Supplies Materials and Ideas for Science Programs

Thank you everyone for your suggestions of science materials to purchase.

Favorite sites:

Steve Spangler Science 

www.stevespanglerscience.com



Educational Innovations

http://www.teachersource.com/



Science Materials to Purchase



I definitely recommend looking into squishy circuits:

<http://courseweb.stthomas.edu/apthomas/SquishyCircuits/index.htm>



The program we did with these was very successful.



Chris  - Spokane Public Library - Spokane, WA



###

Makey Makeys

http://www.makeymakey.com/



Little Bits

http://littlebits.cc/

Really cool circuits with lots of experimental value. 



Jessica - Duxbury Free Library



###

We recently invested in about 30 pairs of safety goggles and I think we'll
get lots of use out of them over the years. For our Mad Science programs
this summer we went the easy way and bought ready-to-go experiments from
Steve Spangler. He's got lots of cool stuff on his website. Lots of it is
one-time use only, but I think it beats trying to pull the ingredients
together yourself for some things. For example, we bought a Mentos/Soda car
which we can use many times, we just have to buy the soda and mentos again.

http://www.stevespanglerscience.com/

Hope this is helpful!

Maria , Tacoma Public Library 



###

I've used the Grossology books by Sylvia Branzei and also the books by Steve
Spangler.? They make science fun for kids!



Mary



###

A good place to start is Steve Spangler Science
(http://www.stevespanglerscience.com/). This organization has great
materials with concrete ideas on how they're used. You can pretty shop for
any age on this website.



Discount School Supply also (http://www.discountschoolsupply.com/) has good
science materials for elementary children.



Christina 





###

www.stevespanglerscience.com

?  Has cool stuff!

Linda - Bloomfield Library



###

Snap circuits? http://snapcircuits.net/

(and basic circuit materials, LEDs, motors, fans, etc., we can use with
other things, such as Squishy Circuits
http://courseweb.stthomas.edu/apthomas/SquishyCircuits/howTo.htm)

Little Bits http://littlebits.com/kits/starter-kit

Models/skeletons/xrays to learn about people and animals

Durable kits that feature simple machines (screw, planes, levers, gears,
pulleys, etc.)

Rock collection

Legos

Magnets

Tubs to contain messy experiments

Binoculars

Microscopes

Magnifying glasses

Black lights? ? ? ? ? 

Programming software kits for kids-I am sorry, I cannot remember the name of
the best software items, but there are lots of little modules that teach the
fundamental concepts of organizing your thoughts into functional software.



Andrea  Round Rock Public Library, Round Rock, TX 78664



###

Steve Spangler



Christine- Atascocita Branch Library



###

Of course, any Janice VanCleave science fair experiment book.? 

A fun thing we have found is a USB handheld microscope (they do come with a
stand) for the children's computers.? They have been very popular with the
kids.? Whatever you put the microscope on shows up on the screen.? Put a
shoe box of seasonal nature items next to it.? Here is one example -
http://www.buy.com/prod/usb-digital-computer-microscope-camera-webcam-black-
200x-1-3-mp-with/222931093.html?listingId=147632858? 



I asked,? "Do you have any trouble with it disappearing?"

Answer - Not yet but our CPUs are mounted under the computer carrels and it
is difficult to reach the connection.



Valle  Chautauqua-Cattaraugus Library System, NY





##

I have created science backpacks which include 1 dvd,? 8 books on a subject
& a piece of science equipment or an item that children can use 

to further explore a science topic.? ? I referred to our local school 

district K-2 curriculum for subjects.?  Right now they are used mostly 

by families,? but I think they could be marketed to scout troops & in 

home day care.?  Most of the books I included are on an easy reading 

level.?  You can go to my library web site to view the contents of the 

backpacks,? www.delafieldlibrary.org



I look forward to hearing what other libraries are doing.



Terry  - Delafield Public Library- 262-646-6230



###



I really like the stuff that Mother Goose puts in their kits.? Here's a link
to what's in their kit:
http://www.mothergooseprograms.org/math_prog_bi_math_and_science_starter_boo
klist.php

You'd still need to purchase items separately, or if you are flush with
funds, you could buy the whole kit.



Suzan , Faulk Central Library - Austin, Texas? 



###



vegetable oil, hex nuts, balloons, baking soda, vinegar, pepper, food
coloring, mineral oil, eggs, ping pong balls, hairdryer, toilet paper, salt,
clear bowls. clear vase, measuring cups, spoons, funnel, zip lock plastic
bags, pencils, paper clips, pennies, quarters, mason jar,3x5 cards, straws,
dawn dish soap, to name a few.another of my favorites - medicine droppers-
like eye droppers but bigger- sometimes they are free at pharmacies. 





