Lab for Kids

Professor Figgy's Weather and Climate Science Lab for Kids provides invaluable weekly projects and experiences, both inside and outside the home, to explore the fascinating, ever-changing, and universal subject of the weather. As champion of educational fun Jim Noonan (aka Professor Figgy) guides you through the topics of weather and climate through fun and easy activities, he also teaches the importance of affecting change in the world, through the lens of our climate's uncertain future. With a foreword by DIY trailblazer Martha Stewart, this comprehensive, hands-on weather and climate learning resource collects captivating activities covering subjects such as: • The Atmosphere • Sun & Clouds • Wind & Rain • Severe Weather • Pollution & Climate Change Each experiment includes: • Easy-to-find Tools & Materials • Safety Tips & Tricks • Step-by-step How-To Instructions • The Science Behind the Fun • And, a bit of a trivia-featuring people of interest, historical events, and facts and figures that ground the ideas in the real world and diversify the learning experience The popular Lab for Kids series features a growing list of books that share hands-on activities and projects on a wide host of topics, including art, astronomy, clay, geology, math, and even how to create your own circus-all authored by established experts in their fields. Each lab contains a complete materials list, clear step-by-step photographs of the process, as well as finished samples. The labs can be used as singular projects or as part of a yearlong curriculum of experiential learning. The activities are open-ended, designed to be explored over and over, often with different results. Geared toward being taught or guided by adults, they are enriching for a range of ages and skill levels. Gain firsthand knowledge on your favorite topic with Lab for Kids.

Prepare to cozy up with spiders, centipedes, butterflies, and bees, to name just a few! In Bug Lab for Kids, Mississippi State University associate professor, extension entomologist (bug expert), and educator John W. Guyton shares his knowledge and excitement about all things beautiful, creepy, and crawly. Every chapter is bursting with photos, illustrations, fascinating facts and fun activities--including experiments, hunt-and-catch and citizen science assignments, and arts and crafts projects--that teach kids about bugs' physical characteristics, behavior, and how they affect agriculture, health, and water quality. Bug Lab for Kids also includes helpful sidebars that explain how to safely handle common insects, and how to easily identify bugs that shouldn't be held, pet, or touched. Get kids excited about science and the outdoors with Bug Lab for Kids!

Introduce your children to the wonders of the galaxy in a fun, hands on way! It can be hard to explain and understand what lies beyond what you see in the beautiful night sky. Astronomy Lab for Kids teaches children the basics of outer space in 52 lessons that can be done with everyday items from around your house. Mini astronomers will learn about things such as the size and scale of planets using sandwich cookies and tennis balls, how to measure the speed of light with a flat candy bar and a microwave, how to make a simple telescope with magnifying glasses, and so much more! Children of all ages and experience levels can be guided by adults and will enjoy these engaging exercises.

“Playful Learning Lab for Kids” is a hands-on activity book that offers games and activities that revolve around the senses and concepts in reading, math, art, and science. Recent research has shown that children learn and develop new skills more quickly when they engage in playful, whole-body activities. Movement allows them to refocus their attention, improves brain function, reduces stress, and improves circulation. Not only that, but the more senses that are used for learning, the more likely information is to be stored and retrieved. The activities in “Playful Learning Lab for Kids” explore concepts in reading, language, math, art, music, science, geography, and social studies, all while engaging children with movements, touch, sound, and sight. Most distinguishing of all, the activities and lessons here include suggestions for tailoring the experience to different levels, making it a book children can grow with. The skills range from visual perceptual skills and spatial awareness, to early geometry concepts, visual motor integration, and fine motor skills. Authors Claire Heffron and Lauren Drobnjak, pediatric occupational and physical therapists with years of experience in clinical and school-based settings, share their best tips and strategies for helping little learners reach their fullest potential through these engaging and fun activities.

