How could astronauts survive on Mars with no Grocery Stores or Mickey D's? (Terraforming-AIS)

Earth is the perfect place for us and even Mars pales in comparison. To live on another planet, we need to create (or find) the proper conditions - temperature, nutrition, water, oxygen to breathe and protection from the harshness of the sun’s energy (or lack thereof). On this day, our students explored the real concept of Terraforming as we explored how to manipulate soil, change an atmosphere, and survive off-Earth. Space, while so far away, is always present in our kids’ imagination because its a frequent topic of adventure books, cartoons, and movies. Make so mistake though, Earth is special, with its mild climate, access to liquid water, and abundant protections from the Earth’s brutal radiation.

Using KSL’s unique STEAM Innovation, our students investigated:

• Design ways to adjust temperature using science fundamentals and discuss potential impacts on planetary exploration

• Types of soil, how to enrich it with nutrients and testing soil’s ability to enable various plant growth

• Explored which types of fruits, vegetables, and flowers may be helpful in changing a planets atmosphere and helping to sustain human life

• Performed LSF (Look, Smell, Feel) tests to expand basic science investigative methods to compare and contrast various flowers and vegetables and discuss how well they may be adaptable to climates with higher CO2, like Mars

Later this week, your child will design their own Terraforming Mars KIT, complete with nutrition rich soil, seeds to practice growing flowers, vegetables and fruit at home, and custom ingredients that would make their adventure in space even better! Watch this video with your child to expand their depth of what it would take to actually terraform Mars

Why can't we use gasoline to launch rockets into space? (Propulsion - AIS)

Rockets are massively heavy, yet we can lift them, not just off the ground, but beyond Earths gravitation pull! There is something very real about the atmosphere and the special force between any two massive objects, called gravity, and we want to do real experiments to explore propulsion science and how rockets can escape Earth’s Gravity. Our students looked at both physical (throwing) and chemical (reacting chemicals) to boost objects with forces, and explored the relationship between propulsion science and the weight and shape of the objects being launched.

Don’t forget your INNOVATION BOX, which is customized by your child every Wednesday at Kids Science Labs, to enable at home science and create new neuroscience pathways that increase the fun and build real confidence with hands-on science. ….Watch below with your child to advance their learning of how the tallest buildings in our cities were designed and built!

As members, please take advantage of our KSL Rewards Program that offers benefits to our entire community. Call us at (773-798-2012 or email support@kidssciencelabs.com) and mention “KSL Blog”

• 20% off any new program registration (parties, camps, group events, field trips) after this camp

• Free access to KSL Academy Programs for gifted and enthusiastic young scientists

• Social media raffle for members to win birthday party giveaways at Kids Science Labs

• Exclusive members-only Youtube content that powers kids to outperform in STEM long-term and on NGSS tests in 3rd, 5th, and 7th grade!

You can watch this slow motion video of a KSL 6yr old launching a chemical propulsion rocket for Adventures in Space and How Rockets Work to help enable your child to think more deeply about rocket propulsion..

Can a bridge made of paper support three large elephants?

Every class @KSL starts with a question that motivates and excites students to begin to think critically about the science we see everyday. Whether in Chicago, Seattle, or D.C., bridges are a critical part of how our cities work to transport pedestrians, wildlife, vehicles, and goods safely to their destination. So on this day in Builder’s Paradise, we used everyday innovations to better understand how to make bridges stronger with shapes and durable materials, how to protect them from both physical and environmental damage, and how to customize them to meet the needs of any unique situation in our city.

Students performed problem solving experiments along several dimensions to better understand Civil Engineering and Bridge Infrastructure:

• How do we make a paper bridge stronger by changing its shape and bundling (stacking paper together to improve its density)

• Why is it important to test maximum loads of each type of material on a bridge during and after construction

• How do environmental conditions (wind, humidity, heat, water) affect bridge designs

• Where may the certain types of bridges be most useful (beam, truss, suspension, arch)

Our older students may also have looked at what can go wrong in bridge design and discussed some of the issues in our U.S. infrastructure issues with bridges that are 100+ years old, that were designed before we had cars, trucks, and massive transportation infrastructure.

For more advanced learning, please show the following video or watch it alongside your child to build problem solving with bridges

What would happen if all roads in Phoenix were made of graham crackers? (Science in the City - Roads)

Roads need to be smooth, strong, durable, and maintained or else we are going to hear about it as civil engineers. Roads also have to fit pipes, wires, and sewers underneath! During Builder’s Paradise, our innovative students at Kids Science Labs investigated

• How to make concrete with various pebble-like textures for added friction

• How potholes are created and how to use science to prevent environmental damage to roads

• Which materials would be best for building roads, and then customizing our very own yellow brick roads with strawberry infusions so driving is both safe and full of wonderful aromas

• When changes in road designs are necessary based on geographic and climate variations that impact safety and our desired driving experiences

Students engaged in problem solving on how to manufacture concrete and to keep each level of the earth flat, when pouring their own custom concrete aggregate. Each child at KSL explored the science in our city layers under the surface, including rocks, soil, clay, and minerals, as well as what happens when concrete (plaster) is poured with varying aggregate materials. This is a two-day experience @ KSL and teachers focused on enhancing confidence through overcoming design mistakes, and problem solving to improve existing designs.

Show the video to your student to learn more or watch it with them to build more confidence in understanding how roads are built in Science in the City!