Monday, March 19, 2012

Bending Water?

My son loves learning about science.  I have been investigating for various experiments for him.  I came across the HomeSchool Scientist on Facebook.  I also have found the HomeSchool Scientist on Pinterest.  EXPERIMENTS!  


The Homeschool Scientist had a challenge to Investigate the Possibilities Experiements.   In this challenge we were able to sample a hands-on science lesson found in the Investigate The Possibilities physical science series from Master Books.   I picked bending a stream of water and was sent the experiment, the student journal and the teacher's manual.  

Okay, back to the experiment...  I asked my son if he could bend water.  He gave me a puzzled look and then decided he could bend water when drinking water with a bend-y straw.   















Um, next question...Using a balloon, could he move paper without touching it?  Yes!  He remembered that rubbing a balloon on his hair would make his sister's hair stand up.   YEAH, Prior Knowledge :)  


Using that prior knowledge, the paper moved up toward the balloon.  However, if we rubbed our hand over the balloon, the balloon lost its charge.   Next, we tried bending water by 'charging' the balloon again.  At first, we could not get the water to 'bend.' (Charges from static electricity usually do not last long.) We then used a wool sweater to charge the balloon.  (We also used a water bottle that would pour a steady stream.)  


It worked!  Now came the why questions...


This lesson did a wonderful job of explaining the "science stuff" of static electricity and molecules.  It compared a water molecule to a teddy bear face which helped my son in creating what his water molecule should look like.    We were able to draw and learn the chemical formula for water.  We even made our own water molecule!  But the lesson did not stop there.  The lesson included 'think about' questions for the activity and 'what did you learn' question.   

In case that wasn't enough, this lesson included a 'making connections' and a 'dig deeper' page.  I loved this page as it encouraged him to think more about water in just the liquid state.  This will lead to more experiments.  :)




Overall, I was very happy with this experiment and the way the lesson was presented.  









Tuesday, March 13, 2012

Taekwondo Kick Shirt


My son and husband are taking Taekwondo together.  My son asked for a t shirt that he could wear with his uniform.

I made this shirt by making a stencil with freezer paper.

Monday, March 12, 2012

She has a dream...

My daughter had a dream for her 5th birthday cake.  She wanted Rapunzel, Flynn Rider, Maximus (the horse), and Mother Gothel.  I colored Rapunzel with icing using this method (found on Pinterest).

Saturday, March 10, 2012

Combine for the Birthday Girl


What?  A combine for a girl?  Yes, that is right.  My youngest daughter loves tractors and combines.  One of her first words was 'ombine.'  She is always on the lookout for combines in the fields...even in the middle of winter.  So for her 2nd birthday, I decided to make a combine cake.  I even had corn in the hopper, the yellow from candy corn.

Thursday, March 8, 2012

A Christmas Outfit

Yes, I realize it is March and I am posting something I made for Christmas.

  

I made this outfit for a friend's daughter.
  


My daughter saw them and thought I was making it for her.  She was very sad when I told her they were for a friend.  So, what is a mother to do??? 

 Yes, that is right, go and make a pair for my daughter too.  I also made a matching shirt by adding candy canes from the same fabric.
A happy daughter :)

Wednesday, March 7, 2012

Another comfy dress....

Can you believe that is March already?

I made this dress at the end of last summer.  I used some left over knit from this project for the top of the dress and straps.  The straps are braided