The tree highlighted today is in Ware County GA. It is a Live Oak or as the botanists call it Quercus virginiana. The trunk circumference is massive at 440 inches and reaches a height of 78 feet! The crown spread is a majestic 161 feet!
Valentina Vladimirovna Tereshkova Tereshkova was born in Russia in 1937! She is an engineer and cosmonaut who orbited the earth 48 times in June of 1963. She was an amateur skydiver before joining the air force and was commissioned as an officer after training. She later became a cosmonaut instructor!
Sally Ride Ride was born in Los Angeles in 1951! She began working for Nasa in 1978. In college she did research on the interaction of X-rays with interstellar medium making her an excellent choice as mission specialist in 1983!
Helen Patricia Sharman Sharman was born in Britain in 1963! She was a chemist and a cosmonaut who spent time aboard the ISS in 1991 doing research. Before being an astronaut, she worked for the General Electric Company in London and worked as a chemist for the Mars chocolate bar company.
Roberta Bondar Bondar was born in 1945 in Ontario! She was head of international medicine research for the space station for ten years before becoming the payload specialist on a mission in 1992. She was also the first neurologist to go to space.
Mariam H. Fardous Fardous was born in Saidi Arabia in 1884! She is an epidemiologist, humanitarian (serving as Ambassador for African Impacts), scuba diver, and worked as a doctor. She later became a cosmonaut and flew aboard the Axiom Mission in 2023!
Trees are extremely important! We here at High Touch High Tech want to highlight trees and all the things they do! Have you heard of the heat island effect? This is where hot pavement and reflection from buildings increase temperature in urban areas. Trees help counteract this!
When we think of innovators many people may come to mind suck as Nikoli Tesla, Thomas Edison and Alexander Graham Bell. However, these popular innovators are simply the ones that have received the most “publicity”. Many more throughout history have been overlooked.
In Honor of National Hispanic American Heritage Month, we here at High Touch High Tech would like to honor a few Latinx Innovators! Dr. Ynes Mexia was a botanist from Mexico who started her career late in life at 51. She collected specimens of plants from N and S America. She discovered close to 500 new species! Many of them were named after her!
Guillermo Gonzalez Camarena was an electrical engineer born in 1917 in Guadalajara, Mexico. He was fascinated with electrical engineering at a young age, which fostered a talent for the field. He studied Electrical engineering in Mexica Cito at National Polytechnic Institute in Mexico City. His passion led him to create a chromoscopic adaptar that could easily be added to black and white televisions and in 1940 a patent was filed! The first color image in Mexico was broadcast on Channel 5 with his invention! In 1979 during the Voyager mission his system helped convert images of Jupiter into color! Camarena was also a strong advocate of educational television.
Julio Palamaz of Argentina made advancements in angioplasty surgery! Working with Richard Schatz, a cardiologist, he parented an expandable stent to open heart arteries! He earned a place at the National Inventors Hall of Fame!
Maria Isabel Amorin is a chemist from Guatemala. She recognized the severe devastation caused by the fast fashion industry. Micro plastics and dyes were contributing to severe pollution in rivers. She designed a polymer filter to absorb the contaminating dyes. These filters are created from shrimp shells, which are a waste in the Guatemalan shrimping industry. What better way to utilize a “waste” into a product to eliminate pollution!
Dr Grisel Trujillo is a professor at the School of Engineering and Sciences at Tecnologico de Monterrey. Along with having a PhD in Biotechnology she invented a 3D printer that could print organs! This invention is patented and could save many lives as they wait for organ transplants!
There are many more contributions from Latinx innovators including Helen Gertrude Dominguez who contributed greatly to higher education, Ellen Ochoa who went on several space missions, Arturo Arias Suarez who designed earthquake sensing technology, and Albert Vinicio Baez who helped invent the X-ray reflection microscope! We here at Science Made Fun hope you get curious to discover more innovators! Please follow the links below to learn more!
