Ah, yes…  We should have mentioned in the last post that the famous fire show is only ONE of the 200 science shows that Aurora performs when she does her live workshops.  The flame photos just happen to look the BEST on film, so we posted them for you to enjoy!

In all seriousness, our job here at Supercharged Science is to excite the kids and get them crazy-wild about science. Aurora does whatever it takes to get them there, whether she builds robots with the kids, screams in outer space, or launches rockets from the palm of her hand… she knows how to reach kids and empower them in a way that lasts…  here’s a snippet of the feedback we received from a recent set of workshops in Alaska:

The science day was exceptional. My son begged me to let him try out his aquadic car in the bath tub. All the children had a blast and really enjoyed the way you presented the information as well as the hands on projects they were able to build and create. Of course your demonstrations were a huge hit. Can you really go wrong with safely burning things? We would definately do it again. Heather Beckwith Anchorage, AK

My ten-year old son told me without hesitation that the most exciting thing he was able to do during the supercharged science workshop, was building the “robots” with the electric motors. I asked him to name just one thing that was not enjoyable or boring—-he thought for several minutes and could not think of even 1 thing!! Aurora and others, THANK YOU so much for this fantastic opportunity to have young participants get “fired up” about science.—-Robin Bogard Nikiski, Alaska

I have to tell you that my kids were reluctant to sign up for a SCIENCE workshop (not their favorite subject), but I signed them up anyway, thinking it would be good for them. The moment Aurora came out and did her first demonstration, I knew when I saw the look of excitement, awe and interest on my children’s faces that this was going to be something they would never forget! They couldn’t stop talking about all the great things they did, and the next day they only wanted to work on were more science experiements and skip the rest of their subjects! It has inspired both me and my kids to see how you have put the fun back into learning again. Thank you, thank you, THANK YOU!!!

This was a great opportunity for my twins to experience science as a fun, hands-on, non-threatening topic. It was presented in a high energy, fun and inter-active atmosphere. Thanks for the causual, fun presentation. Julie Wohrle Eagle River, AK

My 7 year old son Orion loved the workshop. The hands on activities kept his attention and the results made him smile big to show how proud he was of his accomplishments. Right now he is on the floor with all of his take home stuff sprawled out (4 days later), trying new connections for his robot and electronics. Stacey Marz Anchorage, AK

We attended your workshop in Wasilla yesterday. Today, Samantha (age 11) pulled apart the robots she brought home and created a new one. After many changes to adjust tracking, etc, in and out of water, she has pulled it apart again; she has a fan and motor attached to a mini box of Crest, making a personal fan (like they sell in the stores). On the way home last night, we were discussing astronomy. Her older sister (who was unavailable for the class) commented that 1,000 Earths would fit inside the sun. Sam answered, “No, 1.3 million Earths would fit inside the sun.” My husband is astounded at her interest and the facts she is retaining. I got to attend the first hour and a half yesterday, and enjoyed myself thoroughly; that is some high energy teaching! Love the humor and the stories. ~Sharon, Palmer, AK

Thanks for coming all the way up here to Alaska! We had so much fun at this workshop. You were amazing with the kids, and I was floored at how you kept a group of 150+ children in grades k-12 focused, interested, laughing, and inspired all at the same time. Hats off. The children had a wonderful time of course, but you also inspired me as a homeschool mom to get a little more everyday about the sciences. I loved your philosophy about how you don’t have to memorize complex scientific theories or rules to understand how they work. You brought it to a level that was understandable and doable. Thanks again. Donna Carr Wasilla, Alaska

Our three boys could not stop talking about the workshop from the moment I picked them up and they immediately started building contraptions from the materials they got to bring home. The next day they were at it again in their free time! We haven’t even watched the DVDs yet but we’re looking forward to that and to future Supercharged Science Workshops!! Thank you so much! Bridget Piscoya Fairbanks, Alaska

My 10 year old son was really excited about what he learnd at the science fair. And he was willing to share, he just had to tell me everything that went on that day.

Okay, so we’ve already started our show season in Alaska, but where else are we headed to? Well, in a week we will be at MACHE in Minnesota, FPEA in Florida late May, and HEAV in Virginia mid-June!

