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The Magic and Fun of Bubbles
Hello, young bubble fans and fun seekers of magical moments! Are you ready to embark on a whimsical adventure that will leave you surrounded by shimmering spheres of wonder? Today, we’ll dive into the enchanting world of bubbles, where ordinary soap and water transform into captivating orbs that dance in the air. Bubbles aren’t just fleeting and delicate; they hold within them a world of scientific wonders, playful possibilities, and endless entertainment. So, roll up your sleeves, grab your bubble wands, and join us as we explore the secrets, tricks, and pure joy that come with playing and experimenting with bubbles. Get ready for a bubble bonanza that will have you giggling, experimenting, and embracing the sheer delight of bubble magic!
Bubbles are beautiful, fun, and fascinating, but do you know what they are and how they work? Take a look at the science behind bubbles.
To begin with, what is a bubble?
A bubble is a thin film of soapy water. Most of the bubbles that you see are filled with air, but you can make a bubble using other gasses, such as carbon dioxide.
The film that makes the bubble has three layers. A thin layer of water is sandwiched between two layers of soap molecules. Each soap molecule is oriented so that its polar (hydrophilic) head faces the water, while its hydrophobic hydrocarbon tail extends away from the water layer.
No matter what shape a bubble has initially, it will try to become a sphere. The sphere is the shape that minimizes the surface area of the structure, which makes it the shape that requires the least energy to achieve.
What happens when bubbles meet?
When bubbles stack, do they remain spheres? The answer is—No. When two bubbles meet, they will merge walls to minimize their surface area.
If bubbles that are the same size meet, then the wall that separates them will be flat. If bubbles that are different sizes meet, then the smaller bubble will bulge into the large bubble. Bubbles meet to form walls at an angle of 120 degrees. If enough bubbles meet, the cells will form hexagons.
Ingredients in Bubble Solutions
Though soap bubbles are traditionally made from (you guessed it) soap, most bubble solutions consist of detergent in water. Glycerin (C3H5(OH)3) is often added as an ingredient. Detergents form bubbles in much the same way as soap, but detergents will form bubbles even in tap water, which contains ions that could prevent soap bubble formation. Glycerin extends the life of a bubble by forming weaker hydrogen bonds with water, slowing down its evaporation.
How to make bubbles that don’t pop.
- 3 cups of water
- 1 cup liquid dishwashing detergent (Joy is a good choice
- 1/2 cup white corn syrup
Simply stir the ingredients together to make the bubble solution. You can use dark corn syrup just as easily as white corn syrup, but the solution will be colored. Also, you can add food coloring or glow paint to color the bubbles. You can also substitute another type of sticky syrup, just expect changes in color and odor.
Here’s another easy unpoppable bubble recipe:
- 3 cups water
- 1 cup dishwashing liquid
- 1/2 cup glycerin
Try making a batch and having fun with your friends chasing the bubbles as they dance on the air currents!
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Winterhouse
Orphan Elizabeth Somers’s malevolent aunt and uncle ship her off to the ominous Winterhouse Hotel, owned by the peculiar Norbridge Falls. Upon arrival, Elizabeth quickly discovers that Winterhouse has many charms―most notably its massive library. It’s not long before she locates a magical book of puzzles that will unlock a mystery involving Norbridge and his sinister family. But the deeper she delves into the hotel’s secrets, the more Elizabeth realizes she is somehow connected to Winterhouse. As fate would have it, Elizabeth is the only person who can break the hotel’s curse and solve the mystery. But will it be at the cost of losing the people she has come to care for, and even Winterhouse itself?
From author Ben Guterson and illustrator Chloe Bristol for Readers 9-12.
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Math Magic: Math Tricks for Kid Wizards!
Hello, young mathematicians and problem-solving enthusiasts! Get ready to unlock the secrets of math and discover the joy of numbers in a whole new way. Here we’ll delve into the fascinating world of math tricks that will leave you dazzled and amazed. Who said math had to be boring? We’ll prove them wrong as we unveil mind-boggling tricks, and clever shortcuts, that will make you feel like a true math wizard. So, dust off your calculators, sharpen your pencils, and join us on this thrilling journey of math magic as we explore fun tricks that will not only sharpen your skills. But will also make you fall in love with the enchanting world of numbers. Prepare to be amazed as we unleash the fun and excitement of math tricks for kid wizards like you!
