Who is Ready for KinderScience?

KinderScience is offered each Friday (exceptions apply; see Events Calendar for details) at 10am at Pow!Science! The program is offered for pre-K children ages 2.5 to 5, but parents, as the undisputed best judges regarding what their child is capable of, should be the final decision-makers when considering your child's readiness for KinderScience.

Here are some guidelines to consider when deciding whether or not to participate in KinderScience:

•Children should be able to sit, listen and (potentially) talk for periods of up to ten minutes. Most sessions of KinderScience start seated on the rug, with a bit of a demonstration, a story, or other primarily verbal form of readying participants for the activities to come.

•Basic skills such as gripping a spoon, picking up and pouring cups of water or other harmless chemicals (when directed/helped to do so), coloring etc. should be in place as they may be required to complete a given day's activities. That said, we wholeheartedly encourage parental assistance to perform some of these tasks. Which leads us to our final recommendation:


• If your child is on the lower end of the age recommendation for KinderScience, it's important to keep in mind that this is certainly not a "drop and go" or even "drop and watch" type of program. Children may be able to complete the experiments and activities without adult help, but this is not the expectation; rather it is the exception. Come to KinderScience planning to work with your child and have fun with Science!

There is always an instructor present of course, but the true spirit and intention of KinderScience is to facilitate parents and children working together as your little one takes their first steps into the exciting world of science.

Perplexus EPIC is in Stock at Pow!Science!

125 barriers within new Perplexus Epic give you a spectacularly solid challenge. 8.5 inch diameter puzzle maze filled with twists & turns, intricate ins & outs, mind-straining mental stimulus. Guide the metal ball through the 3D maze puzzle. It's a mentally stimulating experience you won''t forget.

Save $2.50 off of the Retail Price when you complete your purchase online!
CLICK TO LEARN MORE OR TO BUY!

Local Customers can select "Pick Up at the Store" during checkout and we'll have your order waiting for you at the Pow!Science! location of your choice!

Pumponator: The Portable Water Balloon Filling Station!

It's BACK: The PUMPONATOR~Portable Water & Air Balloon Pumping Station
Invented by 8 year old Lexi Glenn, the Pumponator makes filling water balloons easy & fun.

Pump up the Pressure, put one of the 500 included balloons on the nozzle and press the release valve.The spigot is small, so no more ripping the balloon trying to fit in onto your sink or hose!

Includes the 2qt Pumponator, 500 Balloons and strings to tie them off.

Available at both Pow!Science! Locations--complete your order online and save $2.00 (limited time offer)!!

Local customers can purchase online and select "Pick up at the Store" during checkout. We'll have your order ready and waiting at the location of your choice!

To learn more or to purchase one,

Science Mad Libs by Pow!Science & our FB Fans!!

The Law we're Lampooning:
Newton's 3rd Law of Motion:

The Elementary Version of the Actual Law:
"For every Action, there is an Equal but Opposite Reaction."

A Better Way to State this Law:
"Forces always occur in pairs. If an object exerts a force on another object,
then the second object exerts a force equal in magnitude but opposite in direction on the first object."

What it Means:
Your butt pushes down on the chair with the same force as the chair pushes up on your butt.

How We Massacred it with our Science Mad Lib!
"For every Platypus, there is a Magnificent but Pungent Shmorgasbord!"

Thanks for playing!

Let It Rip: Beyblade Metal Fusion is In Stock at Pow!Science!

I think of them as particularly well built, balanced and stylish gyroscopes.

Beyblades METAL FUSION battle tops are now in stock at Pow!Science! Combined with a Bey Stadium, this is a perfect birthday gift choice for kids around 7+.

LET IT RIP!

It Gets Worse Paula: STAR WARS Galactic Heroes are now in Stock at Pow!Science!

NOW in STOCK: STAR WARS GALACTIC HEROES Two Figure Action Packs!


Calling all Jedi and Sith Lords, Clone Troopers and Mandalorians...even you Galactic Princesses and Battle Droids out there-- The Star Wars Galactic Heroes figures have arrived in a galaxy near you! Grab your lightsaber, fire up your X-wing engines and join in the excitement! It's time to blast off and get into the hyperdrive fun of Star Wars with the greatest Galactic Heroes!


