Out of This World Science for Kids

 

Ever since the beginning of time humans have found themselves looking up to the sky above and wondering what was out there. As time passed and humans learned more about the heavens above, that curiosity hasn’t stopped. Many might argue that the curiosity of what lies in the vastness of space has only grown.  

 
 

A Childlike Curiosity  

 
 

The group of people that love space more than almost any other are young children. If you spend any time with a young person you will quickly get questions like: 

• How big are stars? 

• How far away is the moon? 

• Is space cold? 

• What are Saturn’s rings made of? 

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Children are so naturally curious and space holds so much of their attention. Below are some fun projects and activities that you can do to foster this curiosity. 

 
 

Take a Trip to Space 

 
 

While commercial travel to space isn’t available to regular people just yet it doesn’t mean you can’t take a trip to space. NASA or the National Aeronautics and Space Administration offers several virtual tours that are sure to capture the attention of those who want to know more about space, space shuttles, rockets or the space station. Their most popular are: 

• The International Space Station Tour 

• NASA Explorers: Training the astronauts 

If you are lucky enough to have a VR (virtual reality) headset there are even experiences NASA have available that allow you to explore rockets and the International Space Station in immersive virtual reality. 

 
 

Visit a Planetarium  

 
 

For the visual learner nothing is better to learn about space and the galaxy we call home than a planetarium. Planetariums are often rounded theaters where images are projected on a darkened dome while the audience listens to an expert. Planetariums are great because they allow for an expert to explain about the heavens above in a way that people from children to grandparents can grasp. The projections on the dome allow for people to visualize astral bodies and phenomena that aren’t viewable by the naked eye.  

 
 

Blast Off 

 
 

For many the main draw to learning about space are astronauts and the space ships they travel in. One thing you can do for those who love rockets is to build one of your own. All you need are the following things: 

• An empty plastic bottle (a water or soda bottle is great) 

• Wooden dowels or pencils to make a base for your rocket 

• Baking soda 

• Vinegar 

• A cork for a stopper 

All that needs to be done is to tape or glue the pencils to the top of the bottle to form stabilizing stilts. Fill the bottle with baking soda, por in your vinegar, cork the bottle and then watch your rocket blast off! 

 
 

This project can be made more fun by adding on the following pieces to your rocket: 

• Decorations 

• Fins 

• Nose cones 

• Parachutes 

 
 

Bringing the Learning Home 

 
 

The above activities can help foster love for space in young ones but the real learning can happen at home. Kids like nothing more than getting hands on, getting to work with and learn from their family. There are several great solar system projects that parents and kids can do together to keep learning about our planet and our place in space.  

3 Reasons Why You Should Save Cereal Boxes

 

If you’re a parent, you probably buy your fair share of cold breakfast cereal. There is a huge market for this stuff that comes in the bright colored boxes with the fun shapes and flavors that keep kids begging for more. So, since you probably already spend an arm and a leg on this product, why not get more bang for your buck? If you save these boxes, we are going to share a few ideas of how to make it worth your while.

  

Book Report 

This fun idea not only uses the cereal box itself, but is also made to look like a cereal box but with informative content about a book. The name of the cereal would be the name of the book. Replace the side panels with a personalized summary of the book, setting and character descriptions. Obviously, this is a great way to get your child excited about doing a book report. You could even go to the store to pick out the cereal that they want and then save the box specifically for that purpose. This could also make a very thoughtful gift and include the book inside the box as a present. Cereal box book reports should be next on your list to try, and you can find more detailed information by following the link.  

Gift Tags 

Between holidays, birthdays, get well soon or “thinking of you” gifts, there is always a use for a homemade gift tag. When you are in a pinch, cut up cereal boxes make a great start for a gift tag. Cut rectangles, clip the corners and you have yourself a sturdy gift tag. You could also trace a template to use for the future so gift tags are all uniform or print a stencil to use on your cereal boxes to make your tags consistent. However, if you would prefer a variety winging it is the way to go. The idea is that the cereal box is the base, and you can tape or draw anything on top and make a fancy tag.  

Night Light 

Night lights are great for kids who are scared of the dark, or to prevent falls when getting up in the night. To make a cereal box into a night light you just need a hole punch or something sharp. Punch holes in old cereal boxes for a unique, one-of-a kind, personalized night light or lamp for your child’s bedroom. Once the design is finished, place a battery powered, non-flammable light source inside of the box and watch the design come to life. This is a great activity for a sleepover, a birthday party, or a classroom assignment. 

 

Recycling Cereal Boxes is Beneficial 

Not only does reusing cereal boxes benefit the environment by recycling a large amount of cardboard, but it also can be beneficial in saving you money on things you could easily make yourself from materials you already have. Not to mention, you and your kids can have a lot of fun doing it.