Planaria

Silkworms

Tenebrio Beetles

Vinegar Eels

Drosophila Fruit Flies

Brine Shrimp.

Shh, here’s a secret: Sea-Monkeys are actually brine shrimp.

What are your students’ favorite critters to explore?

Winter Wonderland

Posted on December 13, 2012 by Alicia Brown

Here in Texas, we rarely get snow.

Instead, we can create a winter wonderland–indoors or out–with fake snow!

Science projects with fake snow

Create a sensory bin
Illustrate the difference between a physical and chemical reaction: after showing your student how the snow absorbs water, let the water evaporate for a few days. The snow powder is the same stuff you started with.
Teach the concept of Conservation of Mass. Weigh the snow before adding water. Add water, then let it evaporate. Weigh the snow powder again. It is the same.
Demonstrate the concept of absorption

Decorating with fake snow

Sprinkle on your Christmas tree, holiday decoration displays, and your mantle display
Fill ornaments with fake snow
Make waterless snow globes
Use as a backdrop or as falling snow in your photography

Fake snow options

Heath Scientific provides two types of fake snow: Magic Snow and Super Snow. Both are a highly absorbent polymer that create realistic-looking snow when you add water.

Super snow also makes a great stocking stuffer!

Stocking stuffers of science

Posted on November 27, 2012 by Alicia Brown

These fun and educational toys would make great stocking stuffers.

1. Make your own bouncy balls!

2. Astronaut ice cream. Enjoy freeze dried ice cream bars or dots.

3. Create a Diet Coke geyser powered by Mentos. If you haven’t seen the awesomeness that is a Diet Coke geyser, check out this video, then recreate it with this Geyser Tube. Messy, explosive science: what kid could want more?

4. Add water to one of these polymer packets and watch the magic! Create snow, giant jelly balls, slime, and more.