Get ready for out-of-this-world fun with these collectible, chunky figures in battle-ready poses! Two-packs of figures includes such pairings as:

• Emperor Palpatine & Darth Vader
• Anakin Skywalker & ARF Trooper
• Obi-Wan Kenobi & Darth Maul
• Anakin & STAP
• Anakin & Ahsoka
• Clone Trooper & Super Battle Droid
• Republic Commandos Fixer & Boss
• Count Dooku & Commando Droid
• Padme' Amidala & Security Clone Trooper
• Cad Bane & Aurra Sing
• Mandalorian Warrior & Pre Vizsla
• Obi-Wan Kenobi & Commander Fil

Available NOW at both Pow!Science! Locations!

Awesome New Legos in at Pow!Science: Freeco Speeder & Technic Helicopter

Fresh off the Fedex Truck, two new Lego Sets at Pow!Science!

Star Wars Freeco Speeder
Lego 8085, 177 Pieces

It’s a high-speed battle on the ice for Anakin Skywalker!

On a hunt for a Separatist base during the Clone Wars, Anakin Skywalker™ zooms over the frozen surface of Orto Plutonia in the cockpit of his rugged Freeco Speeder™. But what will the Jedi do when he encounters a chieftain of the fierce and mysterious Talz aliens? Includes Talz chieftain and Anakin Skywalker in special snow gear.
Includes Freeco Speeder, Talz chieftain and Anakin Skywalker Minifigs!

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Technics Rescue Helicopter
Lego 8068, 408 Pieces

Carry out daring aerial rescue missions with this highly realistic rescue helicopter. Turn the gear wheels to spin the main and tail rotors simultaneously, open the doors and lower the winch to make the rescue. Then operate the retractable landing gear when landing. Rebuilds into a medical helicopter. Second Build transforms the helicopter into a Bubble-Cockpit Chopper!!

• Use control knobs to spin main and tail rotors simultaneously!
• Retractable landing gear!
• Functioning winch!
• Opening side doors!
  

Both are available now at Pow!Science! Wakefield and Providence!

Automatic Finger Washer: A Pow!Science! Experiment!

Automatic Finger Washer

Objective: To observe the effects of gravity on two objects of different mass.

Materials:

• 5 Washers
• 1 Paperlclip (we’ve found that large paperclips work best)
• String (about a 2.5 feet long)

Procedure:

1.Stack the washers, thread the string through the hole, and tie them to one end of the

string. Pow!Science! recommends at least a double knot. Maybe triple.

2.Tie the paperclip to the other end of the string.

Parents and kids will most likely have to work together to complete the experiment from this point. Not-so-tall folks may experience better results if they stand on a chair.

3. Standing up and giving yourself some space, point an index finger straight out, parallel to the floor, or even slightly up. Hang the washers over this finger so that they only hang down a few inches from your hand. Hold the paperclip with the other hand so that the rest of the string is also parallel to the floor.

4.Release the paperclip!

What’s Going On?

Gravity pulls the washers down, and the string pulls the paperclip sideways—but gravity also pulls the paperclip down—so its sideways motion is combined with its downward motion!

Think and Talk About This:

Would objects with different weights (on either end of the string make a difference in this experiment? Try it at home and find out!

Family Science Night is a fun, free even held each month at both Pow!Science! Locations. Check the Events Calendar to see when the next FSN is and call to register!

© 2003-2011Pow!Science LLC

The Awesome Cylon Centurion I Built with Citiblocs

Slow Day at the Shop today, so I built a Cylon Centurion out of Citiblocs.

Citiblocs are precision cut New Zealand Pine blocks of wood, all absolutely identical. They are cut in precise ratios, which allow for advanced building techniques that are easy to implement.

I colored the ends of three blocks with a red sharpie for the Cylon's eye effect.
We've been carrying Citiblocs for about 2 years. They are identical to Kapla Blocks, but cost less. I love them, and I play with them whenever I get a chance. Like on slow days at the shop : )

The ZYCLONE is Back in Stock at Pow!Science

The Incredible Flying Ring Shooter is back: The ZYCLONE


If you've attended the Pow!Science! Assembly "Science Asks Why" then you've seen it flying over the heads of excited audiences; and now it's back in stock at both Pow!Science! Locations.

Local Shoppers, did you know you can save time & money by completing your purchase online & selecting " Pick Up At the Store" during checkout? I mean, nobody every does, but you can!!
Shop Now at the Pow!Science! Store!

