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? 

• 
  

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.  

Creating the Perfect Home Office for a Busy Mom

 

Being a mom is a full-time job in itself, but many of us decide to carry on working or go back to school, alongside our other duties.  It can be quite a challenge. Whether you are studying, running your own business or working from home in another way, sometimes you just can’t get the time and space to get stuff done.  When it’s becoming too much of a battle, it’s time to separate mom duties with work time.  So, a dedicated home workspace is the ideal solution.

But how do you create it? Here’s a few practical tips.

Making a stylish but practical space

Hard-wearing floors, light-reflecting walls and sturdy furniture are important aspects to a good home office. 

Although practical for daily use, your floor should still be homely.  Wood floors wear well and provide a nice warm feeling.  Herringbone and parquet designs will provide an added bit of style.  Laying this type of floor can be a skilled job, so you’ll need to check herringbone and parquet flooring costs are within your budget.

Matt walls will soak up light, so make sure the walls are decorated with a satin or eggshell finish to help reflect a bit of light back into the room.

Try to avoid flimsy or uncomfortable furniture.  Compact desks and low-backed chairs are going to make working a strain on your back, neck and joints.

Staying connected

Once you’re settled in your own home working space, it can feel a little isolated.  So, some extra creature comforts are a good idea.

Stay connected to the outdoors by having natural light flowing into your space.  Adding roof lanterns and sky lights to a dark space is ideal but can be expensive.  Keep your windows free of obstructions and make sure you have them open for at least some of the day to let in fresh air.

Add nice pictures of peaceful scenery or nature, and keep lush green plants to make the space calm and creative.  If you feel detached from your family but want to feel close to them, you could add pictures of your loved ones to the wall.  You could even have cameras installed around the home so you can watch the kids playing while you work.

I hope these tips will inspire you to create your own home office.