The world around us is full of incredible wonders — from soil teeming with life to raining diamonds on distant planets. These 15 science facts will open your eyes to how amazing our universe is. ________________________________________ 1. Soil Holds Billions of Microorganisms A single teaspoon can hold over 8.2 billion microorganisms, including bacteria, algae, fungi, earthworms, ants, and mites. It also filters water, stores nutrients, and supports all plant life. Try this soil experiment: Dig 8 inches down and collect about a cup of soil. Put it in a clear jar, fill it with water, and shake. Let it sit overnight. You’ll see layers of organic material, clay, silt, and sand — a mini slice of Earth’s crust! ________________________________________
2. Octopuses Have Blue Blood and Three Hearts Octopuses are ancient, intelligent creatures that have existed for over 330 million years. Their blood is blue due to a copper-rich protein called hemocyanin. Two of their hearts pump blood to the gills, and the third sends oxygenated blood to the body. Even more mind-blowing? Each arm contains its own neurons — essentially allowing the arms to “think” independently. ________________________________________ 3. Bananas Are Radioactive Yes, bananas are slightly radioactive! This is due to their potassium-40 content, a naturally occurring isotope. Don’t worry — the radiation levels are incredibly low and completely safe. But it’s a fun fact that mixes everyday life with nuclear science! ________________________________________
4. The Bajau People Can Hold Their Breath for 13 Minutes The Bajau, a sea-dwelling people of the Philippines, can dive up to 70 meters and hold their breath for over 13 minutes. Their secret? They have larger spleens, a genetic adaptation that stores more oxygen-rich red blood cells. Generations of diving has literally reshaped their biology. ________________________________________
5. Mosquitoes Are the World’s Deadliest Animal Tiny mosquitoes are responsible for more human deaths than any other animal. They spread diseases like malaria, dengue, and yellow fever. According to the CDC, malaria alone causes hundreds of thousands of deaths each year — all from one tiny insect. ________________________________________
6. It Rains Diamonds on Uranus and Neptune Yes, really — diamonds might rain on these icy giants! The extreme pressure and cold in the atmospheres of Uranus and Neptune can compress carbon into diamonds. Their skies are mostly hydrogen, helium, and methane, which also gives Neptune its brilliant blue color. ________________________________________ 7. Lake Maracaibo Has the Most Lightning in the World Located in Venezuela, Lake Maracaibo holds the record for the most lightning strikes per square kilometer — over 232 per year! The combination of the lake’s geography and the tropical climate creates the perfect storm (literally). ________________________________________ 8. Russia Is Bigger Than Pluto It sounds wild, but it’s true. Pluto is only about 16.7 million square kilometers, while Russia spans about 17 million. So yes, there’s a country on Earth larger than a planet! ________________________________________ 9. The Persian Gulf Feels Like a Hot Tub The Persian Gulf is the warmest sea on Earth, reaching temperatures of 95°F (35°C) during summer. That’s as warm as many hot tubs! Swimming in it would feel less like a refreshing dip and more like a steamy soak. ________________________________________
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10. The Tallest Waterfall Is in Venezuela You might guess Niagara Falls — but the tallest waterfall in the world is Angel Falls, in Venezuela. It plunges 3,212 feet (979 meters) — over 15 times taller than Niagara Falls! ________________________________________
This new infrared view of the star formation region Messier 8, often called the Lagoon Nebula, was captured by the VISTA telescope at ESO’s Paranal Observatory in Chile. This colour picture was created from images taken through J, H and Ks near-infrared filters, and which were acquired as part of a huge survey of the central parts of the Milky Way. The field of view is about 34 by 15 arcminutes.
