Choosing light bulbs for your home has changed so much in the last ten years. How do you decide what’s best? Here’s an experiment children can do comparing light bulbs. Which makes the most sense for the family? Congress passed a law in 2007 that phases out the US production of incandescent bulbs. The old-style tungsten-filament…
Education
Why can’t school be more like summer camp?By approaching lessons and units with the perspective of camp counselors, you can inject the wonder and motivation that so often disappears in our testing-crazy times. Tutu is a name for a grandparent in Hawaii. When our grandsons come to spend time with us, we say they are at Camp Tutu! Welcome to Camp Tutu, my way of energizing science lessons!
Solar beads ultraviolet detection STEM activity
Solar beads are a fun way to learn about the importance of sun exposure. We should put on sunscreen every day and think about reapplying it. We can teach children a craft project with pony beads and experiment with the UV rays given off by light sources and test sunscreen products for effectiveness. This post contains…
Solar energy activity – solar panel & motor
Use the sun’s power for this solar energy activity. Solar panels use semiconductor material that converts light energy to electricity. An electric motor helps you to see the electricity being produced! Safety note: Be sure to explain safety precautions to children. Solar energy activity involves electricity and heat. Eye and skin protection should be used. When…
Solar robot activity – frog and grasshopper
Solar robot activity introduces children to building a kit and experimenting with solar energy. Simple kits to build are the solar frog and grasshopper. Safety note: Be sure to explain safety precautions to children. This solar robot activity has very small parts. Eye protection should be used. Disclaimer: All information provided on this site is…
Glue batik and semiconductors
Modern engineering includes semiconductors in electronics, microprocessors, LEDs, solar panels, and more. How they work and how they are made can be difficult to teach to children. This glue batik activity uses a fun art project to give children a hands-on experience to help them learn the concepts. When people are working with circuits (such…