Sisters Keira and Shaylie are student scientists with a real knack for chemistry. They live in Bend, Oregon and along with friend Caroline, have turned a bathroom in their home as well as a playroom into science labs.
We had the pleasure of learning about these exceptional girls around the holidays. They had a regular Christmas wish list and a second, Steve Spangler Science wish list. After watching some of their experiment videos and hearing about their scientific discoveries in their homemade lab, in their driveway and in the dark, we had to share their amazing talent and zest for learning.
Keira, 12, is described by her dad as a “very studious child.” She was placed in a TAG (Talented and Gifted) program by her kindergarten teacher. Over the years, science has become her favorite subject. Her best friend Caroline, 11, helps with the science activities.
Sister Shaylie, 9, is more of an inventor and sometimes the assistant when the girls perform experiments in their lab.
Keira says she and Caroline really got into science in 5th grade when their class took a field trip to a local
Karen Engates, otherwise known as Dr. Science Mom, runs a science camp after school program in Texas. She is a mother with a Ph.D.
She mainly works with grades kindergarten to third, exploring science. In Texas, grades 4 and 5 have regular science time during the week to prepare for state tests. The younger grades do not have a required weekly science time.
Karen does her best to get the kids excited about science, “I try to do my part to get them motivated, learn a few skills using lab equipment, and show them that having fun in science is possible.”
Her second graders really enjoyed the Taco Sauce Penny Cleaner experiment and wondered “if taco sauce cleans pennies, just think what it could do for your teeth!”
Maybe they’re on to a new product – Taco Sauce Toothpaste – it’s not so minty.
We have an amazing staff at Steve Spangler Science – from the crew in our Distribution Center who carefully packages each product then ships it out to you, to our Customer Service Team who takes care of you on the phones and online, to our Administrative Team who keeps our business humming, to our Creative Team, who handles our website, social media, video, catalog and more, to our Conference Team who takes us on the road. We all work together to make Steve Spangler Science what it is today.
We are starting a series to highlight some of the talented people behind the scenes at Steve Spangler Science. Today we are putting the spotlight on our Customer Service Manager, Zarah Brown. Zarah has been with our little company since October, 16, 2007, but who’s counting?
Here’s a little Q&A with the person we affectionally refer to as Zarah with a Z.
Q: Tell us a little about who you are… A: Zarah Brown is devoted to a life of discovery and fun – I love learning new things about the amazing universe we live in. I am especially interested in
Young problem solving third graders from Wilder Elementary joined me on my weekly television appearance to share their inventions from the annual Invention Convention at their school. Students must identify a problem and come up with a creative solution to solve their problem.
Nicole Fast invented the Piggy Hammock. Her guinea pig, “Piggy” would scratch her arms when picked up. Nicole invented the Piggy Hammock using a bandana to safely pick up the guinea pig while protecting her wrists from sharp nails.
Next up was Maddie Mitchell invented the Doggie Slobber Stopper. Maddie demonstrated how her dog, Barkley makes a wet mess when he drinks from his water bowl. Maddie made a ring of sponges to fit around the bowl to catch the slobber and splashes when Barkley drinks.
Scott Spangler does not like burning his tongue on hot soup, so he created the Spangler Tongue Saver. Using a magnet,
Mike and Chelsea Ashcraft run a weekly afterschool program, Children’s Choice Child Care, for kindergarteners through second graders in Cedar Grove, New Mexico. They bring science into the lives of young children in a science enrichment program. Children aren’t their only students, the Ashcrafts also hold workshops and seminars for teachers.
Each week, the Ashcrafts teach a science lesson complete with themed snacks, music and literacy to complement that day’s experiment. After the class, they borrow the assistance of their 10-year-old daughter to blog about what happened.
A recent class on polymers offered zoo crackers and gummy alligators for snack, Alligator Hedgehog by Pete Seeger for music and Zack’s Alligator by Shirley Mozelle for a literature connection. The science portion involved growing Giant Alligators (made from polymers), gardening with super-absorbing polymers and several other experiments.
The students are also encouraged to participate in discussions, ask questions, follow directions and express ideas.
The Ashcrafts go beyond making science fun and make learning fun. For more on their program and activities, visit their Ashcraft Afterschool blog or watch the video above.
By Blog Editor Susan Wells