11. How many stars are there? There are more stars in the universe than grains of sand on all the Earth’s beaches combined. Each star is like our sun — many with their own planets, moons, and potential for life. The scale of the cosmos is beyond imagination. ________________________________________
12. Some Beaches Come in Pink, Green, and Black Not all beaches are tan and white! • Pink Sand Beach (Bahamas) gets its color from foraminifera, microscopic creatures with pink shells. • Green Sand Beach (Hawaii) is made of olivine, a mineral found in volcanic lava. • Black Sand Beaches in Hawaii, Iceland, and the Canary Islands come from eroded volcanic rock. Nature is the ultimate artist. ________________________________________ 13. Saudi Arabia Has No Permanent Rivers Despite being a large, populated country, Saudi Arabia has no permanent rivers. Instead, they rely on wadis — dry riverbeds that fill with water only during rare heavy rains. It’s an extraordinary example of how humans adapt to extreme environments. ________________________________________ 14. Sharks Have Been Around Longer Than Trees Bonus fact time! Sharks have existed for over 400 million years, while trees appeared around 350 million years ago. That means sharks were swimming in the oceans 50 million years before the first tree took root. ________________________________________ 15. The Human Body Glows — Slightly Humans emit a faint bioluminescence, though it’s about 1,000 times weaker than what the human eye can detect. It’s caused by metabolic reactions in our cells — meaning we’re glowing with life in more ways than one! ________________________________________ Final Thoughts Science is all around us, in our food, our bodies, our skies, and even in a teaspoon of dirt. So the next time you bite into a banana or look up at the stars, remember: the universe is full of “whoa!” moments waiting to be discovered.
One of our most popular programs here at High Touch High Tech is called Sounds Like Fun! In this program we explore sound waves and perform a few experiments with sound. This class is especially enjoyable by all the students because creating sound is fun!
They know of course that they hear sound, but how? We explore how the ear works and examine the anatomy of the ear. One way to see sound waves is to examine the vibration of a tuning fork when put into still water.
But are people able to see sound? Studies have shown that approximately one in 2000 people experience visuals with sound. The phenomenon is called synesthesia, where one sensory pathway leads to experiences in another sensory pathway. This can manifest in different ways with different senses.
The most common type of synesthesia is when colors are seen while hearing sounds. Most often this happens when listening to music. This is called chromesthesia. The propensity to have visuals when listening tends to happen in families which clued scientists to discover that it is in part genetic.
Chromesthesia is often experienced with musical and visual artists. Reports of this ability have been seen all the way back to the 1800’s. One of those reports is in the early 1900s from a Russian composer and pianist named Alexander Scriabin. He even developed his own color system to organize the 12 chromatic pitches. And he invented a keyboard with lights!
Some examples of artists today who have this ability are Billy Eilish, Billy Joel, Tori Amos, and Kaitlin Hova. Kaitlin is a violinist and a neuroscientist! The visual of colors when hearing sound often comes in the form of a flash of color. According to Kaitlin Hova when she was at the University of Nebraska of Omaha that she realized that she has a form of synesthesia. The lack of information on the subject inspired her and her husband to start The Synesthesia Network. She also, along with her husband, designed a violin that changes color to represent the visuals she has!
Tori Amos speaks openly about her experience and describes it , “Similar chord progressions follow similar light patterns, but try to imagine the best kaleidoscope ever.”
Billy Joel describes his experience as seeing color with either vowel or consonant sounds. He says he sees blue or green with words or song phrases ending in strong vowel sounds and consonants as having more red hues!
Billie Eilish experiences seeing shapes, colors, and feeling textures when hearing music! She says sometimes, for example, a melody could have a yellow hue with a smooth flowing texture. Sometimes she creates music with a color and texture in mind and sometimes she experiences it when the music is created. To express this ability, she designs sets in her live performances to bring the audience along with her!
As an instructor I introduce a variety of experiments to introduce the science of sound waves to children. Imagine having the capability to see those sound waves in the form of flashes of color or even smell them! Kaitlin Hova had no idea others didn’t experience what she had experienced her whole life, until she learned about this trait. I wonder if any of the children I have presented the program to have seen colors or had smells along with the sounds! It is certainly another eye-opening insight into human capabilities.