Let’s start with the classic “Pick a number, any number!” trick. Ask a friend to follow these steps:
- Pick any number (We’ll use 73).
- Add 3 (73 + 3 = 76).
- Double the result (76 x 2 = 152).
- Subtract four (152 – 4 = 148).
- Divide that number in half (74).
- Subtract your original number (74 – 73 = 1).
- The answer is always 1.
Here are two math tricks where the answer is always the same—no matter what number the person chooses.
In this first trick, the answer is always 2.
- Think of a whole number from 1 through 10 (We’ll use 6).
- Double it (6 x 2 = 12).
- Add 4 (12 + 4 = 16).
- Divide by 2 (16 ÷ 2 = 8).
- Subtract the original number (8 – 6 = 2).
- The answer is always 2.
In the second trick, the answer is always 18.
- Choose any number (We’ll use 31).
- Multiply the number by 100 (31 x 100 = 3,100).
- Subtract the original number from the answer (3,100 – 31 = 3,069).
- Add those individual numerals together (3 + 0 + 6 + 9 = 18).
- The answer is always 18.
This trick is a great way to learn addition and division skills. In this math trick, you will make a prediction on a piece of paper as “37” and set it aside without showing your prediction.
- Then ask your friend to think of a 3-digit number where all 3 digits are the same, like 222, 666, etc.
- Next, ask your friend to add all the three digits together.
- Then divide the 3-digit number your friend thought of by the sum of the number.
- You can then hand over your prediction and your friend will be astonished at how you guessed the answer, which will always be 37.
Your friends will really like you for teaching them this interesting math trick. With this easy mathematics trick, you can calculate the sum of two-digit numbers quick.
For example: If you have to find the sum of 56 and 62.
- You will break the numbers into ten’s and one’s place mentally (56 becomes 50 & 6) and (62 becomes 60 & 2).
- Now, you will add the tens place first (50 + 60) = 110.
- Then, you will add the one’s place (6 +2) =8.
- Now you just need to add the two answers to get the total (110 + 8) =118.
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The Winter Freak Show
Kids are vanishing in Victorian London. Only Toby knows why. Can he save the city before falling victim himself?
After twelve-year-old Toby Carter escapes a brutal workhouse at Christmas, he can’t believe his good fortune. Adopted by a band of travelling performers called The Winter Freak Show who put on spellbinding shows each night, he finally believes he’s found the family he always wanted. Then everything falls apart.
Children are disappearing throughout the city. Pretty soon, all evidence points to those Toby trusted the most and he finds himself caught up in a conspiracy far more sinister than he ever imagined. Defenseless and on the run, he’s confronted with two options: uncover the kidnapper before another child falls victim, or stand by and watch as the shadowy criminal becomes unstoppable.
The fate of Christmas rests in the balance.
From author Daniel Parson for Readers 10-15.
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Haiku—Writing Fun Poems
Haiku poetry is a type of short form poetry that originated in Japan.
It usually comprises three lines with a total of 17 syllables in a 5-7-5 pattern. It also often includes a kireji, or a cutting word that creates a pause or contrast, and a kigo, or a seasonal reference that sets the mood. Haiku poems are known for their simplicity and elegance, capturing a moment of beauty or emotion in nature or everyday life. Some famous haiku poets are Matsuo Bashō, Yosa Buson, and Kobayashi Issa.
To write a haiku, you can follow these steps:
- Choose a topic that inspires you or makes you curious. It can be anything from a flower to a feeling.
- Think of a word or phrase that describes the season or time of year related to your topic. This will be your kigo.
- Think of a word or phrase that contrasts or complements your kigo. This will be your kireji.
- Arrange your kigo and kireji into three lines of 5, 7, and 5 syllables each. You can use punctuation or capitalization to emphasize your kireji or create a pause.
- Read your haiku aloud and see if it flows well and conveys the image or emotion you want.