And in both Florida and Virginia, we’re also teaching science camps immediately following the homeschool event, and the science camps are not just for homeschoolers!

So if you’re in the area, we invite you to stop by the booth and play with over 1,000 pounds of science equipment we’re bringing, including lightning machines, burglar alarms, fuel cells, laser light shows, and robots. We’re easy to find… just look for the neon-orange 8-foot tall rocket. And yes, the rocket is real.

See you soon, I hope!

Shameless advertising… but since we’ve gotten sooo many requests (this week, we thought we’d try to send people to the blog to learn more…)  Just grin and smile as you read this unusual post.

Get Aurora LIVE in your area! Aurora will have your group blasting rockets, building catapults, and racing roller coasters before long!  You can expect to walk away with new science projects and ideas for further study in topics like Rocketry, Robotics, Lasers, Optics, Chemistry, Physics, Astronomy, and so much more! All of the talks are provided LIVE and in-person by Aurora of Supercharged Science.

These presentations are for groups attended primarily by families and students needing a jump-start on doing serious hands-on science. If you’ve never built a working radio out of paper towel tubes, built laser light shows from tupperware, or made robotic remote controls from soap boxes, then you’re in for a real treat! Even if you don’t know an atom from an Angstrom, Aurora will take your students from bored to brainiac in less time than it takes to burn toast.

Invite us to speak to your group or organization, and your participants will be talking about it for months afterwards – we guarantee it! Whether it’s a classroom or a convention, homeschool group or school district, most coordinators have found Aurora to be a major draw at their events as our science classes quickly transformed into standing-room-only workshops.

If you’ve ever struggled through endless worksheets, crackling-dry textbooks, or science activities that don’t seem to get anywhere, you’re doing what we call ‘majoring in minor things’.  You try an experiment, a book, a science kit… all with minimal results.  We challenge you to focus on the things that have the biggest impact on your child’s learning: wonder, discovery, and exploration.  When you focus on these, the learning comes from within and flows naturally.  And that’s what do through our Supercharged Science Workshops.  You will no longer be guessing whether your child is really learning science or not… you will know with absolute certainty because you will be able to see it for yourself. (Goggles, anyone?)

We travel to your location with over all of our science stuff! Contact us immediately if you are interested in a science workshop in your area.

Here’s another wonderful email from a family that participated on our of our free teleclasses. It turns out that the catapult design was such an inspiration that even Dad had to get in on the fun!

Hi,
I just wanted to share some pictures of our catapult war. We each built a catapult according to your specs and choose an ammo. Either mini-marshmallows, large marshmallows, little craft pom-poms, or foil balls. We then set up 24 army men each and had a war to see who was the last man standing. We had a lot of fun and found out that dogs eat marshmallows! Thanks for the great rocket class and the video for catapults, we had a great family night with science, they learned more about propulsion and trajectory and all that effects it in one night of fun than in a thousand “school” days. Nothing like a little competition to fuel the imagination into figuring out which ammo and spoon position will best destroy dad’s army!
Thanks again,
– Jessica Chinni

We just love getting emails from you – including people who either have ideas they want to share about science, or their own personal experiences with our programs, or both! Here’s a wonderful email from someone who really put his ideas to words in a way that made us smile all day long…

Dear Aurora,

–Phill Hooper

Okay, we’ve made you wait long enough!  Find the answer key here. Enjoy!

Okay, we thought up a few bonus questions!

Extra Credit: Basic Scientific Principles The following list of questions address the basic scientific principles your child needs to know, understand, and use before they hit college. See how you both do… good luck!

1.    Why do airplanes fly?
2.    Why do I get shocked on dry days?
3.    Why does a compass needle flutter near an electrical cord?
4.    Why does my food come out of the microwave with hot and cold spots?
What two colors make yellow light?
5.    Why does soda explode when you shake it?
6.    What happens when you fart in space?
7.    Why does the water come out of the hose faster if you put your thumb over the end?
8.    Why does the ball roll down the hill faster if you start it higher up?
9.    Why do rockets have fins instead of wings?
10.    Why don’t the planets go flying off into space instead of orbiting the sun?
11.    If you scream in outer space, can anyone hear you?
12.    Why does the hot coffee get colder and not hotter?
13.    What happens when I stick an inflated balloon in a freezer?

