Green Science Experiments Kits
Recycle Simple Items into Science Projects
December 01, 2008
Snap-Together LaQ Building Set
Ok, don't tell my kids, but I'm getting these for them. To be honest, I can't wait to play with these neat construction toys myself.
November 30, 2008
They Glow!
These look really cool. Nice alternatives for night-time mood lighting. And they charge on sunlight, during the day!
I'm curious to see how the Glow Brick looks with low ambient light.
Not Your Mama's Monopoly
Here are some variations on the traditional Monopoly game. Collect carbon credits, instead of cash, when you play Earthopoly. Match free-market against monopolists in the Anti-Monopoly game.
November 29, 2008
Globe Puzzles
I love jigsaw puzzles, and these globe puzzles look like a nice challenge. The night sky puzzle globe glows in the dark.
Check out this solar system puzzle kit! By itself, it should be a lot of fun to puzzle together!
Super Scrabble!
Bigger board! More pieces! What more could a scrabble lover want?
November 24, 2008
Flash 10!
We use Flash extensively at GalaxyGoo.
October 05, 2007
Planet Earth
A visual odyssey that will change the way we see our planet, this remarkable book, companion to the acclaimed Discovery Channel/ BBC series, is an enduring and awe-inspiring record of one of the most ambitious natural history projects ever undertaken. Using the latest aerial surveillance, state-of-the-art cameras, and high definition technology, the creators of Planet Earth have assembled more than 400 stunning photographs from around the globe.
Planet Earth: As You've Never Seen It Before Book (Hardcover)
September 16, 2007
Tasty Palette
January 28, 2007
One Grain Of Rice
One Grain of Rice: A Mathematical Folktale, by Demi, is a beautifully illustrated book that demonstrates a simple mathematical concept. Is it a fairy tale, or a math lesson? I'd say it's both.
December 27, 2006
Family Math
In the introduction, the authors say that teachers were asking for resources they could give to parents "to use at home to help their children in mathematics. They told us that parent were frustrated in not knowing enough about their children's math program to help them or in not understanding the mathematics their children were studying". With a grant from the Fund for the Improvement of Postsecondary Education, the authors developed the activities in Family Math.
The activities are hands-on, with objects like blocks and beans. As the authors say "traditionally, these materials are used mostly in the early elementary years and paper-and-pencil mathematics becomes the rule after second or third grade. This is unfortunate, since much of mathematics can best be explained and understood using the tools of manipulative materials and models; and, in fact, many research and applied mathematicians do just that."
Also in the series:
Family Math
Family Math for Young Children: Comparing
Family Math - The Middle School Years: Algebraic Reasoning and Number Sense
Useful Mathematical and Physical Formulae
Useful Mathematical and Physical Formulae is a handy little book, with quirky and fun illustrations. The author, Matthew Watkins, was kind enough to donate a signed copy to Art Intersect Science a couple years ago.
The Discoveries: Great Breakthroughs in 20th Century Science
The Discoveries: Great Breakthroughs in 20th Century Science includes the original scientific papers. This is a fantastic book! Alan Lightman paints the context for each discovery, before presenting the original paper.
December 09, 2006
Astroscan Telescope from Edmund Scientific
This is a great starting telescope, and has a very comfortable-round shape. Astroscan Telescope is a high-performance telescope that is easy-to-use, maintenance-free and completely portable.
A long time ago, there was a great store in Noe Valley called "Star Magic". It had all kinds of cool stuff in it, most of it to do with space and science (but not all). That's where I bought an Astroscan telescope as a gift for my husband and eventually discovered Edmund Scientifics. Years later, GalaxyGoo became an Edmund Scientifics affiliate, and we're now linking to one of their products: the Astroscan telescope. Funny how life travels these little circles and spirals.
December 02, 2006
Radio Receiver & Morse Code Kits
Up for a little time travel? Let's way go back to days of morse-code and the early "wireless". I haven't tried these kits yet, but they look very interesting: Radio Receiver and Morse Code Kit
The product description says that they're best for ages 10 and up. However, they also say, with adult supervision, they're good for ages 3 and up. Cool! Sounds like a family activity to me!
Shape Scapes Sculpture Set
Shape Scapes Sculpture Set pieces have curvey shapes. Not your average construction set. While supposedly a kid's toy, it's also a nice desk toy.
Color Splash Camera
The Color Splash Camera looks like a lot of fun. Retro and techy, at the same time.
Staple-Less Stapler
Cool little stocking-stuffer: Staple-Less Stapler
Robot Lamps
These Robot Lamps are great! It's very cool that they've designed a version in "girly" colors too. It's sad that so many girls don't get to have robot toys, just because they don't come in pink. Well, now they can!
Recycled Glass Tumblers and Platters
Glass is an amazing substance. Even though it seems like a solid, glass is really a liquid! It's also very well suited for recycling. These beautiful bottle platters and fish tumblers
are made from recycled bottles. Cool beans!
Pop Art Plates
These Pop Art Plates make me think "Abstract Art meets Biology". The colors are vibrant, and the patterns look wonderfully organic. Just beautiful!
Molecular & DNA Jewelry
This jewelry is based on molecular forms: DNA, Serotonin, and Dopamine
.