“Animal Exploration Lab for Kids” is every young zoologist's go-to guide to the wonderful world of animals. This hands-on, interactive, family-friendly animal reference guide features fun activities designed to enhance your understanding of, and love for, the animal kingdom as you: • Explore the techniques that researchers use to study animals • Investigate the adaptations and behaviors that make animals so unique • Study how animals sense and respond to the world around them • Discover new ways to support and conserve your amazing animal neighbors Practical experiments inspire observations of nature and the animals that surround us. For example, in Unit 1 you'll use a trail camera to document animals around your home and in Unit 2, you'll examine the usefulness of blubber in keeping polar animals warm. With this book you'll not just learn about animal forms, functions, and behaviors, but also how to respect and care for them. Each lab in the book is designed to help you build new knowledge and skills around animal science and are broken into the following sections: • Safety Tips & Helpful Hints provides additional guidelines and insights for successfully conducting each lab. • Procedure provides details about the individual steps in each lab so you'll know just what to do. • Creative Enrichment helps you think about how to take your experiment even further. • The Science Behind the Fun provides a simple description of the science that supports the lab and other background information. With “Animal Exploration Lab for Kids”, you don't have to take a trip to the zoo to start learning about the animal kingdom.

Jewelry Lab uses brevity to ignite a passion for working the metals processes and learning about all the ways metal can be used. It provides aspiring metalsmiths and jewelry makers a way to learn fundamental techniques that is quick and fun. In addition to the basic skills such as sawing, drilling, soldering, and finishing, the book covers texturing, etching, rolling, coloring, patinas, forming, connections, findings, solders, bezels, rivets, and other experimental techniques.This is not a project book; rather, it is an approachable, unintimidating workbook that breaks metals processes down into very specific experiments, such as texturing or plastic deformation of metal, with no goal in mind other than to experience how metal moves. Readers learn to understand more about metal, how to master it, and gain a deep, thoughtful underlying appreciation for process and method, becoming entranced with finely crafting objects with great care.

Art Lab for Kids: Express Yourself contains 52 brand new original art projects that will draw out each young artist as they discover their style, document their thoughts, and build confidence in their unique perspective. Each lesson asks questions and offers personal choices while encouraging diverse approaches and creative thinking. One of the most important gifts we can give children is to nurture their creativity and allow them to express themselves freely. There's no better way to express yourself than through creative art projects. This is especially true for children because it gives them an outlet to explore their developing interests and strengths. The Colorful Beasts project, which incorporates discussion of endangered animals with the Blue Rider art movement, asks children to use torn colored tissue paper and glue to create an expressive representation of a favorite vulnerable animal. In I Built This City, children imagine and build their own cityscape using columns of newspaper text to make buildings on top of a watercolor painted background, and detailed with marker. Many projects include varying examples and executions of the activity to illustrate and reinforce the open-ended nature of the labs, inspiring children to embrace and share their own voice. Give children the great gift of creative self-exploration with Art Lab for Kids: Express Yourself. The popular Lab for Kids series features a growing list of books that share hands-on activities and projects on a wide host of topics, including art, astronomy, clay, geology, math, and even how to create your own circus-all authored by established experts in their fields. Each lab contains a complete materials list, clear step-by-step photographs of the process, as well as finished samples. The labs can be used as singular projects or as part of a yearlong curriculum of experiential learning. The activities are open-ended, designed to be explored over and over, often with different results. Geared toward being taught or guided by adults, they are enriching for a range of ages and skill levels. Gain firsthand knowledge on your favorite topic with Lab for Kids.