Have students conduct a claim, evidence, and reasoning investigation about you. This is a great way for students to get to know you right off the bat and organically get to know one another. Before the students arrive, collect some of your personal belongings (car keys, coffee cup, photographs, hobby supplies, etc), sort them into bins, and place them around the room. Once the students arrive, place them in groups and have them collect observations about the items and record those observations as evidence. Next, the students will make claims about you based on that evidence. Finally, they will have to provide their reasoning for those claims.
Create a human sundial
A sundial works because as the Earth rotates, the sun appears to move across the sky. This marks the passage of the day. A sundial can be used to measure the passage of time. A sundial is made up a vertical object, or “gnomon,” and a flat surface, the “dial.” The length of the shadow is determined by the position of the sun on the horizon, the higher the sun, the shorter the shadow.
Group your students into pairs or small groups. Find a spot outdoors that receives sun all day long. Mark a spot where the student will stand. Trace their shadow with chalk. Return outdoors every hour, have the student stand in the same spot, and have the other students trace their shadow again. Bonus points if you have a compass. The sundial can be oriented so the 12th hour faces North.
Make a kaleidoscope
Materials
Empty toilet paper or paper towel roll tube
Construction paper
Hot glue gun and hot glue
Mylar coated cardstock
Transparent plastic
Tape
Clear, colored beads
Instructions
Decorate the outside of the paper tube, if desired.
Cut the mylar cardstock into a rectangle an inch shorter than the toilet paper tube.
Fold the mylar cardstock into a triangle shape, with the mylar on the inside. You want the triangle to fit snugly inside the cardboard tube.
Slide the triangle into the tube. One end should be flush against the edge of the tube. The other end should end approximately one inch before the end of the tube.
Cut two circles out of the transparent plastic, one so that it fits just inside the tube. The other, so that it fits over the diameter of the tube
Slide the smaller circle into the tube, up against the triangle. Secure the circle with hot glue applied around the edge
Insert beads into the end of the tube on the side with the clear circle triangle.
Tape the second piece of plastic down onto the end of the tube, trapping the beads in the gap.
Cut a circle of construction paper a little bit larger than the diameter of the tube.
Cut a small peephole in the the center of the circle.
Tape the construction paper over the end of the tube opposite from the side with the clear plastic and beads.
Look through the kaleidoscope. Rotate and see what happens!
High Touch High Tech is an education company that provides in-school field trips and SCIENCE SUMMER CAMPS! We prepare all items needed to create the perfect science experience! This week’s enrichment class is called Water Works. On my prep list I had an assortment of apparatuses such as pipettes, colored water, soap, etc. Each item must be counted and packed precisely.
We always bring an opening experiment, our WOW experiment, to demonstrate. This week’s WOW experiment was Bag Stab! I stabbed fourteen pencils through the bag that morning! Science is all about FUN, so I asked the students, and they let me know how many pencils they dare to put through the bag. Can you guess what happened? There were no leaks! Why? Well, I have practiced stabbing each pencil in with just the right amount of force. The bag is made of polymer, a thin translucent plastic. If the pencils go directly into the polymer, it will seal around them, preventing leaks.
The kids were ready to see what happened when all the pencils were removed! I had previously dyed the water a bright green to make it more visible and fun. In the dramatic removal of the pencil’s there was a spill. It is fine, though, because science is messy sometimes.
Next, my assistant scientist, Biodiversity Britta helped hand out three different colors of water for each group. Every child also received their own pipette!
They have a lot of fun practicing with pipettes. Today’s campers are ages six through ten. For the younger children, it was their first time using a pipette. They caught on instantly!
Biodiversity Britta helped hand out the rest of the materials, and the water molecule discovery began! All of them were fascinated to discover how water molecules react with each other. Science is all about observation and what better chemical compound to explore than the most common chemical compound on earth! Water!!! Cohesion is not only fascinating to observe, but it’s also weirdly satisfying to see how large a droplet can be formed on a waxed surface! Some children commented that it looked like Gelatin or super jiggly slime! All of them were equally amazed at how adhesion happens with the brightly colored molecules. Some even tried cutting water drops in half! Then of course putting them back together was fun, too!
