Make a Tube Kazoo

1 07 2009

Do you love to make music? Great! You can make a musical instrument using materials found in your home.

Materials:

Cardboard Tube (from a paper towel or toilet paper roll)

Wax paper

A rubber band

A sharp pencil

Markers

tubekazoosmall

Instructions:

1) Punch a few small holes in the cardboard tube. Make the holes the same size and distance apart (like a flute).

2) Decorate your kazoo anyway you like.

3) Cover one end of the tube with wax paper.

4) Now, hum into the opposite end of the tube. If you cover the different holes in your kazoo, you will create different notes.

You have made your very own Tube Kazoo! Enjoy playing your new instrument!

boys kazoo





Great to be Green

24 06 2009

Today our Eco-Explorer campers visited The Center for Maximum Potential Building Systems. The CMPBS specializes in life cycle planning and design. They use recycled materials in every part of their buildings. For example, the walls at CMPBS are made of straw and plaster! The insulation in the walls and ceilings of most of our homes is made of fiber glass, while the insulation at CMPBS is made of recycled blue jeans. That is a very inventive way to keep the inside air cool in the summer and warm in the winter. They have a table made from an old door and look at these lamp shades made out of cheese graters:

They also used recycled metal to make this cool bird sculpture.

bird

Can you think of some items that could be recycled and used for a different purpose?

To learn more about The Center for Maximum Potential Building Systems, click here.





What’s a Throwie?

22 06 2009

A Throwie is made using an LED, a battery, a magnet, scissors, and tape.

throwiesupplies

Elena will explain more about Throwies and show you how to make one!

Take a look at the Museum calendar to see when we will be making Throwies and other crafty projects.

http://austinkids.org/getdoc/1de9afb6-7684-40e2-87cb-d0d765d36562/Calendar.aspx





The First Day of Summer

19 06 2009

sun

Summer is officially here! The summer solstice is this Sunday, June 21st. It marks the first official day of summer. The sun appears to stand still in the sky a few days before and after the solstice. June 21st is also the longest day of the year. This is because the earth revolves around the sun on a tilt. Texas is in the northern hemisphere. We are tilted toward the sun in the summer and away from the sun the  in winter. Be sure to go outside an enjoy the beautiful sunshine!





Budding Paleontologists

16 06 2009

A Paleontologist is a scientist who studies the fossils of animals, plants, and other organisms from prehistoric times.  Do you know how Paleontologists find dinosaur fossils?

dino_blog2 copy

They have to carefully remove the fossils that are buried deep in the ground.  Many times this requires very delicate tools, like a brush. The Paleontologist brushes the dirt away from the fossil, until it is free from the ground. You can create your own archaeological dig at home!

dino_blog copy

Materials:

-Toy dinosaurs or any other “fossil” you would like to use

-Paint Brush

Directions:

1) Bury the artifacts just below some sand or dirt.

2) Carefully brush the dirt away from the artifact, just like a Paleontologist.





Create a Soda Geyser

15 06 2009

Have you ever seen your soda do this?

Adding Mentos to a bottle of soda creates quite a reaction! Why does it create a soda explosion? When the Mentos hits the surface of the soda, the compressed carbon dioxide forms bubbles on the surface of the Mentos. It is released into the air and pushes the soda out with it. You can try this at home with the help of an adult.

Materials:

Roll of Mentos (candy mints)

2-liter bottle of soda (diet soda is less sticky when it is time to clean up)

Directions:

This activity is best done in an open outdoor space.

1) Open the bottle of soda and set it on even ground. Be sure it will not tip over.

2) Drop the roll of Mentos into the bottle. The trick is to drop all the mentos in at once. You can roll a piece of paper into a tube. (The paper tube should be just big enough to hold the loose mentos.)

3) Position the paper tube over the bottle, release the Mentos, and step back quickly!

4) Watch your Soda Geyser go!





Summer Slime

10 06 2009

Today our Science-Palooza campers learned about polymers while making gooey slime. The main ingredient of our slime, Elmer’s glue, is a polymer. A polymer consists of a long chain of molecules. We added Borax to the mix and the molecules in the glue linked together to form stretchy slime!

blog_slime2

Take a look at our previous post for instructions on how to make your own slimy concoction at home!

http://blog.austinkids.org/2008/07/29/how-to-make-glue-slime/





Gold Medal Pup Visits Austin Children’s Museum

9 06 2009

Uno, the 2008 Westminster Dog Show Champion, stopped by the Austin Children’s Museum yesterday. He was here along with Austin Vet Care for Science Sunday. Uno is four years old and he was the first Beagle to win Best in Show in the history of the Westminster Dog Show!