Developed for the younger set (4-6 year olds) and targeting one of the most critical developmental periods for children, Art Lab for Little Kids is the perfect book for both parents and teachers who are seeking enriching and unique experiences to offer this age group. As in Susan Schwakes first book, Art Lab for Kids, the Labs can be used as singular projects, or used to build up to a year of hands-on fine art experiences. Each Lab also features the work of a prominent artist for inspiration. The book begins with an introduction on materials and setting up a space for making art. The lessons that follow are open-ended to be explored over and over with different results each time. They are geared for children being taught or guided by adults and are successful on all levels of experience and age. They do not result in cookie cutter end products, but are a method of learning something new each time they are used.This motivational book stands out as a unique reference for creating fine art with children through finding the students own voice, marks and style and with playful lessons that result in significant skill building. Gorgeous photography shows different results from different people using the same lesson, exemplifying the way the lesson brings out each artists personal style. Art Lab for Little Kids is a fresh source of creative activities for families and community groups or will work as lesson plans for both experienced and new art teachers in home school, preschool, and kindergarten environments.

Travel through the exciting world of cartography with “Map Art Lab”. This fun and creative book features 52 map-related activities set into weekly exercises, beginning with legends and lines, moving through types and styles, and then creating personalized maps that allow you to journey to new worlds. Authors Jill K. Berry and Linden McNeilly guide readers through useful concepts while exploring colorful, eye-catching graphics. The labs can be used as singular projects or to build up to a year of hands-on creative experiences. “Map Art Lab” is the perfect book for map lovers, creative/DIY-inspired, designers. Artists of all ages and experience levels can use this book to explore enjoyable and engaging exercises. Everyone loves maps. And what's not to love? They are beautiful and fascinating, they teach you things, they show you where you are, places you long to go, and places you dare to imagine.

An inspiring collection of ideas and projects for encouraging an artistic spirit in children! 3D Art Lab for Kids includes 36 kid-friendly fine art projects in paper, clay, textiles, sculpture, and jewelry. Each project is inspired by the work of a prominent artist and is illustrated with step-by-step full-color photographs of the process as well as finished samples and variations.Whether you use these projects independently or as a curriculum for hands-on 3D art experiences, youll find that the lessons in this book are open-ended so they can be explored over and overwith different results each time! Colorful photos illustrate how different people using the same lesson will yield different results, exemplifying the way the lesson brings out each artists personal style. 3D Art Lab for Kids is the perfect book for creative families, friends, and community groups and works as lesson plans for both experienced and new art teachers. Children of all ages and experience levels can be guided by adults and will enjoy these engaging exercises.

An inspiring collection of ideas and projects for encouraging an artistic spirit in children! Paint Lab for Kids features 52 fun, fresh, and kid-friendly art lessons that each explore a paint medium, technique, or effect. Popular artist and author Stephanie Corfee offers an exciting resource of easy-to-follow instructions supported throughout with step-by-step, full-color photographs. Each sequence is accompanied by finished samples and variations as well as the inspiring work of a prominent artist. The projects can be used independently throughout the year or as a curriculum for hands-on art experiences. This is the perfect book for creative families, friends, and community groups and works as lesson plans for both experienced and new teachers. Children of all ages and experience levels can be guided by adults and will enjoy these engaging exercises. Paint Lab for Kids is an excellent resource to get your kids working and creating with paint. "Any artist of any age will find an overflowing toolbox in Paint Lab for Kids. Stephanie's new book makes me want to drop everything and paint. Paint Lab for Kids is overflowing with new ideas that I can't wait to try out in my own studio before I even share them with my kid. I love that the project techniques are ones my daughter can build upon and use throughout her entire creative life." - Ashley Hackshaw, founder of LilBlueBoo.com "What fantastic assignments--all paired with inspiring art from contemporary artists. What a treat!" - Lilla Rogers, owner of artist agency Lilla Rogers Studio and author of I Just Like to Make Things

Discover easy, accessible, and fun techniques for making beautifully decorated cupcakes with Cupcake Decorating Lab! This inspiring guide starts out with basic techniques, such as frosting cupcakes with an offset spatula; using a piping bag and tips; flooding cupcake tops with icing; frosting with chocolate ganache; and tinting buttercream. The labs in the book cover a wide variety of exciting decorating techniques, such as how to make sugared and candied fruit and flower garnishes; stamping, stenciling, and piping on fondant; and scroll work, writing, and borders. Youll also find fun ideas for children, weddings, holidays, entertaining, nature themes, and more. Plus, the author includes all of her favorite cake and icing recipes! Create the most delicious and stylish cupcakes imaginable with Cupcake Decorating Lab!

