How to Make a Crystal Snowflake

What You Need to Make Borax Crystal Snowflakes: 

For this project you will need borax, which is sold as a laundry booster and cleaner, and a pipe cleaner. You'll also need hot water, a cup or glass, scissors, and a measuring spoon.

Make the Snowflake Shape: Make the snowflake by cutting a pipe cleaner into three pieces. You can use a colored pipe cleaner if you want a colored crystal snowflake. Twist the pieces together at their centers and bend the ends outward to make a snowflake shape. Trim the snowflake so that it will fit inside your cup. I like to leave one arm long so that I can hang the snowflake in the cup.

Mix the Crystal Growing Solution: Stir 3 tablespoons of borax into 1 cup of very hot water. It's fine if there is a little undissolved borax. Pour the crystal growing solution into the cup, hang the snowflake so that it doesn't touch the sides or bottom of the container, and allow the crystals to grow undisturbed for several hours or overnight.

Use Your Borax Crystal Snowflake for Decoration: Remove the borax crystal snowflake and use it however you like. The snowflakes make pretty decorations.

Keep checking this space for things to do, places to go and cool new science discoveries. 

Our science fair will be April 5, 2013

Keep on asking questions and exploring the world around you!

More Snow Science

                                                                      

. The story of snow : the science of winter's wonder by Cassino, Mark. Call Number: E 551.5784 CASSINO Publisher, Date: San Francisco, Calif. : Chronicle Books, 2009. Description: 33 p. : ill. (some col.) ; 27 cm. Summary: This book about the science of snow features photos of snow crystals in their beautiful diversity and includes how snow crystals are formed into different shapes and snow-crystal-catching instructions in the back of the book.

Ken Libbrecht's field guide to snowflakes by Libbrecht, Kenneth George. Call Number: 551.5784 LIBBREC Publisher, Date: St Paul, MN, USA : Voyageur Press, 2006. Description: 112 p. : ill. (some col.) ; 21 cm. Summary: Examines all the different kinds of snowflakes.

The snowflake : winter's secret beauty by Libbrecht, Kenneth George. Call Number: 551.5784 LIBBREC Publisher, Date: Stillwater, MN, U.S.A. : Voyageur Press, c2003. Description: 112 p. : ill. (chiefly col.) ; 27 cm.

. The snowflake : a water cycle story by Waldman, Neil. Call Number: E 551.48 WALDMAN Publisher, Date: Brookfield, Conn. : Millbrook Press, c2003. Description: 1 v. (unpaged) : col. ill. ; 29 cm. Summary: Follows the journey of a water droplet through the various stages of the water cycle, from precipitation to evaporation and condensation

Call Number: E 551.5784 HERRIGEPublisher, Date: Minneapolis, MN : Bellwether Media, 2007.Description: 24 p. : col. ill. ; 24 cm.Summary: "Simple text and supportive images introduce beginning readers to the characteristics of snow. Intended for students in kindergarten through third grade"--Provided by publisher.Series: Herriges, Ann. Weather

. Snowflakes can fall in summer : and other facts about seasons by Taylor, Helen, 1963-
Call Number: J 508.2 TAYLOR Publisher, Date: Brookfield, Conn. : Copper Beech Books, 1998. Description: 32 p. : col. ill., col. map ; 25 cm. Summary: Explores the four seasons, discussing such topics as the difference in shadows, temperatures, and the length of days, and what happens to plants and animals at different times of the year. Series: You'd never believe it but--.
. Snow by Herriges, Ann.

. Snow by Miles, Elizabeth, 1960- Call Number: J 551.5784 MILES Publisher, Date: Chicago : Heinemann Library, 2005. Description: 32 p. : col. ill. ; 23 cm. Series: Miles, Elizabeth, 1960- Watching the weather

Weather and climate experiments by Walker, Pam, 1958- Call Number: TEEN 551.63 WALKER Publisher, Date: New York, NY : Facts on File, c2010. Description: xviii, 148 p. : col. ill., col. maps ; 29 cm. Series: Facts on File science experiments

. It's snowing! by Gibbons, Gail. Call Number: E 551.5784 GIBBONS Publisher, Date: New York : Holiday House, c2011. Description: 32 p. : col. ill., col. maps ; 27 cm. Summary: Introduces readers to snow and discusses topics such as different types of snowstorms, regions where snow falls, and how to prepare when a snowstorm approaches.

		Snow crystals by Bentley, W. A. (Wilson Alwyn), 1865-1931. Call Number: 551.57 BENTLEY Publisher, Date: New York : Dover Publications, [1962] Description: 226 p. : (chiefly ill.) ; 26 cm.