Matsuo Bashō was a 17th-century Japanese poet who is considered one of the greatest masters of haiku. He wrote about 1000 haiku poems in his lifetime, many of them inspired by his travels around Japan. Here is an example of his haiku poems:
Autumn rain falling
The pond is still and silent
A frog leaps in splash
Yosa Buson was an 18th-century Japanese poet and painter who was one of the four great masters of haiku. He admired Matsuo Bashō and followed his style of using natural imagery and simple language to express deep emotions and insights. He also added his own sensibility and painterly skill to his haiku, creating vivid and colorful scenes.
Here is an example of his haiku poems:
A chestnut falls
From the eaves of the shrine
The sound of water
Kobayashi Issa was a haiku poet in the Edo period who used dialect and spoken words for haiku. He was born into a farmer family and experienced many hardships and losses in his life. His poems are known for their simplicity, humor, and compassion for all living things. Here is an example of his haiku poems:
Everything I touch
With tenderness, alas,
Pricks like a bramble
Writing a haiku poem can be fun. Take, for instance, this poem about crocodiles in space written like you are a pirate:
Ahoy, me hearties!
Space crocs are on the prowl
Shiver me timbers!
Or try writing one about your dog. Like this one:
You are my best friend
Loyal, playful, and cuddly
I love you so much
What about one about homework, like this one:
Homework never ends
Stacks of papers and books
When will I be free?
Give writing haiku poems a try. You’ll have fun and impress your friends!
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Middle School: Winter Blunderland
Sometimes middle school feels like a dangerous mission in the cold, unforgiving tundra. Sometimes it literally is. Will Rafe survive his most (frost)biting adventure yet?
Things heat up at Hills Village Middle School when Rafe gets an invitation from Dr. Daria Deerwin to join a research study on polar bears. How many times in life do you get a chance to come face‑to‑face with a real polar bear in the wild? Rafe is ready to find out!
Alaska is pinkie‑freezing, hair‑freezing, snot‑freezing cold, but Rafe might be headed for a meltdown. He’s spending every waking moment with Penelope, who he definitely has a crush on, and a polar bear Dr. Deerwin is tracking goes missing…with poachers on the tundra. It’s up to Rafe, Penelope, and their new friends to save the day in Rafe’s coolest adventure yet.
From authors James Patterson and Brian Sitts and illustrator Jomike Tejido for Readers 8-12.
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Virtual Reality—A Whole New World
Welcome to the world of the future—today! Welcome to virtual reality.
What is virtual reality, or VR?
Virtual reality is an artificial environment which is experienced through sensory stimuli (such as sights and sounds) provided by a computer and in which one’s actions partially determine what happens in the environment. It can also refer to the technology used to create or access such an environment. Virtual reality can use devices that are worn or attached to the user’s body, such as headsets, goggles, sensors, or projectors to generate realistic images, sounds, and other sensations that simulate a user’s physical presence and interaction in the virtual environment.
Virtual reality can be used for various purposes, such as entertainment, education, and business. Virtual reality creates the effect of a three-dimensional world that has a sense of spatial presence, meaning that the objects have a location relative to the user’s position. The term virtual reality was coined in 1987 by Jaron Lanier, whose research and engineering contributed a number of products to the VR industry
Virtual reality works by using a combination of computer modeling, simulation, and interactive devices to create a realistic and immersive experience for the user. The user wears a device called a head-mounted display (HMD) that shows a stereoscopic 3D image of a virtual environment.
The virtual environment is generated by a computer program that models and simulates the appearance, behavior, and physics of the objects and living things in the virtual world. The goal of virtual reality is to create a convincing illusion of being in another place or time, and to allow the user to explore and manipulate the virtual environment as if it were real.
There are many examples of virtual reality in different fields and domains. Some of them are:
- Birdly: A VR simulator that lets you experience flying like a bird over various landscapes, such as New York City or the Alps.
- Welcome to Light Fields: A VR app that showcases the potential of light field technology, which captures the intensity and direction of light rays in a scene, creating a realistic sense of depth and parallax.
- Lone Echo: A VR game that puts you in the role of a robot assistant on a space station orbiting Saturn, where you have to solve puzzles, explore the environment, and interact with your human companion.
Virtual reality is used in education for various purposes, such as:
- Bringing science concepts to life with augmented reality (AR): Students can use AR to create and observe phenomena such as tornadoes, beehives, or the solar system in their classrooms, enhancing their understanding and curiosity.