Hex Bug Nano & Glow in The Dark Nano Now in Stock

Hexbug Nano Micro-robotic Creatures are in stock at Pow!Science!



Mother Nature meets micro-robotics with Hexbug Nanos, Glow in the Dark Nanos, and Hexbug Ants, now all in stock at Pow!Science!

Designed to look and behave like real bugs, Hexbug Nanos & Ants are actually a very cool little robots that use vibration to propel themselves along and explore their environment. They run and skitter in all directions, flipping over and then popping back onto their feet.


There s no telling what Hexbugs will do next! Real fun with an opportunity to learn about the science of robotics. Let your Nano run free or build a special Nano habitat (sold separately) with a whole family of Nanos. Visit the Hexbug website to register and track your Nano, play games with other collectors, download photos and learn more about robotic science.

Nanos measure approx. 1+" long, with batteries included. Ants are approximately 3 inches long.

Batteries are even included!

Warning: Choking hazard small parts. Not for children under 3 years.

Pow!Science! has two locations in Rhode Island: the Wakefield Mall in Wakefield and Wayland Square on the East Side of Providence. Click for directions!

New Arrivals at Pow!Science!

Here are 5 New, exciting Toys & Games that arrived this week at Pow!Science in our Wakefield & Providence RI locations: Local Customers can save time & money by completing your purchase online--we'll have your selections waiting for you at the location of your choice!


Citiblocs are back in stock! Incredibly versatile precision cut pine blocks. There is no wrong way to build with Citiblocs. Includes building ideas, but no step-by-step instructions; just grab a handful and start building! 50, 100, 200 and 300 piece sets.







Go Go's Crazy Bones, Series Two Evolution: the craze continues! 80 characters to collect & trade, 7 games to play (visit the Crazy Bones Website for rules!)





Katamino: Beautifully made, all wooden brain teaser game that also includes rules for a 2 and 3 player game. With an amazing number of challenge levels, Katamino will enthrall puzzle fans from young to not at all young.



The Young Scientists Club Magic School Bus Chemistry Set-Wow!! Dozens of Chemistry experiments for young scientists (ages 5+); the School Bus shaped storage case comes loaded with equipment & accessories. Fasten your seatbelts--time to Experiment!






Blast Pad Junior: A backyard staple, this rough & tough rocket launcher is great for blasting the included "foamy" rockets 30 feet into the air!

Cool Paper Cutting Experiment from Pow!Science!

Paper Chain-A Physical Change

Purpose: To observe a physical change

Materials:
•Lined notebook paper (not loose leaf-it can’t have holes in it)
•Scissors

Procedure:
1) Fold the paper in half lengthwise, perpendicular to the lines as shown in
picture 1 below.
2) Look at picture 2 and find the points labeled A and B on your paper. Cut
across the folds at points A and B as shown. Be sure to stop cutting
about a quarter of an inch away from the open edge!
3) Alternating between the open edge and the folded edge, cut along every
other printed line on the paper. Make sure to stop cutting a quarter inch
from the edge each time.
4) Make your final cut as in picture 3, cutting along the folded edge, but
leaving the folds uncut at points A and B as shown.
5) Carefully stretch the paper open.

What’s going on?
You’ve simply changed the shape of the paper in a clever way. It’s still paper,
though, isn’t it?

Think and talk about this!
Physical changes don’t produce a new substance. Chemical changes do. How
could you chemically change the paper?

1.






2.

3.

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There's always something going on at Pow!Science! Check the Events Calendar at www.powscience.com/events!

Last Minute Easter Basket Goodies at Pow!Science

Our top 5 Easter Basket Goodies for last-minute Baskets!




5. Silly Putty in the Original Egg Packaging-It's Egg Shaped, and still the coolest. Kids must be taught the dying tradition of transferring the funny papers onto Silly Putty!



4. Iwako Japanese Erasers-an oddball collection of 3D puzzles that also happen to be serviceable erasers! An incredible variety of sculpts.




3. Wild Republics Authentic Birdsong Plush Birds-soft, beautiful authentic plush birds that will sing when gently squeezed.




2. Go Go's Crazy Bones-85 Collectible Characters, 7 Games to play with them! Crazy Bones come three per packet & are fun to collect, play & trade.