Call Number: J 551.5784 BUNDEYPublisher, Date: Minneapolis : Carolrhoda Books, 2001.Description: 32 p. : col. ill. ; 25 cm.Summary: Discusses how snow is formed in the atmosphere, the various forms it takes when falling to earth, the conditions snow creates on the earth, and its effect on plants and animals.

. Yuki no katachi.
Call Number: INTL-JPN J 551.5784 YUKI NO Publisher, Date: Tōkyō : Hisakata Chairudo, 2007. Description: 27 p. : col. ill. ; 21 x 24 cm. Summary: A look at the various shapes of snow and snowflakes. Series: Shizen ni tatchi!
Snow and the earth by Bundey, Nikki, 1948-

2000

31. Snow is falling by Branley, Franklyn Mansfield, 1915-2002. Call Number: E 551.5784 BRANLEY Publisher, Date: New York : HarperCollinsPublishers, c2000. Description: 33 p. : col. ill. ; 21 x 26 cm. Summary: Describes snow's physical qualities and how quantities of it can be fun as well as dangerous.

Call Number: E 551.577 LAWRENCPublisher, Date: New York, N.Y. : Bearport, c2012.Description: 24 p. : col. ill. ; 21 cm.Series: Lawrence, Ellen, 1967- Weather wise.

Call Number: J DVD-ED 500 SCI2160Publisher, Date: [United States] : SNI/SI Networks, c2009.Description: 1 videodisc (ca. 79 min.) : sd., col. ; 4 3/4 in.Summary: Forget the white lab coat and boring test tubes of your stuffy old school science class. Join teen hosts Paula, Andrew and Pemma in three off-the-wall SciQ explorations, where science is fun and always an adventure. What's your science quotient? Contains Underwater, Snow, and Flight.

Call Number: eVIDEO OVERDRIPublisher, Date: [South San Francisco, Calif.] : Selectmedia Entertainment, [2006]Summary: Science fun at home! From the incredible power of thunder to the peaceful beauty of a fountain of water, the world of nature is a source of endless fascination. Kid science: Nature experiments provides a fun-filled, interactive way to learn about our environment. Interesting activities touch upon every facet of nature, from earth, air and water, to plants and humans. Find out about weather and the environment. Learn how to make paper, a snow gauge, thunder, fountains and more. Video demonstrations make it fun and easy to try things out.Series: Pearce, Q. L. (Querida Lee). Kid science.

Rain & snow
Call Number: J DVD-ED 551.6 RAI105 Publisher, Date: Wynnewood, PA : Schlessinger Media, c2005. Description: 1 videodisc (23 min.) : sd., col. ; 4 3/4 in. + 1 teacher's guide. Summary: Students will learn how rain, snow, sleet, hail, fog and mist form as well as how the water cycle constantly 'recycles' water around the world. Series: Schlessinger science library. Weather fundamentals.
How are rain, snow, and hail alike? by Lawrence, Ellen, 1967-
SciQ. Volume 2
Nature experiments

Websites:

CalTech's Website on Snowcrystals

http://www.its.caltech.edu/~atomic/snowcrystals/

Starry Skies

http://starryskies.com/articles/dln/12-99/snowflakes.html

http://chemistry.about.com/od/moleculescompounds/a/snowflake.htm

Food Science

Thanksgiving is a wonderful family time to come together and celebrate fall and feast on good foods.  Here are some fun science activities to do with food and feasting.

Food Science:

From E-How Mom:
Make your own sourdough bread
To make the sourdough starter, have students combine one cup flour, one cup room temperature water, one tablespoon sugar and one package of active dry yeast. Cover the mixture with a dish towel and store in a warm place for three days, stirring it once a day with a wooden spoon. The yeast, a one-celled organism, will grow over the three days. Students can observe the growth along with the sour smell produced as waste. The starter can be kept in the fridge and the yeast fed with equal amounts of water and flour and a proportionate amount of sugar.

Use your favorite Sourdough recipe to make rolls or bread for Thanksgiving dinner.
Here's one from Cooks.com:  http://www.cooks.com/rec/view/0,164,149170-241203,00.html

SOURDOUGH BREAD AND ROLLS

1 c. sourdough starter 1/4 tsp. baking soda 1 pkg. yeast dissolved in 1/4 c. warm water 1/4 c. oil 2 c. flour 1 tsp. salt 1 egg (optional) Mix all ingredients together, dough will be sticky. Let rise until doubled, about 1 hour. Add a small amount of flour and knead for 10 minutes. Shape into loaf or rolls (egg is best in rolls). Place in greased pans and let rise until doubled. Bake at 375 degrees for 15 minutes. Reduce heat to 350 degrees for 25-30 minutes for bread. For rolls, bake at 350 degrees for 20-25 minutes.

