What a fun and busy midwinter break exploring science! During a recent School Break Science workshop, we explored engineering, microscopes, and solubility.

During our engineering exploration, we explored, built, and tested, different types of bridges. Our young scientist worked in a small group to complete a rotation of engineering-based challenges that explored arch, beam, and suspension bridges. We ended our exploration with a very specific challenge which involved straws. Given a specific amount and type of materials, our young scientists needed to plan for and build a bridge that was structurally sound and could span across two tables or chairs. 

During our solubility exploration, we asked the question 'does it dissolve?' Exploring how things do and do not dissolve in water introduced us to the word 'soluble'. Our highly anticipated activity was the Space Sand exploration. Thanks to a generous donation, we were able to purchase larger quantities to explore with. So what's the big deal about this sand? For starters, its more than just sand. Space Sand is hydrophobic, meaning it repels water. Once we had a general understanding of solubility, it made our Space Sand exploration extra fun.​

We ended the midwinter break by taking a closer look at things. Our young scientists explored the unseen world while learning about magnification and exploring the idea of 'taking a closer look'. We began our exploration with simple magnification using magnifying lenses. From there, we looked even closer at basic items inside the Lab. 

​Thanks to a generous donation, each young scientist was able to take home a Foldscope paper microscope. Although simple in design and use, these microscopes do allow for users to take a detailed look at slides and samples. Each young scientist received two sample slides to explore at home.

It was a fun week with our young scientists during School Break Science, spring break edition!
This program is made possible thanks to the generous support of Con Edison.

Through Con Edison's Power of Giving program, Kiddie Science recently submitted a grant application in support of the School Break Science program.

In an average NYC public school year, there are approximately 32 scheduled closure dates due to holidays. During this time, it's challenging for families to find engaging and affordable activities for their school-aged children to get involved in. Thanks to support from Con Edison, the School Break Science program will continue to run during select school closure dates in 2018. It is our goal to engage young scientists in fun, hands-on, and meaningful science exploration at the Lab.

Stay tuned for more details!

School Break Science engages young scientists age 6 to 10 in meaningful, hands-on science exploration during select dates when public schools are closed for holidays. ​This program is made possible thanks to generous support from Con Edison and the Roehr Family Foundation.

During the recent spring break, our young scientists explored botany, slime, engineering, and chemistry through fun, engaging, hands-on explorations.

It was a gorgeous day during our botany exploration, and we were able to have a portion of our workshop outside in our private backyard. Our young scientists decorated pots and planted seeds while enjoying the sunshine and listening to the birds chirp. In addition to planting seeds to care for at home, our young scientists helped begin to establish the Kiddie Science garden. As you walk along Rogers Avenue, watch as our garden grows!

Slime Time was ooey gooey fun! We explored states of matter then focused our exploration on understanding polymers. We conducted two experiments, then made some fun slime to take home.

Next up was engineering, where our young scientists explored a simple machine, created a helicopter out of paper, and engaged in a structure building challenge using marshmallows and toothpicks. We also enjoyed free exploration time with engineering items in the Lab.

We rounded off the week with an exploration of chemistry. We explored simple chemical reactions and introduced our young scientists to the process of conducting an experiment, including coming up with a hypothesis. Our experiments were bubbly and visually fun. We even have a cool video.

School Break Science returns on June 8th, 12th, & 26th.