Rose Anna Botorowicz 

###





Definitely want safety glasses/goggles and aprons/smocks.



Tracy  - McCreary County Public Library





Here is the list of materials to purchase. 

We have used many of these materials. Others are on our wish list.

Some items include links to activities and sources.



Clear Balloons

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yyDRI6iQ9Fw
<http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yyDRI6iQ9Fw&feature=related>
&feature=related



Cornstarch

Slime Time - Polymers, Science Rocks, pg 26

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=idCFb3DqWkk

Myth Busters, walking on water - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5GWhOLorDtw

Cornstarch Monster - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HZs3-JxcycA



Energy Ball

http://www.teachersource.com/Energy/EnergyConversion/EnergyBall.aspx

http://www.stevespanglerscience.com/product/1406



Film Canisters

http://www.stevespanglerscience.com/product/film-canisters



Fountain Connection

http://www.teachersource.com/AirPressure/AirPressure/FountainConnection.aspx



Iron Filings

http://www.stevespanglerscience.com/product/plastic-iron-filing-case



Magic Sand

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=10EnRI80zvk
<http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=10EnRI80zvk&feature=related>
&feature=related



Magnets - Ceramic Bar

(Go to the Magnet chapter for more ideas)

http://www.stevespanglerscience.com/product/1442



Plasma Ball (CTLS Professional Collection)

This item will be traveling with the Trailblazer Science Trailer.

http://www.teachersource.com/ElectricityAndMagnetism/Electricity/PlasmaGlobe
s.aspx



Tornado Tubes - Vortex Bottle Connectors

http://www.teachersource.com/AirPressure/AirPressure/VortexBottleConnectors.
aspx



UV beads

http://www.teachersource.com/LightAndColor/Ultraviolet/UltravioletDetectingB
eads.aspx



Wind Tubes

http://www.teachersource.com/AirPressure/RocketsAndBalloons/WindTubes.aspx

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UujAMPv3y-A

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P-xNXrELCmU



Other Stuff

Educational Innovations

www.teachersource.com

Fingerprint cards - Forensics

Magnifiers

UV beads

Nature Print Paper

Goldenrod paper

Floating ring magnets

Micro pipettes



Acorn Naturalist

Fish Prints 

We have used these with science programs (biology, angler guest speaker,
Teen Programs - Fish printing, or Gyotaku for Manga programs

http://www.acornnaturalists.com/store/Freshwater-Fish-Replicas-C2114.aspx



Animal Tracking Tools

Haven't used these yet but we are looking at purchasing some of these.

Stencils -
http://www.acornnaturalists.com/store/Animal-Tracking-Tools-C8.aspx

Replicas -
http://www.acornnaturalists.com/store/Animal-Track-Replicas-flexible-positiv
es-C48.aspx

Rubbings -
http://www.nature-watch.com/animal-tracks-rubbing-plates-p-347.html?cPath=16
0_195
<http://www.nature-watch.com/animal-tracks-rubbing-plates-p-347.html?cPath=1
60_195&osCsid=ev3isa0vnbpo2tnmnpm7c8c9e5> &osCsid=ev3isa0vnbpo2tnmnpm7c8c9e5





Nature Watch? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? 

Solar System Mapping Tool -
http://www.nature-watch.com/solar-system-mapping-tool-p-1473.html?cPath=160_
183



Stomp Rockets? (You can also make your own)

http://www.stomprocket.com/

Frey Scientific Ultra Stomp Rocket -
https://store.schoolspecialty.com/OA_HTML/ibeCCtpItmDspRte.jsp?minisite=1002
9
<https://store.schoolspecialty.com/OA_HTML/ibeCCtpItmDspRte.jsp?minisite=100
29&item=19108&gclid=CJLCqYOL2LgCFYdQ7AodlxsAww>
&item=19108&gclid=CJLCqYOL2LgCFYdQ7AodlxsAww



Air zooka? ? ? ? ? ? 

http://www.teachersource.com/AirPressure/VorticesAndFog/AirZooka.aspx



Volcano? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? 

http://www.stevespanglerscience.com/product/1716 ? 

? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? 



Grocery Store

Measuring cups and spoons

Funnels

Bamboo skewers - polymers, skewers through the balloon

Alka Selzer - film canister rockets, lava lamps

Dish pan



Books

Science Rocks by Robert Winston

Big Book of Science Experiments by Time Home Entertainment




Kim 

Youth Services Specialist

CTLS, Inc.