This is an OUTSIDE project.  While this does not give off a lot of smoke, it certainly will set off your smoke alarm.

Into an old pan (preferably stoneware (not glass or plastic) set on a concrete surface away from anything flammable, like grass, trees, and houses), pour about a quarter cup of “Heet” (gas line antifreeze, sold in most auto part stores) and sprinkle in about a teaspoon of boric acid (a relatively safe chemical sold in most drug stores) and stir with an OLD spoon.  Note that you’ll still have crystals left on the bottom of the pan. Ignite the solution and stand back.  Rinse the residue down the drain.

You can substitute other types of alcohol (“Heet” is methanol, or methol alcohol) such as ethanol (ethyl alcohol), vodka or Everclear, or isopropyl alcohol (rubbing alcohol). Keep the chemicals for this project out of reach of children or pets, since methanol is harmful if swallowed. Read and follow any safety precautions listed on the labels of the specific products you use.

You’ll need access to zinc powder (in a pinch you may be able to use galvanized nails), sodium hydroxide (like Drano), water, tongs, old saucepan, clean pennies, and the stove.

First, pour a few grams of zinc into an OLD pot you don’t care about (not your kitchen pots) containing a splash of water and sodium hydroxide.  Heat the mixture over medium heat until it almost boils, then remove and add the clean pennies (scrub with a toothbrush and ketchup beforehand) and wait a few minutes for them to turn silver.  Use tongs (NOT your hands!) to remove them from the solution (it can take up to 15 minutes). Make sure your fume hood is ON. Rinse with warm water and let dry on a paper towel.  You have just galvanized your pennies!

Now turn them to gold by heating the penny in the coolest part of a flame from either your gas stove, a lighter, or a candle.  (You can even set it on the hot coil on an electric stove.)  Watch it carefully and remove it from the flame as SOON as it changes color, rinsing it under cold water to cool it down.  The heating process formed brass, which is gold in color.  (But if you heat it for too long, you’ll melt the brass away as it has a low melting temperature.)

In 1982, the US goverment switched from making 95% pure copper pennies to copper-plating zinc penny chips. And now pennies weigh less and cost less to make.   In this project, you dipped the pennies in a zinc solution (the sodium hydroxide, water, and zinc powder) to dissolve part of the copper coating (which is why it turned silver). When you placed it in intense heat, the copper and zinc fuse together to make an alloy called “brass.”

Last round of the best questions we could think up (answer key coming soon):

19.    Higher pressure does which? (a) pushes (b) pulls (c) decreases temperature (d) causes winds, storms, and airplanes to fly (e) meows

20.    What is the phone number for poison control? (a) 1-800-POISON-ME (b) 1-800-222-1222 (c) 911 (d) 0 (e) Wait a second… exactly why do I need to know this?

21.    What happens when you put a large chocolate bar in the microwave without a turntable?  (a) it melts only in certain spots (b) it freezes (c) you can measure the speed of light (d) the chocolate bar emits radiation

22.    Which of the following are examples of light?  (a) radio (b) TV remote controls (c) ultrasounds (d) microwaves (e) sunburns

23.    The electricity from an electrical outlet is the same kind as (a) lightening (b) the shock you get from scuffing along the carpet (c) the electrons that flows in a circuit (d) the electricity from a battery (e) the light show from wool socks fresh from the dryer

24.    What happens when you combine a red beam of light with a green beam of light?  (a) you see polka-dots (b) you get yellow light (c) you get cyan light (d) you get that muddy-looking color just like when you mix all the paints together (e) nothing – they stay the same

25.    If an apple is the size of the earth, then the atoms inside the apple are the size of:  (a) Manhattan (b) a grain of sand (c) the size of the original apple (d) Alaska (e) zooplankton

26.    What are the four states of matter?  (a) solid, liquid, gas, and plasma (b) earth, wind, fire, and water (c) oxygen, fuel, spark, and heat (d) ice, water, bubbles, and steam

27.    Which of the following are seriously dangerous chemicals? (a) dihydrogen monoxide  (b) sodium chloride (c) sodium tetraborate (d) sodium bicarbonate (e) all of these (f) none of these