STEM Lab
Follow along
Everyone on the same schedule, so the kids can compare notes. Add to iPhone / Mac calendar
Google Calendar: Other calendars → + → From URL → https://timjfarrell.com/stem-lab/stem-lab.ics
Lab rules
- The kid predicts first, every time. A wrong guess is the best part: that's the surprise.
- Their hands do the experiment. You ask the questions and hold the dangerous bits.
- Stage one big moment (it's on every card). Pause before it. Let it land.
- Use the word of the day out loud, twice, and once at bedtime.
- Stop while they still want more. Ten good minutes beats thirty dragged ones.
- If the mood's gone, just do the big moment and call it.
Gather for the next two weeks
Mon Oct 19: The Magic Fork
- ruler or paint stirrer
- thick marker or round pencil (the pivot)
- a heavy-ish book
- a few toy cars or blocks
Thu Oct 22: Drop Race
- a hardcover book
- a small ball
- a sheet of paper
- a soft landing spot (rug or pillow)
Mon Oct 26: Ramp Racers
- a board, baking sheet or big book (the ramp)
- pillows or books to prop it
- two or three toy cars
- painter's tape or a sock to mark where they stop
Thu Oct 29: Pattern Snakes
- two kinds of pasta, or two colors of blocks, LEGO or crayons
- a string (optional, for threading pasta)
Mon Nov 2: Sink or Float?
- a big bowl or the bathtub
- a towel
- 6 to 10 things: apple, grape, coin, cork, spoon, LEGO, crayon, toy boat, orange (with and without peel)
Thu Nov 5: Hanger Scale
- a coat hanger with notches or a plain hanger
- two paper or plastic cups
- string or tape
- a door handle or cabinet knob to hang it from
- small things to weigh: blocks, crayons, coins, grapes
Mon Nov 9: Shadow Monsters
- a flashlight or phone light
- a blank wall
- hands, a toy figure, a fork
Thu Nov 12: Strong Shapes
- straws or pipe cleaners
- play-dough, mini marshmallows or tape for corners
- a toy to test with
Mon Nov 16: Magnet Hunt
- a big fridge magnet (or a magnet wand)
- a tray of things: spoon, foil, coin, paper clip, key, LEGO, a steel food can and an aluminum soda can
Thu Nov 19: Box Guitar
- a tissue box or shoebox with a hole cut in the lid
- 4 rubber bands, thick and thin
- a pencil to lift the strings
Mon Nov 23: Slippy and Grippy
- the ramp from Ramp Racers
- a toy car or a block
- three ramp coverings: a towel, foil or wax paper, sandpaper or a bath mat
Mon Nov 30: How Many Hands?
- their hands and feet
- your hands and feet
- a toy or a LEGO brick as another unit
- a tape measure for the end
Thu Dec 3: Balloon Rocket
- a balloon
- a long string (about 3 m)
- a straw
- tape
- two chairs
Mon Dec 7: Where Did It Go?
- 4 clear glasses of water
- spoon
- sugar, salt, sand or dirt, and a little rice or a LEGO
Thu Dec 10: Sock Swing
- a long string
- a sock with a small toy or a few coins tied inside
- a table edge or doorway to hang it from
Mon Dec 14: Paint Butterflies
- paper
- washable paint
- a small mirror (optional)
Thu Dec 17: Broomstick Superpower
- two broom handles or mop handles
- a rope about 4 m long
- a second grown-up (or tie one broom to a heavy table leg)
Mon Dec 21: Rainbow Maker
- a clear glass of water
- a flashlight or a sunny window
- white paper
- an old CD if you have one
Mon Dec 28: Balancing Act
- a ruler or paint stirrer
- a lump of play-dough
- a pencil or marker
Mon Jan 4: Guess the Jar
- a clear jar or bowl
- 15 to 30 small things: blocks, pom-poms, grapes
Thu Jan 7: Balloon Magic
- a balloon
- their hair or a wool sweater
- tiny bits of torn paper
- a kitchen faucet
Mon Jan 11: Scaredy Pepper
- a plate with a little water
- ground pepper
- dish soap
- a cotton swab or a fingertip
Thu Jan 14: Paper Bridge
- two stacks of books the same height
- sheets of paper
- coins, blocks or toy cars as weights
Mon Jan 18: Ice Cube Race
- 4 ice cubes
- 4 small plates
- salt
- a sock or mitten
- a sunny window or warm spot
Kit Day
Next: Sat Nov 7, order by Wed Oct 28.
Next: Sat Dec 5, order by Wed Nov 25.
Next: Sat Jan 2, order by Wed Dec 23.