San Francisco's Exploratorium has a great full page on Sourdough starters and the science involved.  http://www.exploratorium.edu/cooking/bread/recipe-sourdough.html

Make a potato clock: Thanksgiving would not be the same without mashed potatoes. Students can explore the hidden energy in potatoes by making a potato battery. Remove the button battery from a low-voltage LED clock. Insert one galvanized nail each in two potatoes. On the opposite end of each potato, insert one piece of heavy copper wire. Using an alligator clip, connect the copper wire of potato one to the positive terminal in the clock's battery compartment. Connect the copper wire of potato two to the negative terminal using an alligator clip. Use a third alligator clip to connect the nail in potato one to the copper wire of potato two. The clock will now work.  

For a more complete explanation visit http://www.kidzworld.com/article/4726-how-potato-batteries-work#

Make Butter:  Change whipping cream into butter for a Thanksgiving feast. Give each child a small baby jar container filled halfway with whipping cream. Place a marble inside of each jar. Shake the jar vigorously until the cream becomes butter. Take note of whose turns into butter first and how steadily or quickly the student shook the jar. Make a chart of the time it took different children's cream to change into butter. Talk about churns and other methods of making butter in the Pilgrims' times.

• Drain off the buttermilk (or let kids sample it and see what they think), and rinse the butter lumps in cold water. Store them in the refrigerator before sending them home with the kids to grace their Thanksgiving tables or using them at the school Thanksgiving feast.

Read more: Fun High School Thanksgiving Science Activities | eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/info_8216442_fun-school-thanksgiving-science-activities.html#ixzz2BZgKPdaA

Read more about food science: The science chef : 100 fun food experiments and recipes for kids by D'Amico, Joan, 1957-

Call Number: J 641.3 DAMICO

While you're waiting for the food to come : a tabletopscience activity book : experiments and tricks that can be done at a restaurant, the dining room table, or wherever food is served by Muller, Eric Paul, 1961- Call Number: J 507.8 MULLER

Who wants pizza? : the kids' guide to the history,science & culture of food by Thornhill, Jan. Call Number: J 641.3 THORNHI

Try it with food!

Call Number: J 507.8 TRY IT

Kitchen science by Levine, Shar, 1953- Call Number: J 507.8 LEVINE

Bill Nye, the science guy. Nutrition

Call Number: J DVD-ED 613.2 BIL52

Wondering what to do over the Break?

 Here are some Science Suggestions…

·        Learn about skyscrapers and build your own out of Legos or other materials.

·       Start a leaf collection.  Sort them by color, size, edges, veins, etc.

·       Visit the Seattle Aquarium and learn about sea life.

·       Learn about nutrition with the My Plate.gov and plan and make dinner.

·       Use ink & paper to make fingerprints.  Compare with a friend.

·       Visit the Brightwater Education Center and learn about water quality (Tour reservation online: Open 10-4)

·       Experiment with building paper airplanes and test how well they fly.

Keep checking this space for things to do, places to go and cool new science discoveries. 

Our science fair will be April 5, 2013

Keep on asking questions and exploring the world around you!

Watch Science in progress.....

One of the best things about science is that it is about experimenting and observing, trying different things different ways and seeing what those effects are.  The Stratos mission is a work in progress, they have experienced delays and are at the mercy of weather and equipment performance.  Read below and watch on Sunday to see if they make it this time.....

The Mission:

Red Bull Stratos, a mission to the edge of space, will attempt to transcend human limits that have existed for 50 years. Supported by a team of experts Felix Baumgartner plans to ascend to 120,000 feet in a stratospheric balloon and make a freefall jump rushing toward earth at supersonic speeds before parachuting to the ground. His attempt to dare atmospheric limits holds the potential to provide valuable medical and scientific research data for future pioneers.

Check out http://www.redbullstratos.com/ to watch the live mission unfold.

Read more about the mission at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_Bull_Stratos

More on liquids and other slippery science

Websites: 

New Zealand's Science Kids website on liquids: http://www.sciencekids.co.nz/experiments/oilandwater.html

Science Games  http://www.wartgames.com/themes/science/matter.html

Kidport  http://www.kidport.com/reflib/science/matter/SolidLiquidGas.html

BBC Science Site http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/scienceclips/ages/8_9/solid_liquids.shtml


Books:

Liquids

 by Morgan, Ben,  Call Number: J 530.42 MORGAN

Solid or liquid?
 by Hansen, Amy. Call Number: E 531 HANSEN

Changing states : solids, liquids, and gases
 by Hurd, Will.  Call Number: J 530.474 HURD