As the experiment was at an end some children decided to mix the colored water! This was fun and I encouraged it. We call this Science Made Fun for a reason! Mixing colors is fun and I enjoy watching them explore on their own.
The children had fun passing the materials to the end of the tables so Biodiversity Britta and I could gather them all up. Within just a few minutes we were ready for experiment number two!
This one we call Exploding Colors, and it is messy! This isn’t a problem though because making a mess is amusing. We bring an abundance of towels to keep floors safe and dry. Exploding Colors is a blast and that is what it looks like, a combination of fireworks and an animated tie die! This is amazingly fun for us and them! Teachers were even participating! One of the key components in this experiment is the soap which we provided on cotton swabs. Being a surfactant soap disrupts the surface tension of the fat rich fluid filled pans, causing the drops of color they added to swirl and dance like moving works of art! They had so much fun with this! They loudly declared it themselves! In fact, they didn’t want to stop.
All great fun does have to come to a closure though, but we had enough time to have them line up, group by group, to stab a bag themselves. This time we managed to get twenty-seven pencils in the bag! I am keeping track of this, so I can record the winner by the end of the year!
For those new to our blog, we are High Touch High Tech Science Made Fun, our goal is to INSPIRE, EXPLORE, and ENGAGE children to be excited about SCIENCE!
Did you know that we use chemistry every single day? Chemistry is the study of matter, and how it behaves. Everything is made of matter! Chemistry explores what things are made of (composition), how things are put together (structure), and how things can transform (reactions). The kitchen is an area of our everyday lives where chemistry plays a huge role. So, let’s roll up our sleeves, put on our aprons, and perform some chemistry!
1. Microwave a marshmallow!
Just a lonely marshmallow…
Several things happen chemically within a marshmallow when it is microwaved. The changes are thermal, physical, and chemical. The microwave radiation heats molecules within the marshmallow. This heating causes a physical change to the gas molecules that exist within the air pockets in a marshmallow. Gases expand when they heat. The marshmallow also undergoes a chemical change as the sugar molecules break down because of the heat.
You will need a microwave, marshmallows, and a microwave-safe plate.
Instructions:
Place the marshmallow on the plate.
Microwave the marshmallow for a short period of time (15-30 seconds).
Observe what the marshmallow does.
Let the marshmallow cool and observe what happens.
What happened when you microwaved the marshmallow? How do you think the structure of the marshmallow played a role in what happened as the marshmallow was heated? What happened to the marshmallow as it cooled? Do you think that change is reversible or permanent?
Yum!!!
2. Make “Science Lemonade.”
This experiment, and the next one, explore acids and bases. Acids and bases are chemical substances with opposing properties. The pH scale measures how acidic or basic (alkaline) a substance is. The pH scale ranges from 0 to 14. Acids fall below 7 on the scale and bases have a pH of greater than 7. Neutral substances, like water, have a pH of 7.
A pH indicator is a substance that changes color in reaction to a basic or acidic substance.
You will need 100% grape juice, lemon juice, a couple of clear cups, and baking soda (optional).
Instructions:
Fill each cup approximately halfway with grape juice. One cup will be used for the control (you will not add or change anything to it).
Add a few drops of lemon juice to one of the cups.
Observe what happens.
Continue to add lemon juice, small amounts at a time. Compare to the control cup.
At this point, you may taste your science lemonade, if you wish!
(Optional) Add a small amount of baking soda to the cup containing the lemon juice. Continue to observe what happens. Compare to the control cup.
What did you notice happening to the grape juice as the lemon juice was added to it? Did you get a chance to add baking soda as well? What happened then? Taste the lemon juice. What does it taste like? Acids – when we can eat them – generally taste sour. What type of substance do you think baking soda is?
