We Made a Volcano using Kitchen Science

We love having fun with science. Freddy wants to be a scientist when he grows up and judging by his inquiring mind and constant questioning, I think he might just become one.  He loves doing experiments, testing things out and exploring the properties of objects.

We were sent a Kitchen Science Kit from 4M Kidz Labs featuring six specially designed experiments using things found in the kitchen. Children learn to generate electricity using lemon; launch a rocket using baking soda and vinegar; make rock candy using sugar; write with invisible ink; build a bubbly lava volcano and become a detective studying fingerprints.

The kit contains full step by step instructions and all the things needed to turn everyday things found in the kitchen into a science experiment.  The instruction booklet also includes the facts behind the experiment, teaching kids about the chemical reactions involved.  There are also some fun trivia facts about the subject. This kit will inspire youngsters, making science fun, relevant and interesting.

Freddy decided that he wanted to try out the volcano experiment first, which uses the reaction between baking soda and vinegar to create a simulated molten lava eruption.  Big sister Kezia helped him follow the instructions and do the experiment safely.

The plastic volcano has an indentation in the top into which you put two teaspoons of baking soda, a few drops of washing up liquid and some red food colouring.

Then you add some vinegar and watch as the volcano erupts.  It works because the chemical reaction creates carbon dioxide gas that escapes as bubbles creating the lava effect.  If you wash the volcano after use, you can recreate this experiment again and again.  It's a bit messy, but it's lots of fun.

The 4M Kidz Labs Kitchen Science set is suitable for kids aged 5 and up and costs £11.95.  You can find out more at the Great Gizmos website at: www.greatgizmos.co.uk/kidz-labs-kitchen-science.html.

Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths for Kids with Blaze and the Monster Machines

Nick Jr's latest show Blaze and the Monster Machines is a great way of introducing the STEM subjects to little ones.  Blaze finds solutions to problems by using his scientific knowledge and changing into different machines with the help of his friends.

To celebrate the UK premiere of Blaze and the Monster Machines we hosted a Twitter party with UKMums.tv.  Freddy and his guests enjoyed taking part in some fun science experiments and enjoyed watching the first episode of Blaze and the Monster Machines.

We had some 4M science kits from Great Gizmos  to try out alongside some other educational activities, all designed to make the children think about science, maths, engineering and technology in an entertaining and fun way.  The Magnetic Racer and the Hover Jet worked particularly well.

It was great to see the children enjoying the science activities.  They loved predicting whether things would sink or float in the big bucket of water, exploring the buoyancy of objects. They predicted what might happen and excitedly tested out their predictions to see if they were right.

They enjoyed building vehicles out of boxes with wooden wheels and also out of chocolate bars and sweeties!  The cardboard box vehicles proved quite challenging as the children worked out how to attach the wheels in order for them to be able to spin.  Seeing them puzzle through the problems and come up with a solution was great and showed exceptional team work skills.

They used balloon power and magnetism to make vehicles move, exploring the laws of motion. There was lots of thinking, lots of learning...and a lot of laughter!

Blaze and the Monster Machines proved a big hit.  The children loved the first episode and were joining in with Blaze's challenges and laughing at the funny, slapstick humour.  I was impressed with the educational content of the show, which explored friction as well as getting the kids to think about materials and types of machines.  It will definitely be a TV show that Freddy regularly tunes into to, it was right up his street.

Catch Blaze and the Monster Trucks on weekdays at 4pm on Nick Jr from Monday 9th March.

Green Science Dynamo Torch Review

We were sent a 4M Green Science Dynamo Torch kit to try out from Great Gizmos.  It contains everything needed to make a working, wind-up torch and teaches children about electrical energy in the process.  It's high voltage inspiration and fun!

Comprising of a toy motor, LED lamp, gears and torch casing, cover and accessories, children aged 8 and over can create their own torch.  In doing so, they will learn how to follow instructions, improve their dexterity and gain an understanding of basic electronics.

The clear instruction sheet gives an assembly diagram and step by step guide for making the torch.  Kizzy's first look at the instructions left her a bit confused, but with Dad on hand she soon got stuck in.  Adult supervision is probably advisable unless you have an electronics whizz for a child.

Once her Dad had pointed her in the right direction, she was able to affix the LED to the casing, install the gears, attach the handle and connect the wires to the motor.  You need a small cross head screwdriver to assemble the torch using little screws, which can prove a bit fiddly for a child.  Again, Dad was on hand to assist Kizzy.

Once it is assembled, the handle can be turned which converts hand motion into electrical energy which lights up the green bulb.  Kizzy was very impressed that she had made the torch light up.

The casing can be attached to a plastic bottle to make a unique torch from your favourite pop bottle.  A great use of recycling!  The torch makes a practical and functional emergency light for kids to use in the dark, powered by hand motion.  

The instructions include fun facts about elecricity.  It explains how electric generators work and how the physical power of  winding the handle converts kinetic energy to electrical energy.  Making electricity in this way is a form of renewable energy which gives off no pollution, opening up children's minds to the concept of greener, environmentally friendly energy sources.

Freddy was very interested in the finished product and was very intrigued at how the torch worked.  That is the beauty of these children's science kits.  Kids learn so much from playing, and even from a young age this can spark a real love of science.

The Dynamo Torch set retails at £11.95.

Find out more at:

http://www.greatgizmos.co.uk/green-science-dynamo-torch.html