Idea Sheets

Catching Your Breath

This quick and simple model may help your students appreciate living with lung disease... and possibly convince them to stay away from smoking.
Subjects: Life Science

Centimeter Sam

This game gives students practice measuring in centimeters. This game can also be used for estimating length.
Subjects: Math

Kits Available: San Jose 26, Redwood City 42

Charge It

The first electrical experiments were based on static electricity. Students can create motion, light, and sound relatively easily, on a small scale, with static electricity.
Subjects: Physical Science

Kits Available: Redwood City 14

Chinese Paper Lanterns

Using hanging file folders to make durable paper lanterns as decorations for Lunar New Year celebrations such as the Chinese New Year and the Chinese Lantern Festival.
Subjects: Social Studies, Art

Circle Game

A board game that can teach whatever you choose!
Subjects: Physical Science, Life Science, Earth/Space Science, Math, Social Studies, Language Arts

Kits Available: San Jose 21, Redwood City 39

Colors of Light

White light is actually a combination of different colors. This easy-to-build spectroscope creates a rainbow pattern (spectrum) by separating incoming light into its component colors. The interesting patterns it displays can be used to identify different sources of light. Experiment with a variety of colored filters and see how the images change!
Subjects: Physical Science

Kits Available: San Jose 56, Redwood City 4

Compass in a Tub

Corral a compass rose and allow a needle to rotate smoothly by using marbles!
Subjects: Physical Science, Earth/Space Science

Electrifying

An electrophorus is simply a metal surface with an insulating handle. The metal can be charged positively (+) or negatively (-) repeatedly through charging by induction!
Subjects: Physical Science

Finger-Phone

Create a musical instrument in minutes to explore the science of sound production!
Subjects: Physical Science

Fishing for Numbers

Fishin' For Numbers reinforces number recognition, counting skills, 1:1 correspondence and simple addition or subtraction for young children in a fun way. Students use a magnetic pole to catch "fish"! How many can they catch?
Subjects: Math

  Flip Over Fractions!

In this colorful activity, players use "bricks" to build "fraction walls". In the process, they master equivalent fractions and gain problem-solving and creative thinking skills. This activity can be used by individual students, or turned into exciting opportunities for teamwork and competition!
Subjects: Math

Kits Available: San Jose 49, Redwood City 9

Floating Compass

The floating compass is a useful tool for detecting the magnetic fields of magnets and of the Earth. Make a simple compass with a magnetized needle demonstrates the properties of magnetic materials and shows that magnets have north and south poles. Using the floating compass provides a visual example of how like poles repel each other.
Subjects: Physical Science, Earth/Space Science

Kits Available: San Jose 40, Redwood City 10

Floating Garden of Magnets

Magnets floating in water move easily and adjust their position based on changes in the number and location of other magnets around them. Beautiful designs emerge as magnets float to find their positions in the pattern. This activity demonstrates the effects of magnetic fields and also illustrates how crystal molecules form.
Subjects: Physical Science

Kits Available: San Jose 49, Redwood City 7

Foil Art

Explore an art technique where everyone - both children and adults - can be successful. The color pulled from new or used printing foils can create striking patterns for making cards, bookmarks, and other art projects.
Subjects: Art

Kits Available: San Jose 107, Redwood City 74

Folded Foil Wires

Folded strips of aluminum foil can be easily formed into wires, switches, bulb contacts, and tabs for batteries. The foil wires make it possible to form right angle turns that will lay flat, making it easier to follow the path of the electrical current.
Subjects: Physical Science

Gravity Defying Frog

Move the center of gravity of a paper frog to create a gravity defying illusion! How can the frog spin around with most of its body suspended in mid-air? Use moveable weights to discover what forces are needed to keep the frog balanced on its head. Conceal the weights to heighten the mystery!
Subjects: Physical Science

Kits Available: San Jose 81, Redwood City 25

Gravity Defying Spring

Explore what happens when a coiled spring is dropped. Expectations are sometimes different from reality. These discrepant events can create memorable impressions and heighten student interest.
Subjects: Physical Science

Kits Available: Redwood City 15

Hot Wire Through Styrofoam

This nifty gadget is a useful tool to cut Styrofoam (TM) and an example of a circuit.
Subjects: Physical Science

Kits Available: San Jose 298, Redwood City 17

Hovercraft

Explore how a hovercraft can glide smoothly along by constructing this quick-to-assemble four-piece model. Once the hovercraft is built, test it on any smooth, flat surface.
Subjects: Physical Science

Kits Available: San Jose 4, Redwood City 14

Human Reaction Time

Reaction time is key to many things we do: operating a car, flying a plane, riding a bike, or playing sports. In space, astronauts test physical fitness with reaction tests.
Subjects: Life Science

Kits Available: Redwood City 12