3. Write a secret message!
This is another fun experiment with a pH indicator and can also prepare young scientists for a future career as a secret agent!
What you will need:
A table covering (painter’s plastic or newspaper)
Water
Baking soda
Turmeric
Rubbing alcohol
Paper
Small paintbrush or cotton swab
Larger paintbrush or sponge
(2) Small bowls for mixing
Measuring spoons
Instructions:
Mix a tablespoon of baking soda with half a cup of water.
Dip the cotton swab or small paintbrush in the baking soda solution and use it to write a secret message or draw a secret picture on the paper.
Allow the paper to dry.
Using a new bowl, mix a teaspoon of turmeric into half a cup of rubbing alcohol. Turmeric will stain! Be careful, use a table covering, and consider wearing gloves and an apron.
Once the paper has fully dried, paint the turmeric solution onto the paper using the sponge or large paintbrush.
Observe what happens to the paper and your message.
Take a moment to rub some of the baking soda solution between your fingers? What does it feel like? Did you know that feeling slippery is a common property of basic substances? What did the paper look like after it had dried? Could you read the message? What did you see happen when you painted the turmeric solution onto the paper?
Turmeric acts as a pH indicator because it contains a natural compound that changes color in the presence of acids and bases. How might you test if a new substance could be used as a pH indicator?
4. Take a raisin out dancing!
I bet you didn’t know raisins could have such a good time!
The disciplines of science are often interconnected, and this experiment is fun because it touches on chemistry as well as physics concepts. It is also fun because we get to make raisins dance, and who doesn’t love to dance?
What you will need:
A clear cup, glass, or jar
Warm water
A few teaspoons of baking soda
A few teaspoons of vinegar
Raisins
Instructions:
Fill the glass half full of warm water.
Add a few teaspoons of baking soda.
Add a few raisins. Observe.
Add a small amount of vinegar.
Observe what happens.
What happened when you first added the raisins to the cup of baking soda and water? Did the raisins sink? Then, when you added the vinegar, what began to occur? Were bubbles created? When baking soda and vinegar combine, they create a gas called carbon dioxide. Why does the gas rise to the top of the water? Did the raisins catch a ride to the surface with the carbon dioxide bubbles? What happened to the raisins when they reached the surface? Do you think other items may behave similarly? Why do you think raisins attach to the gas particles so well?
Gelatin is made up of a protein called collagen. Gelatin works by creating interconnected protein chains that trap water, thus creating a gel. Did you know that collagen is the most abundant protein in the human body, where it also attracts and retains water?
For this experiment, you will need a plate, craft sticks, some flavored gelatin, and drinking water.
Start by placing some of the gelatin powder on the plate in a small, flattened pile. Add the water drop by drop onto the gelatin. Allow the gelatin and water to rest for a few minutes. Observe what happens. Use your craft stick to lift up the congealed gelatin. Feel it in your hands. Eat it, if you wish (as long as your hands are clean)!
What did you notice? What was the texture of the gelatin like after you added the water and allowed it to rest? Is it a solid or a liquid? How do you think gelatin balls may be like some of the matter in our own bodies?
Summer is here! It is a good time to have fun, but that doesn’t mean taking a break from satisfying our curious minds. We know busy families are often on vacation this time of year, so here are 5 STEM experiments you can take on the road.
Make a balloon powered car!
This experiment explores the scientific concept that for every action, there will be an equal and opposite reaction (Newton’s third law of motion). The air expelled from the balloon creates the force to propel the car forward. Also, the friction and resistance of the car to the surface slows the car to an eventual stop.
What you will need:
Toy Car
Balloon
Tape
Straw(s) – ideally, a variety of several different straws
Instructions:
Tape the opening of the balloon around one side of the straw, ensuring there are no air leaks
Tape the straw to the top of the car
Inflate the balloon through the straw.
