Sensory Experiments and September Kiwi Crates Part:2

Science

Nervous System Week 4: Touch

This week we learned about how receptors relay their signals via the spinal cord to the "touch center" of the brain.

We set up stations around our kitchen table and we got out our Sensory Science Kit! First, we covered our table with plastic to protect it, then we set timers on Alexa and rotated around until we tried them all. Our younger siblings loved playing with them too!

We also read about the history of putty and slime and how sand can be hydrophobic!

Hydrophobic Sand: Hydro means water, phobic means fear of. Hydrophobic materials repel and do not mix with water. The sand is hydrophobic because it is coated with an oil substance. When it is pulled out of the water it is dry, while under the water, it can be molded and moved around. When we covered our table with plastic wrap we made it hydrophobic.

Me making castles underwater.

It is so frustrating to bring the cool hydrophobic sand above the surface- it does not stick together! It looks completely different underwater. It is still sandy, no matter what your eyes tell you!

Magnetic Putty:

Landen with the putty of his dreams-magnetic putty!

It is soooo weird!!!

Fun Fact: The putty will crawl over to the magnet given time. The magnetic pull is so strong that something that appears to be just very firm, gray putty will eventually cover the magnet, swallowing it whole! It moves at about 1/2 inch per hour!

Liquid Slime:

EEK!

This gooey, icky slime looks like liquid in the small container, but when you touch it it is slightly solid!!

Snotty Slime:

This blue, super cool slime is a favorite for little toddlers. Landen and I loved it too!

So squishy!

Sculpting Sand:

This sand will stick together under pressure, and is fit for it's name- it can be sculpted! Best of all, it's pink!!!

Do you like my pink island?

My sister Emberly loves the pinkness of it. She could play for hours! We all could!!

Landen made a huge ball of pink sand and then he used it to destroy his sculptures with it. He loved it!

Play Sand:

Emberly's town is displayed here.

Eight minutes of sculpting pyramids with play sand and a mold has now paid off with beautiful sand art!

We loved being able to feel the different textures and temperatures of these materials with our skin. What a cool sensory organ it is!

Tech: September Kiwi Crates Part 2

This week we finished our crates! How exciting!

Landen's Tinker Crate: Build a Walking Robot

Kaylee's Doodle Crate: Build a Felt Succulent Garden

Here is the felt succulent garden I made from my kiwi crate this week. Isn't it pretty?

You can't really see it here, but I made a snake, a snail, and a little bird from my crate's clay as well as the "Welcome" sign. I made a fairy, too, but her wings and body were smashed by my fingers every time I stuck her wings on and she was too delicate, she dried all broken. Oh well.

Electives:

Arts and Crafts (Kaylee): We bought some yarn and I am making a granny square purse with a pattern I found. 

My mom taught me how to read a crochet diagram after I had some trial and error. I learned that it is important to follow the directions so I don't have to go back and do it again.

Building Simple Machines (Landen): 

Last week I finished my Gears Unit. This week I got to free build. I built this really cool drawbridge. And yes it really works!