- Exploring the universe with the SkyView app: Students can use this app to identify and learn about stars, constellations, planets, and satellites by pointing their mobile devices at the night sky.
Some of the benefits of VR are:
- Enhancing education and training: VR can provide students and trainees with immersive and realistic simulations of various scenarios, such as flying a plane, performing a surgery, or visiting a historical site, that would otherwise be difficult, expensive, or dangerous to experience in real life.
- Enhancing sports: VR can help athletes improve their performance by providing feedback, analysis, and training in a virtual environment. VR can also provide fans with a more immersive and interactive way of watching sports events.
- Providing entertainment: VR can offer users a variety of fun and engaging experiences, such as games, movies, art, music, and social interactions. VR can also create new forms of storytelling and expression that appeal to different senses and emotions.
- Boosting creativity: VR can stimulate users’ imagination and creativity by allowing them to create and explore their own virtual worlds. VR can also inspire users to learn new skills and discover new possibilities.
So, as you can see virtual reality, or VR for short, can both help us and entertain us. And it’s fun to experience it.
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The False Prince (The Ascendance Series, Book 1)
In a discontented kingdom, civil war is brewing. To unify the divided people, Conner, a nobleman of the court, devises a cunning plan to find an impersonator of the king’s long-lost son and install him as a puppet prince.
Four orphans are recruited to compete for the role, including a defiant boy named Sage. Sage knows that Conner’s motives are more than questionable, yet his life balances on a sword’s point — he must be chosen to play the prince or he will certainly be killed. But Sage’s rivals have their own agendas as well.
As Sage moves from a rundown orphanage to Conner’s sumptuous palace, layer upon layer of treachery and deceit unfold, until finally, a truth is revealed that, in the end, may very well prove more dangerous than all of the lies taken together.
From author Jennifer A. Nielsen for Readers 9-12.
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The Dragon Warrior
As a member of the Jade Society, twelve-year-old Faryn Liu dreams of honoring her family and the gods by becoming a warrior. But the Society has shunned Faryn and her brother Alex ever since their father disappeared years ago, forcing them to train in secret.
Then, during an errand into San Francisco, Faryn stumbles into a battle with a demon–and helps defeat it. She just might be the fabled Heaven Breaker, a powerful warrior meant to work for the all-mighty deity, the Jade Emperor, by commanding an army of dragons to defeat the demons. That is, if she can prove her worth and find the island of the immortals before the Lunar New Year.
With Alex and other unlikely allies at her side, Faryn sets off on a daring quest across Chinatowns. But becoming the Heaven Breaker will require more sacrifices than she first realized. What will Faryn be willing to give up to claim her destiny?
From author Katie Zhao for Readers 8-12.
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Party Planning 101—Creating Unforgettable Celebrations
Hey there, aspiring party planners and creative minds! Hang on as we discover the art of planning the perfect party. From choosing a theme that sparks the imagination to organizing fun games and activities, we’ve got you covered with expert tips and tricks to make your next party a roaring success. So, put on your party hats, grab a notebook, and join us as we unveil the essential steps to plan a fun party that will have your guests beaming with delight. Get ready to be the ultimate party planner and create memories that will last a lifetime!
Here are some things you may want to consider:
- Set a budget and stick to it.
- Choose a theme that your guests will like.
- Draw up a guest list and send invitations at least two weeks before the party. You can use online invitations or make your own.
- If you are not having the party at home. Consider another option. Some options are parks, playgrounds, museums, zoos, bowling alleys, ice skating rinks, or indoor play centers. Make sure the venue is safe, clean, and has enough space and facilities for your guests.
- Plan some activities and games for the party.
- Plan and buy party food that is easy to eat and serve. You can have pizza, sandwiches, nuggets, fruit skewers, popcorn, or chips. You can also have some healthy options such as salads, hummus, or cheese sticks. Remember to check for any dietary restrictions or allergies among your guests.
- Source party decorations that fit the theme and color scheme of the party. You can use balloons, banners, streamers, confetti, or posters to decorate the venue. You can also make your own decorations.
- Plan and buy party favors or bags for your guests to take home. You can also make your own favors or bags using paper bags, ribbons, and labels.
- Make a day-of-party checklist to make sure you don’t forget anything on the big day.
When your guests arrive, and the party starts, don’t forget to have fun yourself!
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