We know from our play dough circuits that the circuit needs to be complete for electricity to flow, but we usually want to be able to control whether electricity flows or not. This can be done using a simple switch. How to make a simple switch The basic circuit below has a switch made using…
We’ve been doing a lot of space themed activities recently focussing on the many famous scientists who changed people’s perception of the Universe. In the 1600s many people thought that the Earth was at the centre of the Universe, until Copernicus used mathematical models to prove that the Earth actually orbits the Sun. We’ve used…
These squishy bags are a great, mess free way to experiment with mixing colours and colour theory. After we’d finished experimenting by making different colours we put a sheet of cardstock inside each paint filled bag, sealed the bag again and used them to practice forming letters and numbers with our fingers. Here at Science…
Did you know you can make a circle from a square by folding and making a couple of tiny cuts? Once you’ve got the hang of the process try it again using bigger and smaller squares. Materials Square sheet of paper Scissors Instructions First fold your sheet of square paper in half and then…
Caroline Herschel was a pioneer of her time, she was the first woman to discover a comet, the first woman officially recognised in a scientific position and to receive a salary and the first woman to receive honorary membership into Britain’s Royal Society. Caroline Herschel made a huge contributions to the field of astronomy in…
Did you know Science Sparks now has a book as well as hundreds of activity ideas here on the website? You can download a sample activity from the book by clicking the image below. It includes complete instructions and extra Maths and English ideas too. Download a sample activity To give you an idea of the…
Charles Darwin is most famous for his work on Natural Selection, the evidence for which came from his voyage on the HMS Beagle observing and collecting fossils, birds and whatever else he could find. What is Natural Selection? The theory behind Natural Selection is that characteristics more suited to an environment are more like to…
When Kerry and I first created Science Sparks our dream was to inspire more children to discover a passion for science with the hope that if we could spark an interest early that passion and curiosity would continue into secondary school. As a woman I know that some STEM careers can feel more daunting or…
We were recently sent the wonderful Bright Creatures Kit from Technology Will Save Us. After exploring the possibilities using the app included we set about making our own creations. Our current favourite is these flashing reindeers. How to make flashing reindeer noses You’ll need LED Light Helper and Bright Creatures Kit Brown, black, white and…
People often ask me for STEM ideas for Children’s birthday and Christmas gifts and the kit I always recommend first is the Electro-Dough kit from Technology Will Save Us. It’s easy to use, a great price and provides endless creative learning opportunities. Two years ago I helped my daughter’s infant school get a grant for…
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