Solids, liquids, and gases : from ice cubes to bubbles
 by Ballard, Carol. Call Number: J 530.4 BALLARD

All about solids, liquids & gases 

Call Number: J DVD-ED 530.4 ALL859 

Experiments with solids, liquids, and gases

 by Taylor-Butler, Christine. Call Number: J 530.4078 TAYLOR 

Sólidos, líquidos y gases
 by Royston, Angela.  Call Number: INTL-SPA J 530.4 ROYSTON

Matter
 by Manolis, Kay. Call Number: E 530 MANOLIS


Making things float and sink
by Gibson, Gary.  Call Number: J 532.2507 GIBSON

Halloween Science:

Books:
Crazy concoctions : a mad scientist's guide to messy mixtures
 by Brown, Jordan. Call Number: J 540.76 BROWN


Hands-on grossology : really gross science experiments
 by Branzei, Sylvia. Call Number: J 612 BRANZEI

Itch & ooze : gross stuff on your skin

 by Lew, Kristi. Call Number: J 616.5 LEW Part of the Gross Body Science series.

Grossology

 by Branzei, Sylvia. Call Number: J 612 BRANZEI 

Videos:


Popular mechanics for kids. Slither & slime and other yucky things
Call Number: J DVD-ED 500 POP231

Make an oozing pumpkin:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=608OIFWYnto&feature=related

Science Bob (Halloween Science) http://www.sciencebob.com/blog/?p=360 

Kitchen Science Frankenworms video at YouTube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W5IMbLz5y9c&list=PL2281B1F40EE2E65F&index=4&feature=plpp_video

Glowing Halloween ideas http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qEcCenyXVVw&feature=autoplay&list=PL2281B1F40EE2E65F&playnext=1

Other fun things to do:

Maplewood Rock and Gem Show:  November 10-11, 2012

http://www.maplewoodrockclub.com/calendar/november-show

Everett Imagine Children's Museum:

10/12/2012

1:00 PM - 3:00 PM Science Sleuths and Masterful Magicians Ages 6-12 

A kids-only science program! 

Rockin' Rockets

11/9/12

1:00 PM - 3:00 PM Science Sleuths and Masterful Magicians Ages 6-12 

A kids-only science program! 

Body Dectectives

http://www.imaginecm.org/eventscalendar.html

Pacific Science Center:

Life Sciences Research Weekend

Pacific Science Center Nov. 2-4, 2012
Friday 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
Saturday-Sunday 10 a.m.-5 p.m.

The Northwest Association for Biomedical Research (nwabr.org) and Pacific Science Center have teamed up to create three days of demonstrations, interactive exhibits and talks for school children, families and citizen scientists interested in learning more about the exciting world of life sciences and the key role research plays in our daily lives.

The sixth annual Life Sciences Research Weekend at Pacific Science Center Friday through Sunday, November 2-4, 2012, promises guests hands-on science and face-to-face time with real scientists. Guests will have the exciting opportunity to meet leading edge researchers and some of the nation's top research scientists from companies and research institutions across the state.

Check out the Seattle Bug Safari http://www.seattlebugsafari.com/hours.htm

Watch the Salmon cam:
http://wdfw.wa.gov/wildwatch/salmoncam/video.html

and read about the Salmon life cycle:    


Scholastic's the magic school bus goes upstream : a book about salmon migration
by Cole, Joanna.  Call Number: J 597.56 COLE

Sockeye's journey home : the story of a Pacific salmon
by Winkelman, Barbara Gaines, 1961-
Call Number: E 597.55 WINKELM

Visit Salmon Days in Issaquah this weekend Oct. 6th and 7th  http://www.salmondays.org/

Make your own "Lava Lamp"

Hey there!  Did you find us at the ice cream social?  Were you one of the ones asking about our “lava lamp” and how to make your own.  Are you now curious and want to try this at home?

Well, you’re in luck!  Below is a list of ingredients along with instructions so you can make your own.

What you need:

Vegetable oil (use the cheap stuff, really!)    

Water with food coloring of your choice

Salt (again, use the cheap stuff!)

Vase or tall glass

What to do:

Fill the vessel about half full with water, now mix in your food coloring.  Pour the oil on top so the total volume is no more than ¾ of your vessel.  Gently pour a BIG handful of salt so it sort of rests on the oil.  Watch the water carefully.  See the oil get dragged down into the water and then rise again to the surface?  Pretty cool, huh.  Now do it again.  How much salt is optimum?  Is it best to add the salt quickly or slowly?  You can rinse this out and repeat as many times as you like!

We loved meeting you and hearing your science ideas.  Keep checking this space for things to do, places to go and cool new science discoveries.   Our science fair will be 5 April 2013—keep on asking questions and exploring the world around you!