1. Lego Mini-Figs, Series 4-16 Different Collectible Lego Mini Figures are phenomenally popular!

I Hear a Hangar~Try this Fun Experiment from Pow!Science!

I Hear a Hangar

Objective: To observe (with your ears) the difference in sound transmission in air
and in a solid object (like your head).

Materials:
Metal Hangar
Two pieces of string (about 18 inches or so—longer is better than shorter)

Procedure:
1. Tie the strings to each “corner” of the hanger, as shown.
2. Carefully wind each of the strings tied to the hangar around each of your
index fingers. The hangar should be hanging from your fingers so that you
can swing the hanger into a chair or table (If you’re standing with elbows
bent at 90 degrees, the hangar should be hanging at waist or knee level).
3. Gently swing the hangar into a chair or table, and listen to the sound it
makes.
4. Next, put your index fingers in your ears, and repeat step 3. Does it sound
different?

What’s Going On?
Sound is a form of mechanical energy, and travels in waves. Waves of sound,
however, must travel through something in order to be heard (sound cannot travel through a vacuum). Sound travels
much better through a solid (like your head) then it does through a gas (like the
air).
Think and Talk About This:
Do you think changing what the hangar is made of will change the result? Try it
with a plastic or wooden hangar.

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Family Science Nights are fun, free and are held every month at both Pow!Science! Locations. Bookmark the Events Calendar to find out what's going on!

Vote for Pow!Science! and help us win a 'Love a Local Business' Grant, which will fund school programs in RI!






©Pow!Science! 2010

An Egg-Cellent Eggs-periment from Pow!Science!

An Egg-cellent Eggs-periment

Objective: To make an egg float in water and explore the concept of density

Materials: Beaker or other container (a cup works just fine) Water Salt Egg Spoon

Procedure:
1) Fill the beaker with 250 ml of water (fill your cup about 3/4).

2) PREDICT: What will happen when you carefully drop the egg into the water? Will it sink or float?

3) Carefully drop the egg into the water. What happens? Was your prediction correct?

4) Remove the egg. Add 2 spoons of salt to the beaker.

5) GENTLY stir with the regular spoon to help dissolve the salt. Gently replace the egg.

Does the egg float? If yes, congratulations! If no, repeat steps 4 & 5 until the egg floats.

What’s Going On? As the salt dissolves in the water, the water’s density increases. At first, the egg is more dense than the water, so the egg sinks. Adding salt makes the water more and more dense. When the water finally becomes more dense than the egg, the egg floats!

Think and Talk About This!
•What other substances could you dissolve in water to increase its density and float the egg? Get mom or dad’s permission and try it out!
•Do brown eggs have a different density than white eggs? Design and perform an experiment to find out!

There's always something going on at Pow!Science!
Check out the Events Calendar at www.powscience.com/events

Crazy Bones, Bilibo and LOTS of New Arrivals for April 1st 2011

LOTS of new Toys on the Shelves this week:

•Crazy Bones: 85 Series 1 Characters to Collect, with 7 ways to play.

•Kid-O Bilibo: Rock, spin, scoop, wear, pretend and pretty much anything else with the Swiss Designed Bilibo

•Star Wars Light Sabers: Basic, Electronic & the General Grievous Customizable Saber!

•Perplexus-The "Analog Video Game" is back! Highly Addictive Game-play!

•Hoberman Spheres: The amazing, expanding sphere designed by Inventor Chuck Hoberman

 Plus: 

LOTS of Spring Time Gardening & BUG kits, Lego NXT 2.0 is BACK in stock and lots more--stop in soon to check out what's new!

New Arrivals this week at Pow!Science!

New arrivals at our Wakefield & Providence locations the week of 3/21!

GAMES! We've got more than ever, including classics such as:

• Risk
• Sorry!
• Sorry Sliders
• Scrabble
• Monopoly
• Oujia
• Candyland
• Chutes & Ladders

+ "esoterics" like SET, Spot It & Dr. Seuss!

Spotlight this week has to go to Ji Ga Zo--the 300 Piece Puzzle from Hasbro which, along with the included software, shows you how to make a photographic puzzle of yourself (or anyone else) with the pieces that are already in the box. It works over and over, with any picture you choose. Amazing, and a little bit creepy!

Stop in to check out these and hundreds of other hand-picked toys & games at either Pow!Science! Location:

Wakefield: (401) 788-1024
Providence: (401) 432-7040

Pow!Towers Program Makes the Front Page in East Greenwich!

