looking for website for cool 'scientific' stuff for kid...

[banslug]

Hey everybody!!! Happy Summer!

I've got a list of things that I'm looking to buy for my kids and me to 'play' with. Fun things, experimental things, educational things.
I'm wondering if anybody has a website that you use (or have used) on a regular basis for things like this.

Here are a few things that I'm looking to buy, and I'd prefer to buy them all at one site to save on shipping, but I'm willing to check out any site you think would help:
***Mentos Geyser tube (this experiment is SO cool, you MUST try it)
***Water balloon sling shot
***"ball and ring apparatus" (2 rods, one with a medal ring, the other with a medal ball....at same temp, ball fits thru ring, heat the ball and it won't fit)
***the "ImpossiBall"

Get the idea? Cool, educational, fun things for me and the kids. (notice I keep saying ME and the kids....I want to play too! )

Any sites that you know of???

THANKS!

Gayle

 

[RunninTeach]

RE: looking for website for cool 'scientific' stuff for...

Hey Gayle,

The Discovery Channel store might be a good place to start:

http://shopping.discovery.com/?jzid=40588004-63-0

They used to have a store at KOP, but I'm not sure if it's still there.

http://i228.photobucket.com/albums/ee296/runninteach/exercise/SnowBunny_tns-1.jpg
http://img16.glitterfy.com/53/glitterfy084824T933D37.gif

"Do you want to feel my spatula?" Run, Fat Boy, Run

 

[SandraC]

RE: looking for website for cool 'scientific' stuff for...

www.hometrainingtools.com has tons of cool stuff. Great service too!

Sandra

 

[jodijodi]

Edmund Scientific, http://scientificsonline.com/ (They didn't have all of them, but 3 out of 4 ain't bad (didn't have the slingshot))

Also, American Science and Surplus http://sciplus.com/ has some cool stuff.

Oriental trading company has an educational section: http://www.orientaltrading.com/ui/s...estURI=viewEndecaCategory&cm_re=TOP-_-TS-_-TS

Lakeshore Learning has fun stuff too: http://www.lakeshorelearning.com/

We bought insta-snow at http://www.stevespanglerscience.com/ and it was a lot of fun too, but it can make a mess. There are other neat looking things at this site we haven't tried yet.

Hope that helps!

 

[Nadja Z]

RE: looking for website for cool 'scientific' stuff for...

That's so great Gayle!

At an ACS conference this year I picked up a little book called "Apples, Bubbles, & Crystals". It has an activity for each letter of the alphabet- making a xylophone, taking fingerprints, 'ocean in a bottle', making a rainbow, etc (ingredients are household items). At the end of the book there's a kid-friendly but scientific explanation for what happens in each of the activities.

I got it with my nephew in mind (3 yrs old) and we've had a lot of fun with the ones we've done so far. How old are your kids? I think it'd be best for up to ~7 yrs old, perfect for 3-5 yrs old. 26 activities for about $9 was a pretty good deal I thought. Here's the link if you're interested:
http://acswebapplications.acs.org/portaltools/shopper/productDetail.cfm?prod_cd=1-PH14

When we do outreach with local schools, here's an easy cheap one that kids LOVE:
Cut some regular white glue in half with water.
Mix Borax powder with water until saturated (there should be powder precipitating out at the bottom of the container even after mixing thoroughly)
Add about 1/4 to 1/3 cup of the glue mixture to a bowl, add a drop or two of food coloring, and add just a splash of the borax solution, mix very very quickly, and voila:
SLIME!

 

[banslug]

RE: looking for website for cool 'scientific' stuff for...

Thanks, everybody, for the input! I appreciate it.

I actually ordered some things from http://www.sciplus.com/ last night. I got a couple of cool and fun things for us to play around with!

The only thing I'm still shopping for is the big sling shot.

THANKS!

Gayle