Lego: Imperial Star Destroyer
This is on the wishlist of more than one member of my family. What can I say? We like Star Wars and Legos.
Gift Certificates!
Gift certificates are great! Especially as gifts for kids' teachers!
Science & Tech:
Edmund Scientifics Gift Certificates
For the kitchen:
Sur La Table Gift Certificates
The Perfect Gift - A CHEFS Catalog Gift Card
Family:
Leaps & Bounds Gift Certificates
December 01, 2006
DNA Model Kit
I haven't tried this kit, but it looks pretty straightforward and easy to build...with styrofoam balls as phospate groups and sugars.
FloraCraft Fun Learning DNA Kit DNA model kit
November 28, 2006
Bead Snowflakes Kit
Planets in a Pouch
Crystal Formation Domes
This is a really cool alternative to a snow globe. The crystals continually dissolve and reform, and you can direct their growth by positioning it upside-down, sideways, and more.
November 26, 2006
New Designs: fossils on dark shirts
We've added new designs, and long-sleeved shirts, to our CafePress shop. My favorite is the blue deinonychus fossils on brown for women, and on navy for men.
November 22, 2006
Hot Sauce Kit
In college, I lived in Albuquerque, New Mexico. While there, I learned to appreciate a fine hot sauce...and the difference between red and green chili. I also learned that I prefer flavor intensity over hotness. That's probably why this Build your own Hot Sauce kit caught my attention.
November 12, 2006
Multi-Colored Glass Galileo Thermometer
Galileo discovered that as temperatures vary, a liquid's density also varies. The colored spheres in this column of clear liquid change positions with fluctuations in temperature. Much more interesting than your average thermometer.
November 11, 2006
Hand Boilers
Hand Boilers are looped and twisted glass sculptures containing a colored liquid that will "boil" as heat is transferred from your bare hand. Very cool!
Nebula Plasma Ball
Nebula Plasma Ball - Creates an amazing light show - and responds to touch on the glass sphere.
Logic Links
Logic Links are great sequencing puzzles, and they come with colored chips to help visually organize thinking.
Mastermind
When I was a kid, I just couldn't get enough of Mastermind. I never got tired of it. The combination of logic and guessing was too much for me to resist.
One Night in the Coral Sea
Robin Brickman steals the show with her illustrations of One Night in the Coral Sea. She creates intricate textures and forms with paper cutting, paint, and glue. Just stunning!
Tufte and Visualization
Edward Tufte is famous for his self-published books on visual communication and information design.
His titles include
November 01, 2006
Periodic Table Shower Curtain!
It's elemental...a shower curtain with the periodic table of elements!
Circuitboard Coasters
Cool coasters made from circuit boards! You don't have to be a geek to appreciate the beautiful patterns on a circuit board.
Giant Plush Microbes!
Phyllis pointed out these ultra-geeky plush toys. Who could resist them?
To keep away the real bugs, be sure to wash your hands frequently. ThinkGeek has a fun soap dispenser too!
October 31, 2006
Chocolate Chemistry T-Shirt
This design is based on our click-n-spell with the elements game. Chocolate is spelled out with symbols from the periodic table of elements.
October 30, 2006
Carnivorous Plants Kit
With this kit, you can grow your own venus fly trap...from seeds! The kit contains seeds for other carnivorous plants, and a little terrarium to grow them in.
LEGO Mindstorms Robotics Invention System 2.0
Lego Mindstorms! This is at the very top of my 7-year-old's wish list. To be honest, I can't wait to play with it too!
LEGO Mindstorms Robotics Invention System 2.0October 14, 2006
Kitchen Science & Cookbooks
Two great books for any foody, especially the scientifically inclined foody:
What Einstein Told His Cook: Kitchen Science Explained Written by Chemistry professor (and food columnist) Robert L. Wolke.
CookWise If you're a fan of Alton Brown, you've seen Shirley O. Corriher answering those tricky food science questions. Her cookbook is a must have!October 01, 2006
Plesiosaur T-shirt
Plesiosaurs aren't actually dinosaurs; they lived in the Jurassic seas. Mary Anning, discovered the first complete plesiosaur fossil in the early 1820s.
I designed this specially for my daughter, who dressed up as Mary Anning for halloween one year.
Deinonychus T-shirts
These Deinonychus fossils look like they're chasing each other around in a circle. Ah, the beauty of geometry and radial symmetry!
Stegosaurus T-shirt
Stegosaurus was one of my favorite dinosaurs, as a kid. So I had to include one in our new line of Dinosaur t-shirts.
September 26, 2006
Coffee Cards
I love Peet's coffee, and I just had to order a sampler...to test out the affiliate system. I'm loving the coffee! There's a Peet's over the hill from me, so paying for shipping is wasteful. But I still want to benefit GalaxyGoo. Happily, Peet's has a Card program, so I can just buy a reloadable card and benefit GalaxyGoo with my local purchase.
Are you lucky enough to have a Peet's nearby? Order, or reload, your own Peet's card through our affiliate link:
September 06, 2006
Lava Lamps
I love my lava lamp! I can't imagine my office without it. This updated version has a metallic sheen to them, with the original hypnotic-organic-blobby movement.