While covering the opening of the straw with your finger or pinching the end of the straw closed, place the car on the floor.
Let go of the end of the straw and see your car go!
What did you observe happening? Which direction did the ballon propel your car? Does changing the surface (such as linoleum or carpet) affect how far your car drives? If you were to use a different straw, how might that affect how your car drives? What happens when you use a jumbo straw versus a skinny straw? Do you have a bendable straw? Try putting a bend in it and see what happens. Have a race with your friends!
2. Things that float/sink
This experiment explores the scientific principles of density and buoyancy. Buoyancy is the upward force exerted by fluid (in this case water) that opposes the weight of an object. Density describes how much matter is in a certain amount of space (volume), or how much space a certain amount of matter takes up. An object with low density is going to weigh less than an object of the exact same size with high density.
What you will need:
Bowl/ tub of water
Any collection of objects that will fit within the container of water. Let your imagination run wild!
Coins
Chinelle stems
Pieces of fabric
Buttons
Small plastic or steel bowl
Cutlery – plastic and metal
Toy boats
Pieces of wood
Wine corks
Ice
Rocks
Sticks
Leaves
Feathers
Oil
Instructions:
Take each object and place them in the water
Observe how different objects behave in the water
What are your observations about what happened? What is the difference between the objects that float and the objects that sank? If a fork that is made of steel sinks, how can a bowl (or ship) that is made of steel float? Why does ice float in water? Why do some objects float initially and then later sink (such as the fabric or some types of wood)?
3. Take a road trip movement break and observe gravity!
This one is easy, gives the littles a chance to get some wiggles out, and explores the scientific principle of gravity! Gravity is the invisible force that pulls object towards earth.
Find some open space! Or at least enough space to move around without disturbing others. Jump up and observe what happens. Did you fall back down to Earth? What would happen if you jumped up and there was no gravity pulling you back to Earth?
4. Try skipping rocks!
This experiment is a timeless classic! It explores STEM concepts in physics. There are many forces at play when skipping rocks, but the most fundamental ones are gravity and lift. Gravity pulls the rock towards the water and lift is what pushes the rock up from the water. If the lift from the water is stronger than the gravity pulling the rock down, the rock skips!
You will need to find the right spot. This will include a smooth body of water, such as a calm section of a stream or a lake. You will also need a place where there are a lot of small, smooth stones.
You will also need to find the right rock. Look for a small, roundish or oval, flat rock of uniform thickness that fits well in your hand.
Now, let’s try to skip that rock across the water. Remember, this takes practice! Set the rock in the crook of your pointer finger and thumb. Curl your other fingers underneath your stone. Next, stand up straight with your feet parallel to the water, facing the length of the shoreline. Throw the stone at a side angle, as parallel to the water as possible.
Keep trying until you get it right. If you are struggling, try to get a good spin! The gyroscopic force prevents the stone from toppling over and falling into the water. (Have you ever played with a spinning top?)
Were you able to make it work? What did you discover makes a good skipping rock? Why do you think some rocks are better for skipping than others? Where do you find the best skipping rocks? Are they usually near water? Why or why not?
You don’t have to leave the littlest kids out! If you have kids that are too small to skip rocks, have them Kerplunk! the rocks into the water. Why do you think those rocks sank immediately versus the rocks that skidded across the water?
5. Make a nature walk bracelet
Are you going to be exploring in nature this summer? Study the ecology around you and make a bracelet while on a nature walk! Using duct tape, make a cuff with the sticky side out. As you walk or hike, add things that you find, such as plant samples, flowers, and other nature items to your sticky bracelet. (However, avoid poison ivy, poison oak, or poison sumac. They often have leaves of three; though not aways!)
Can you find an item from each color of the rainbow? Are some colors easier to find than others? Don’t forget! When you get home, look up the items that you found on your adventure.
Did you find these experiments fun?
Contact your local High Touch High Tech franchise and we can bring even more exciting hands-on STEM activities directly to you!
