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Home's Cool! While we're all working from home, the parents, former teachers, and play experts at EI are sharing some of their favorite educational activities to help keep your family learning and growing. Check out this idea from
Stacie Palka, one of our Product Managers!
Ages: 4+
Supplies:• Waxed paper• Colored Tissue paper• Construction paper• Scissors• Iron (for adult use)• Yarn (to hang your suncatcher)• Hole punch• Glue stick
Procedure:1. Use your scissors to cut brightly colored tissue paper into small shapes like hearts, circles, and stars.
2. Cut 2 sheets of wax paper to the desired size of your suncatcher.
3. Let your child arrange the tissue paper pieces on one piece of the wax paper, leaving a bit of space between each piece.
4. When they’re done, place the second piece of wax paper on top.*Adult assistance needed with the below steps.
5. Turn the iron to a low setting.
6. Place a dishtowel carefully over the wax paper (to protect the iron).
7. Slowly run the iron over the dishtowel (placed over the suncatcher).
8. After about 2 minutes, lift the dishtowel to see if the wax paper layers have adhered together. If not, continue ironing and checking until the two pieces are stuck together.
9. If there is any excess wax paper, trim it off, leaving a little bit of space around the edge.
10. Show your child how to cut your sheet of construction paper into four equal strips to make a frame around your suncatcher.
11. Let your little one glue the paper frame around the edges of the suncatcher.
12. Punch a hole in the top of the frame.
13. Use yarn or string to tie a loop and hang your suncatcher in a bright, sunny window!
With first-hand experience teaching Kindergarten and first grade and 13 years of product development know-how, EI Product Manager Stacie Palka is uniquely qualified to develop products that spark curiosity and a-ha moments. When she's not coming up with cool (and smart!) new ways to play, So Cal native and board game buff Stacie is caring for her two kids and adorable doggo, Frankie.
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Photo credit: sciencewithme.comPhotosynthesis is the process plants use to make their own food. This process requires just three things: carbon dioxide from the air, water, and sunlight.Plants absorb the carbon dioxide through small pores in their leaves. Special chemicals in their leaves allow them to absorb sunlight. And they use their roots to absorb water.Once a plant has absorbed sunlight, it uses that energy to split the water molecules absorbed by the roots into hydrogen and oxygen. The plant uses the hydrogen and the carbon dioxide it’s absorbed from the air to create glucose – or plant food! But what happens to the oxygen? Let’s find out!1. Pick a green leaf from a plant.2. Place it in a container of water and find out! (Psst… the graduated cylinder in the Nancy B’s Science Club® Stir-It-Up Chemistry Lab is perfect for this activity.)
3. After about an hour, you’ll see lots of tiny bubbles. This is the oxygen being released from the leaf during the photosynthesis process! Use a magnifying glass for a closer look.Now that you know how plants thrive and grow, check out how they grow hydroponically with our seed germination activity. Click here for simple instructions!
If your kiddos enjoyed this experiment, they’re going to love Nancy B’s Science Club! This line of scientific tools and real-life journaling activities provides hands-on science experiences that get kids comfortable and excited about science, giving them the confidence to pursue science further in school and in life. Science enthusiasts can choose from binoculars, a microscope, telescope, aquascope, compost kit, and more, each including a meaty journal full of activities ranging from discovery and observation to creative writing and drawing. Also, check out the Educational Insights' Discovery & Exploration page for even more curious tools and toys for little and big kids! 
