Search Results for: science

April 12

Making science fun with paper roller coasters

Paper Roller Coaster by Andrew Gatt

My grade school days are so far behind me, I remember very little about any sort of science experiments. I vaguely recall something about adding food coloring to water to turn white carnations different colors. BOR-ING. If I had Andrew Gatt for a teacher, I think I would have some pretty epic science memories.

As the lower school science specialist as a school in Raleigh, North Carolina, Andrew started building paper roller coasters in the late 90s as an activity in his 5th grade classroom. He continued refining his designs over the years, and started making presentations of his designs at teacher conventions and eventually started selling the templates and directions.  These days, he teaches science to 7th and 8th graders and uses the templates with his 7th graders each fall. The templates are available on his website.

Homeschoolers and science aficionados rejoice! Andrew offers three lesson plans to use with the paper roller coasters, which are available for free download on his website, PaperRollerCoasters.com. “The lesson plans show how paper roller coasters can be used to teach about speed, acceleration, potential energy, and kinetic energy,” says Andrew. “It’s also a great structural engineering lesson in which students have to build a sturdy structure that will hold up the tracks.”

See videos of paper roller coasters in action on Andrew’s YouTube channel!

Up to the challenge of building your own coaster? We’d love to hear about your efforts and results – feel free to share a link to your creation in the comments below! Go forth now and SCIENCE!

Links of Interest:
Andrew’s site, PaperRollerCoasters.com
More science crafts on GeekCrafts
Science category on GeekCrafts
Category: Craft, Gadgets, Geek, Science, Toys | 1 Comment on Making science fun with paper roller coasters
March 29

Warmth for Science Geeks

I know a number of our American readers are unreasonably warm and toasty in some kind of freakish heatwave, but those of us in the Frigid North (and, one presumes, also in some parts of the southern hemisphere) still have over a foot of snow to deal with. So forgive me, oh sufferers of 80+ degree temperatures, for sharing this awesome thing I found! (Consider it a possibility for very early start on making a Christmas list?)

These scarves, made by Becky Stern (homepage, Etsy) display elemental emission spectra. Silicon, uranium, and mercury are currently in stock, but you can also get a custom one of any other element you like, with some delay and possibly a little extra cost. (I found this applet linked from the Wikipedia page, if you want to choose an element that appeals to you. I definitely want Cobalt, no question.)

Category: Craft, Geek, Science | Comments Off on Warmth for Science Geeks
February 7

Tutorial Tuesday: Aperture Science Office Bonanza!

This picture does not do this epic project any justice!

The Internet better be all over this soon! Hear that Pinterest?! I want to see Aperture Labs living rooms, kitchens and nurseries before Easter!

Telnets.org give you a whole bucket of tutorials to get you started on your Portal office project:

via Sprite Stitch

Category: Craft, Sci-Fi, Video Games | Comments Off on Tutorial Tuesday: Aperture Science Office Bonanza!
January 24

Surlyramics; Scents n’ Science

I stayed up last night going through the Geekcraft archives. 224 pages, lots of coffee and a hugely increased level of nerd on my Pinterest later, and I am in shock (okay, there is a small chance it’s actually a caffeine overdose). There is no Surly Amy on Geekcraft.

This is a tragedy, and one I intend to rectify right now.

Surly-ramics started off with our gal Amy making necklaces for herself that proved to be so popular with her friends and colleagues that they would buy them right off her neck. She set up an Etsy store selling her jewellery, enlisted hubby Surly-Johnny for help crafting, and expanded her range to also include bangles, earrings and cuff-links.

Amy is a blogger over at the Mad Art Lab ran by Skepchic, so it’s to be expected that she finds inspiration in science and nature; you’ll find her shop packed with maths humour, scientific symbols and even the occasional Tardis for you Whovians. Her latest range is ‘Surly Scents’ – to which you can add drops of the essential oils that come with your purchase (or your own perfume if you prefer). When you wear them, your body heat warms the ceramic so that the smell dissipates around you.

Surly-Ramics donates to a number of animal charities, so if you purchase from them you get to feel beautiful on the inside as well as looking beautifully accessorised on the outside. Double whammy!

Now what are you hanging around here for? Go check out the amazingness:

Category: Craft, Geek, Girly, Science | Comments Off on Surlyramics; Scents n’ Science
July 29

Aperture Science Space Core Cake

Aperture Science Space Core CakeYeah, you read that right.  I couldn’t believe my eyes when I saw this cake based on the personality cores from Portal 2.  I thought I had made some sort of mistake, but check out this picture of the cake being cut.  I could never be a baker, because if I made a cake this awesome and someone tried to cut into it I don’t know what I would do.  Certainly we would be in the newspaper the next day.

The cake was made by the talent over at Mike’s Amazing Cakes in Redmond, WA.  I have attempted to make a cake in the past, and failed horribly, so I can’t even imagine the kind of work that would go into something like this.

For more pictures of this beauty, check out sharkhats flickr set.

Check out more awesome cakes on Geekcrafts!

Category: Craft, Geek, Sci-Fi, Video Games | 1 Comment on Aperture Science Space Core Cake