Kids Science Labs has provided over $100,000 in scholarships to students enrolled in its STEM programs

It all started in Chicago in 2010 when two dads, friends, and avid problem solvers, Shegan Campbell and Keith Norsym, decided that instead of trying to find a great idea, they wanted to identify a problem that they were passionate about, and fix it. One Saturday afternoon at Panera Bread a few years ago, they asked....

"Why is it that all kids love science until about the 5th grade and then for the rest of their school years treat science as if it were boring, too difficult, or only for nerds?  And why is it that in the U.S. we don't actively teach kids how to design, create, build, and fully explore the science that they are curious about? Kids love science, so why do so few have an opportunity to explore it. Isn't science fun, mysterious, and engaging...?" The result was the creation of Kids Science Labs, the best program for engaging kids 2-12 in innovation, creativity, and design.  

We want children everywhere to experience Kids Science Labs and we are working hard to make that a reality

Lacking imagination can prevent high-level problem solving and hinder future career progression

We often confuse problem solving for knowing how to solve a problem. This is so ridiculously simple. There are more problems for which you don't know the answer but can still figure out, with a bit of imagination and creativity, than problems that you could actually know the answer to already. I have been leading kids in developing new ways of thinking at Kids Science Labs for a decade, and the overwhelming evidence (not to mention the academic research) is that kids under 6, before they finish Kindergarten, have far greater problem solving ability than adults. The science is pretty simple. Adults lack (or at least choose not to exercise) their imagination, whereas imagination is one of the primary ways in which kids in early childhood solve a problem. Try it yourself. Ask a kid how to get to the moon, or where dragons live, and they will give you an answer. A real plausible answer, except that when you hear it as an adult, you can reject that solution because you think its simply not possible. You lack imagination.

Mistakes are incredibly valuable for kids, which is why hands-on science is so important for them

Kids Science Labs offers the most engaging hands-on science program to our families and their guests, available anywhere in the world. We have the best science summer camps in Seattle and Chicago, and offer STEM Labs and Field Trips to hundreds of schools around the country seeking to partner with our team to boost science enrichment and student motivation.

Experimenting at Home When Cooking Can Enable Kids To Accelerate Science Learning

1) BUBBLING RAINBOW  [ This experiment uses an oven, so be safe first!]

Some of our clients ask us for some exciting kitchen experiments that they can do @home, when they are not at Kids Science Labs camps, STEM Labs, hands-on science classes, or parties. Of course, we love to share!

This experiment is a chemical reaction [when 2 things, an acid and a base, come together and create something new(gas)]. You can explore the bubbles with your eyes, your ears, your fingers, and even your nose! What does a chemical reaction even sound like? Chemical reactions can even change the temperature. This one is an endothermic reaction (taking energy from the environment) and you and your scientist can touch and feel how much colder it feels! 

What you’ll need: 

• Baking sheet

• Food coloring

• Baking soda

• Vinegar

The Experiment!: 

1. Cover the bottom of the tray with baking soda

2. Have fun dropping dots of color all over the baking soda

3. Take a lot of vinegar… start a count down… pour the vinegar all over the tray and watch it bubble!!

Now is your time to OBSERVE! What do you see? What does it sound like? What does it remind you of? What is happening to the colors? What color do all the colors make when they are mixed together? What does the pan feel like? What’s the temperature?  (Be sure to let the baking sheet cool off a bit so its safe to touch, as safety coms first!)

*Kids will probably want to do this over and over and over so have a lot of baking soda and vinegar at hand :)