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



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Makey Makeys

http://www.makeymakey.com/



Little Bits

http://littlebits.cc/

Really cool circuits with lots of experimental value. 



Jessica - Duxbury Free Library



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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 



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



Mary



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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 





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www.stevespanglerscience.com

?  Has cool stuff!

Linda - Bloomfield Library



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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



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Steve Spangler



Christine- Atascocita Branch Library



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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



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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? 



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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 

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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.

Fancy Nancy Science Party

Everyone:

Thanks for your ideas! Our Fancy Nancy Explorer Extraordinaire Science
Parties were a big success! Each session was supposed to last for only half
an hour, but wound up being 45 minutes because the kids didn't want to
leave!

Our teen librarian found me some terrific volunteers to help with the
party--something I recommend highly!

We had two areas: science crafts and science games. Teen volunteers ran the
craft area while I ran the game area & we switched the kids half way through
the party.

In the craft area, the kids made windsocks and decorated science journals.

We had crepe paper streamers (the kind used to decorate for parties) left
over from another craft, & I remembered making "windsocks" with them during
a previous job at a science museum. The kids pasted pieces of streamer along
the edge of a large sheet of construction paper and then pasted the
construction paper to form a tube with the streamers hanging down. A pipe
cleaner was bent into a handle and scotch taped to the windsock.

To make the science journals, before the party I stapled together the
following inside a large piece of folded construction paper: a list of
resources (science themed Fancy Nancy books, other books of science
activities available in the collection, non-commercial websites), two
"sparkly" science experiments involving crystals, and some lined paper for
recording scientific notes. The kids then decorated the covers with crayons
and whatever stickers and sparkles I could find in the storage closet.

In the games area, I read a "guessing game book" with the kids (one of Tana
Hoban's "Look" books), they made "fossil rubbings" (using plastic plates
with fossil designs), sorted buttons, and played with tinker toys and
kieledescopes. All of the materials in the games area were things that I had
at home & brought in for the kids to play with.

The kids were focused and involved with all of the above activities.

Our publicity person came in at the beginning of the afternoon session and
photographed the girls (with signed parental permission slips)--you should
have seen them posing for the camera in all of their Fancy Nancy finery! Our
PR person made a beautiful poster out of some of the photos for us to hang
in the children's room & use to promote future events.

A couple people on pubyac suggested letting the kids use star stickers and
black construction paper to create star charts or make up their own
constellations. I decided against doing that at the Fancy Nancy event as I
was already doing that activity with the kids in our "Camp Connection"
program & needed every star sticker we have! I must say, though, that it is
an activity that has been a hit with the campers I've done it with so far.

Another suggestion from pubyac was to have a visitor come with live animals
through a park system or rescue group. I skipped that for the party as we've
already had the county park system (snakes), a local AAZA certified aquarium
(various reptiles, including a small alligator), and a rescue group
(parrots) visit the library this summer.

The other pubyac suggestion was making paper flowers. I've filed that one
away for future use--I don't see a waning of Nancy's popularity in the near
future!

--Jennifer