The East Greenwich Pendulum put Pow!Science's "Pow!Towers" Program on the front page of their March 3rd Issue. THANK YOU to the East Greenwich Recreation Office for putting together this wonderful program!

If you'd like information about engaging your students, scouts or other School age group of kids with Hands-ON programs like Pow!Towers, click here to read about Pow!Science's wide array of outreach Science Enrichment Programs!

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"Pow Towers" uses the simple but sophisticated Straws & Connectors Construction Toy to challenge students' imaginations, and engage them in team-building, design and implementation of ideas!

Click HERE to learn about our Straws & Connectors Photo Contest, running March-April 2011!

Advanced Dot to Dot (110 dots!) Free Download from Pow!Science!

Got a Dot-to-Dot fan? ARE a Dot-to-Dot fan? Here's a super-cool 110 dot picture in .pdf format. Download, reproduce, have fun! Make sure to read the instructions first, because this is Dot-to-Dot with a bit of a twist. Have fun! Click HERE to Download.

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Birthday Parties at Pow!Science! ROCK! 8 Themes including Chemistry, Volcanoes, LEGOs and more!

Forced Perspective Taken to Extremes at Pow!Science!

Here's the classic Dragon Illusion captured on video on the front counter at Pow!Science! Providence and looking as creepy as ever.

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Download the 244K .pdf for yourself at Grand Illusion!

Closing in on 500 Fans

Way back in November, we started a contest to reach 500 Fans (now of course, "likes") on our Facebook Page (www.facebook.com/powscience). Now we're actually getting close (about 480 as of this writing), so it's time to reboot the contest!

When we hit 500 Fans, we'll be giving away 3 prizes:
3rd Place~Pow!Science T-Shirt!
2nd Place~ Pow!Science Gift Card
1st Place~A Super Cool LEGO Set!

If you're already a fan, you're entered, but the winning doesn't start until we hit 500, so "share" us, suggest us, and help us get to the 500 Fan Mark! Let the winning begin!

The Ultimate Valentine's Heart from Pow!Science! to you.

Pow!Science! says...if you're going to give your Valentine a heart, it may as well be authentic!

The EduSci Human Heart Model is perfect for that very special nerd in your life.

Happy Valentine's Day.

Family Science Nights are held every month at Pow!Science in both our Wakefield and Providence Locations. Check our Online Events Calendar to learn more and to find out about everything coming up at Pow!Science!

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Cackling, Crowing Cup!

Objective: To amplify sound waves using very simple equipment.

Materials:
Paper Cup
Push Pin
String
Paper clip
Water
Paper Towel

Procedure:
1. Use the push pin to poke a hole in the bottom of the cup. Make the hole
big enough to thread the string through the hole.
2. Thread the string through the cup. Tie the paperclip to the end of the string
on the outside of the cup, so that when you pull the string through, the
paper clip will be on the bottom of the cup.
3. Fold your paper towel so that it’s a rectangle about 2 inches by 1 inch
(very approximate is fine).
4. Wet the paper towel with water and squeeze most of the moisture out.

Now for the tricky part:
5. Hold the cup upside down in one hand, with the string dangling down
towards the floor. Hold the damp paper towel in the other hand.
6. Firmly grasp the string with the damp paper towel. Jerk the paper towel
down the string, so that the paper towel slips along the string. If no sound
is produced, dampen the paper towel a bit more and try again. With
practice, you’ll get that string howling!

What’s Going On?
What we’re doing here is amplifying sound—producing the sound the string
would make anyway, but making it louder. All sound comes from vibration. Here,
the string is vibrating, and that gets the air inside the cup vibrating. The shape of
the cup helps to amplify the sound. HONK!

Think and Talk About This:
Different materials can do a better job of amplifying sound waves. What do you
think would happen if you tried this experiment at home with a tin can instead of
a paper cup? Try it with Mom/Dad’s help!

www.powscience.com

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DIY Inchworm Robot!

Recycling? How about upcycling a nifty little DIY Inchworm 'Bot from a comb, ruler and a couple of other readily available items?

Kudos to the folks at unpluggd & Rob from Windswept Kites!

Steampunk Science Posters & Postcards

These are awesome! Original Works by Megan Lee Katauskas at etsy.