Introduce kids to stop-motion animation and animated filmmaking. Animation is everywhere--from movies and TV to apps and video games--and today's tech-savvy kids know all about it. With the accessibility and ease of use of cameras and video-editing software, people of all ages are learning how to make stop-motion animation. In Animation Lab for Kids, artists, teachers, and authors Laura Bellmont and Emily Brink present exciting, fun, hands-on projects that teach kids a range of animation techniques. From the classic zoetrope, flip book, and cel methods (which don't require any devices or technology) to different methods of shooting, the lessons require no previous experience for either child or adult. Experimenting with a variety of art materials (drawing, clay, and paper cut-outs), young animators will learn to plan a film through writing, storyboarding, and creating sets. The book also features helpful and informative sidebars on the history of the early animation techniques as well as the inspiring work of innovative and influential animators, including Kirsten Lepore, PES, Hailey Morris, and William Kentridge.

Create the very best mixed media with 52 inspiring exercises! Strenthening your understanding and use of color will make your mixed-media art shine as you complete 52 labs that span painting, collage, drawing, assemblage and more. In Color Lab for Mixed Media Artists, color is explored through multiple lenses-nature, history, psychology, expression-as you work through 52 exciting and approachable projects that explore the infinite potential of the chromatic experience. Artist and color-theory expert Deborah Forman provides you with techniques and instruction. These materials and labs focus primarily on paint and collage, along with experimental projects for book making, sculpture and installation. Work your way through the color spectrum, using the steady beat of color as the guiding framework. Don't be intimidated by color--understand how it works, what shade, tint, and pure color will work for your project, and how to select, mix, or pair colors. When you're done, you'll have 52 personal, meaningful, outstanding, and colorful projects and the inspiration to create many more! "Deb Forman's book is a welcome addition to my studio book shelf. The exercises provide the novice with valuable information on techniques and materials combined with the confidence to explore their own intuitive creative path. For the experienced artist the exercises offer an opportunity to engage with familiar painting mediums in fresh new ways. I would recommend this book both to novice artists just starting out and established artists seeking to reinvigorate their studio practice." - Neal Walsh, Painter and Gallery Director at AS220 "Deborah Forman is a fantastic teacher. She is able to bring her myriad talents to bear in the classroom by transmitting the joy and pleasure she takes in her own artistic practice to her students, who are at many different points in their own creative journeys. She is incredibly generous with her ideas, and honors the integrity of all of her students by encouraging experimentation, tenacity, and compassion as they develop their own skills as artists." - Dr. Karen Carr, Humanities Professor, RISD "Deborah Forman's Color Theory course was inspiring, exciting and informative. She encouraged her students to push their experimentation with color to the limits which resulted in beautiful palettes that I never dreamed I could create. Overall, this class was a wonderful experience and gave me great insight as to which direction I want to take with my own artwork.?"? - former student

Paint Lab is packed with unique and experimental techniques and ideas in painting. This hands-on book is organized into 52 units, which may, but don't need to be explored on a weekly basis. The labs can be worked on in any order, so that you can flip around to learn a new mixed-media technique or be inspired by a particular painting theme or application. The underlying message of this book is that, as an artist, you should learn and gain expertise through experimentation and play. There is no right or wrong result, rather you will find new forms of expression in your work and gain confidence in your skills. Designed to inform and inspire new artists and rekindle passion for painting in experienced artists, this book offers a range of exercises broken down by theme: Who (artist-inspired), What (tools and materials), When (a time-based concept), Where (a sense of place), and How (inspired by a technique or method). Paint Lab is illustrated with brilliant full-color images and multiple examples of each exercise. This book offers you a visual, non-linear approach to learning painting techniques, and reinforces a fun and fearless approach to creating art.