STEM

How to Build a Potato Powered Clock

This week, we been having fun learning through educational STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths) focused activities at home. This powered clock is a science activity that is suitable for aged 5 and above. I do find it difficult to explain to my children but they did get the gist of it!

To make life easier, rather than looking around for all the bits to build, we had this Lemon Clock kit provided by Great Gizmos for our Twitter party. If you want to get this kit, you can get it online such as from Amazon. If you prefer to make your own, you would need black and red wires, copper and zinc plates, LCD clock and tape.

This kit is simple to build but it is best to allow older children or an adult to build it as the bits are quite fragile.

Egg & Vinegar Science Project

During the summer, we had this egg and vinegar science project where I showed my children how acidic the vinegar is that it able to dissolve the egg shells.

Science4you Chemistry 1000

Mr K and Ms C are both very curious to explore the science around them. They always ask me a lot questions including why vinegar hurts their broken skin, why the cut apple turns brown and many more. I am so glad to have this extensive kit from Science4you Chemistry 1000 to help both of my children to explore the world that surrounds them. This kit is suitable for aged 8 onwards so I help them do most of the experiments just in case they hurt themselves.

How to inflate a balloon without blowing

Thanks to the Science4you Chemistry kit, we have learnt how to inflate a balloon without blowing it. This is one of the experiments listed in the booklet. Click here to check out our review. I have altered a few bits of materials you need.

Buzz Wire Game #Shop with Energizer Batteries

I am a member of the Collective Bias® Social Fabric® Community. This shop has been compensated as part of a social shopper amplification for #CollectiveBias and its advertiser.

My son is generally very inquisitive and has always shown an interest in knowing how a lot of his toys work. He once played a Buzz Wire game at a funfair and was fascinated by that.

So last week we challenged ourselves to make one. We went to Maplin to get some items to build our homemade buzz wire game. We bought the mini buzzer, mini LED light bulbs, insulated wire, bare wire and battery holder.

Also, while doing my usual Tesco online supermarket shop, I ordered a range of Energizer batteries. They had a deal on to buy two packs of 4 AA batteries for £5. I do love online shopping as I find it easier to stick to the list and not get distracted by carefully placed sales/promotional items in store. Navigating the website is fairly easily and I can do a shop within 20 minutes and get the delivery slot for a convenient time to suit.

Turn Easter Eggs into Solar System

Last Sunday, Mr K and I spent an hour to paint 9 polystyrene eggs. We tried to create our solar system by painting each egg a different colours as close to their own colours as depicted in our astronomy book.

Fruit Bobbing

After the children return from school, they want to play and watch TV. I decided to play fruit bobbing instead to get them to eat their 5 a day as they didn’t have any fruit in school today. I think this is a fun way to get them to eat it.

Making Music

Making music by using four wine glasses (this is all we had) and a jug of water. We filled the glasses with different quantities of water. Then I asked the children to wet their finger tips and rub against the rim of the glasses. It makes a beautiful sound.

Making Coloured Salt Dough

Today, I tried a different recipe to the one I used to make. It is the ratio of 1:1 for the flour and salt. Previously I used a 4:1 ratio of flour and salt for the salt dough.

You need:

1 cup of strong plain flour (Had expired)

1 cup of salt

Water

Different type of food dye colour

We had some nearly expired food dyes we bought from a bargain shop at 37 pence each and mixed it with the water first. Be careful while using food dye as they can stain hands or clothing. Now, put all ingredients together and make it into a dough.

Colourful Sugar – Science Project

We are creating colourful sugar crystals. The materials are sugar, water, food colouring and a plate. First, we stirred the sugar into the water until it dissolved. I used lukewarm water to dissolve the sugar more easily. Still Mr K and Ms C took a long time to stir it. We added a few drops of food colouring. Mr K chose blue food colouring and Ms C choose pink.

Corny Goo – Science Project

Today, we tried to make a goo with strange behaviour. This is a very simple experiment. You only need water, cornflour, bowl, plate and spoon.

The children put cornflour onto the disposable plastic plate and added water. After a quick stir with the spoon, they added more water until the goo was thick and creamy. They could then pick up the goo to roll it between the fingers.

Absorbing Science – Science Project

Inspired by this week’s Play Fest Twitter on Montessori play shared by @bluebearwood, I decided to have a go at the absorbing science. We went out to a bargain shop to buy some food dye. They were only 37 pence each as were are near the expiry date.