This summer on Science Sundays vistors will learn what it is like to be a veterinarian and work with animals. Austin Vet Care will be on hand with live animals to show visitors how they improve animals’ lives. Take a look at the website for our Science Sundays summer schedule:

http://austinkids.org/Programs/Gallery-Programs/Science-Sunday.aspx





Ready. Set. Make!

5 06 2009

makeropening copy

The big day is almost here! June 6th is opening day for the Austin Children’s Museum’s new exhibit, MakerKids. Everyone is busy preparing and excited to spread the do-it-yourself spirit. The exhibit will feature 20 guided activites in printmaking, light play, paper play, fiber arts, sculpture, and many more! Read more about MakerKids on our website www.austinkids.org and find out how you can gain free admission to the Museum.





Make a Fruit Sculpture

3 06 2009

You will need:

Fruit Slices (bananas, oranges, grapes, or choose your favorite!)

Toothpicks

How to make it:

Take a look at the different shapes of the fruit. Use the toothpicks to connect the different shapes and make a beautiful sculpture.

Here are some campers hard at work on their fruit sculptures.

glasses





Paint like Jackson Pollock

3 06 2009

Jackson Pollock was a very important American painter. His unique paintings are in museums around the world, including New York City and London. Pollock used an interesting technique when painting. He would put his canvas on the floor and drip paint onto the canvas! Here is an example of his artwork:

pollockpic

You can make your own Jackson Pollock inspired painting!

www.jacksonpollock.org

There is also a Jackon Pollock iPhone Application, so you can channel your inner Pollock on-the-go!





Mother’s Day Tulips

7 05 2009

Mother’s Day is just around the corner. If you’re wondering what to get Mom, here’s a fun project that is easy to do!

MaterialsYou will need:

 Green straws, foam egg carton, rocks, clear cup, assortment of tissue paper, glue, and scissors.

How to make it:

  1. Collect all the materials
  2. Pour rocks or dirt into clear cup
  3. Cut out tulip shapes from egg carton cups
  4. Poke a small hole in bottom of egg cups
  5. Insert straw into hole
  6. Cut small squares out of tissue paper and glue into cup
  7. Add leaves or other flower decorations
  8. Press finished flower stems into rocks

Ta-da!

What else can you do for Mom? How about picking up your toys or setting the dinner table? Or you can make a Mother’s Day card to send with the flowers. Don’t forget to give her a big hug!





Emergency Response Studio

5 05 2009

After visiting the Louisiana lower 9th ward about a year after Hurricane Katrina, artist Paul Villinski wanted to help. He bought a trailer identical to the ones that were given to the residents of the Louisiana coast, and then decided to make a few changes… you see, the trailers had a few problems that made some residents sick. 

Paul designed and succesfully built the Emergency Response Studio. Paul invented a new efficient solar powered trailer that can be taken  and used in disaster areas. He wanted to help people and create art work in a response to the disaster. The trailer runs on 6 really heavy batteries and also  has a micro wind turbine! Paul is an engineer AND an artist. He invented a trailer that can help  people in disaster areas and it doesn’t harm the environment! Great job!

Before the Makeover

Before the Makeover

 What can you invent?

Emergency Response Studio

The solar powered trailer





Shake Rattle & Roll!

4 05 2009

We love to sing and dance! Every Monday at Baby Bloomers, we move and groove to hip music. It’s a great opportunity for babies and parents to sing and dance to lots of fun songs. Come join the fun!

Here’s a glimpse into our fun sing and dance time!

Do you remember the songs: Kookaburra, Alice the Camel, Do your ears hang low, I’ve been working on the railroad, or Peanut Butter & Jelly?

First you take the peanuts
And you crunch ‘em,
You crunch ‘em
First you take the peanuts
And you crunch ‘em,
You crunch ‘em

For your peanut, peanut butter
And jelly
Peanut, peanut butter
And jelly….

I found an extensive library of these and other great nursery rhymes and other playground songs! Check it out!





Las Muñecas Quitapenas

30 04 2009

“Worry Dolls” originated in Guatemala, but have since migrated to Mexico and other parts of the world. They are tiny, colorful, handmade dolls that are made out of thin thread and wire. They are adored by children everywhere.

The tale: When a child is worried about something, they are encouraged to tell the doll, and then place it under their pillow when they go to sleep. The doll absorbs the child’s worries, so when they wake up they are worry-free.

It is fun to make colorful muñecas quitapenas. I made some out of clay (I didn’t have any string). What are some other materials you can use to make these beautiful dolls?

Worry DollsClay worry dolls