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Emma has become quite the crafting machine recently, perusing books for ideas as well as coming up with her own. She got the idea for this spouting whale from The Usborne Big Book of Science Things to Make and Do, which we were lucky enough to win in a giveaway at Mouse Grows, Mouse Learns last year! It’s more of a science craft book than a science experiment book, but Emma has a lot of fun with it!
We did change the instructions slightly, using plasticine to create a seal between the straw and the water balloon instead of paper. I think our solution was a big improvement!
Johnny had the opportunity to make a whale of his own (Emma helped Lily make one), but our resident clown thought sticking plasticine to the wall was much more fun – and actually, a bit of a challenge to get it to stay there!
We used a syringe to fill the balloon without making too big of a mess, and Emma gave it a go:
Success! She was so thrilled to get this to work!
LOVE her expression!!!
Have you ever made a spouting whale? I think this is a fun group activity for, say, 6-8-year-olds. I recommend doing it outside, since our floor did get wet. It was a cold day (we still get those pretty frequently in Massachusetts), and the floor needed mopping, anyway. :)
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I love how she has turned into a “crafting machine”! That must make you so proud. :-)
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I think I would love to try to make a spouting whale!
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ADORABLE! (Both the craft and your daughter!)
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That’s cute! Great capture of the water too!
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maryanne Reply:
April 27th, 2012 at 4:55 pm
Thanks! I was thrilled to catch it on film :)
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Kids feel a sense of empowerment when they’re giving the opportunity to choose what they want to learn and be involved in the learning process. It’s awesome you give her the space, confidence and materials to do hands-on learning. Way to go Mom!
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maryanne Reply:
April 27th, 2012 at 4:55 pm
Thank you, Deborah!
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I love Emma’s expression in the last picture. Priceless. Science (and science crafting) is fun.
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Ohhh wow – I read your posts and keep thinking about the what’s to comes. I really am looking forward to the new challenges of an older children but also the greater range of stuff that we can do. Even though now is exciting I have a feeling it will just get better and better.
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maryanne Reply:
April 27th, 2012 at 5:29 pm
It does get better and better! :)
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That’s so cute! Its like a science experiment, a craft, and a toy, all in one!
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maryanne Reply:
April 27th, 2012 at 9:10 pm
Exactly! That Usborne book has lots of cute ideas like this :)
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How fun!! (Notice the Usborne book not being available on Amazon? Usborne decided to remove all of their books from amazon recently! It has made big news. But good for us consultants. :)
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maryanne Reply:
April 28th, 2012 at 7:07 am
Is there a way to link through your shop? I’d be happy to do that!
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How fun. Too bad that Usborne books are not available on Amazon any longer. I need to give Anna our version of this Usborne book to try things out.
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maryanne Reply:
April 28th, 2012 at 9:29 pm
Yes, that makes me sad, too. Amazon is such an easy way to order everything…
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great idea! we have been learning about whales with our homeschool group so will totally try this out!
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maryanne Reply:
April 29th, 2012 at 12:53 pm
This would make a fantastic homeschool group activity! I plan to do it with our little science playgroup, once the weather is warm enough to do it outside :)
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I love her face, too! Looks like such a fun craft!
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So clever – and I love it that “the floor needed mopping, anyway.”
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love!
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What a fun follow up to your Usbourne book! Fantastic photos. I particularly love the focus in your last pic. It’s brilliant.
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maryanne Reply:
May 6th, 2012 at 3:31 pm
Thank you, Malia!
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super duper cool! my whales lovers are going to want to know exactly how to do this — btw, what is plasticene?
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maryanne Reply:
May 6th, 2012 at 3:31 pm
Plasticine a kind of modeling clay that repels water and never dries out: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plasticine
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haha, what a fun and playful post, full of great photos!
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Pinning this!!!
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I love that last pic! What fun! And the plastecine on the wall made me laugh! My little guy would love this. Pinning for when he’s a bit older. :)
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maryanne Reply:
May 6th, 2012 at 3:30 pm
Thanks, Ness! :)
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oooh that is fab! My 3 will love it!
Lovely photo’s too.
Thanks so much for linking up. xx
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