Science Museum of Long Island’s Blog

One of the most exciting recent additions to SMLI is our brand new SMART Board. This summer, the staff has been incorporating sessions with this learning tool into each group’s weekly schedule.

Our “Land of the Lost” (Dino Week) campers have requested access to some of the internet links we’ve used throughout the week. As the kids know, these links work on a computer just the same as they do a SMART Board– you just have to use a mouse instead of your hands. Here they are!

Dinosaur Planet Explore different dinosaurs in 360 degree views, compare size, and watch how paleontologists believe the dinos moved - from the Discovery Channel.

Who Dung It? and other games A short quiz searching for the “poopetrator” that made the coprolite and other fun prehistoric activities from the BBC.

Real or Make Believe A quiz comparing truth and fiction in storybooks from Scholastic.

Walking with the Beasts Camouflage game, Jigsaw bone puzzles from the BBC.

Practice Dig Unearth fossils and create a virtual jacket with this realistic interactive from the Smithsonian. A great introduction to the work of a paleontologist.

The Science Museum of Long Island’s first day of camp was filled with excitement. Wild Safari week (N-3) and Gadgets and Gizmos week (4+) have begun, as projects, crafts, inventions and experiments take over the building. The upcoming nine weeks are sure to be packed with fun, and keep on the lookout for “camp surprises,” as we have some special events planned that will make this year’s science camp even better than last year! If you have not registered for camp, there may still be availability in select weeks, as enrollment is only for individual weeks.

–Miss Melissa

Thanks to the Port Washington-Manhasset community for visiting us at Harborfest on Sunday June1. It was great to see so many of our members and their children. We from SMLI, all had a great day and it was nice to make some new friends. Our touch tank full of horseshoe crabs from Manhasset Bay was a big hit with children and parents alike. Thanks for visiting and if you thought our tank was great you should really check out our programs at the Museum.  - Ronni Graf

Attention Junior Explorers Club…….Your research project on the the Leeds Pond Preserve will be posted and updated through this blog on a periodic basis.

The latest project of tracking the breeding activity, nesting sites and egg development of the horseshoe crab has been successful. If you are planning to visit the site on your own, please stop in to the Science Museum to borrow the GPS device. The nests are currently 6-8 inches below the last recorded depth. Many of the site markers have been removed or buried. The GPS is the only means of identifying your site.

If you wish to locate and track more sites, please get in touch with Dave. Thus far, breeding and nesting locations for the HS crab is down dramatically. Keep your telsons crossed for a successful hatching!

For several years, the Science Museum of Long Island has participated in the Nassau BOCES Conference for Kids. This year I brought the museum’s Plastics and Polymers program to the three-day event. Personally, it was an exciting opportunity to be a Teacher at a BOCES event where I was once a student.

For those that attended and wanted to know where they could get the last super absorbent polymer we used, here is the link I promised: Insta-Snow

-”Miss Melissa”

We teach a great class here called Slime, Goo, and Ooze.  Sometimes we even bring it to you!  Many parents and children have asked us how to make the gak at home.  It is very simple, so I thought I would share with you.  Have fun!  It makes for a great rainy day activity :) 

Gak Recipe   

Ingredients:

• Elmer’s glue
• Water 
• Borax (found in the laundry dept.)
• Food coloring
  1. Mix the glue and water. Combine 2/3 cup of Elmer’s Glue and 1/2 cup of warm water in a small container or bowl.
  2. Add the food coloring. Choose your favorite color of food coloring and add it to the glue/water mixture. Stir.
  3. Mix the Borax and water. In a different container, combine 1/3 cup of hot water with 1/2 tablespoon of Borax.
  4. Combine the two containers. Add the contents of the two containers together and stir the mixture very well. You should begin to see the gak take form and solidify.
  5. Use your gak! Remember to store your gak in an airtight container to prevent it from drying out.

  ~Miss Christie

Curious Kids of Oceanside have completed their robot projects! After one session of learning about circuitry, motors, and remote controls, the kids built their robots. We spent the next week adding creative elements to change the way the robots look, move, and make noise. There were a mix of many kinds of robots… quiet ones, loud ones, wobbly robots, tall robots, monkeys, birds, aliens, superheroes and more. It was great to see how many ideas the kids had and watch as their visions came to life. Below are Alexandra Steig with her bird robot, and Caroline Steig with “Buttons.”

Alex with her robot

Caroline and Buttons

-“Miss Melissa”

We’ve had a few requests for a map and directions on the website. Here’s a map you can refer to when you get near the property. The entrance to the museum is on the right, just after the bridge crossing where the Manhasset Bay and Leeds Pond meet. You can click “Get directions” within the map to get personalized directions, or “View Larger Map” below the image. For cars only (not busses due to low underpass): You can also come down Stonytown Road and make a right onto Gristmill Lane, then another right onto Papermill Road, then a left onto Rockhollow Road.  Be careful of oncoming traffic (it’s a narrow street).

View Larger Map

In honor of Dino Mania Day at the museum, a bit of dinosaur news–

One of the more common questions we are asked at the Science Museum: “What killed all of the dinosaurs?” Another study has been published in Science supporting the theory that a series of eruptions of the Deccan Traps may have been the main culprit causing the demise of the dinos. You can read today’s Discovery News article here or the Reuters article here.

Hi Curious Kids and Roslyn After School Program! I’m glad you found the site and I hope you find it helpful. Visit www.smli.org/calendar.html to view your program dates. Check back here for updates on classes and other information.

Today’s Curious Kids electricity programs were a lot of fun! We’ve made great progress in building our robots in the Grades 5 & 6 class. If you won’t be able to make our class on March 29, please let me know with a comment or email me at melissa@smli.org and we can discuss an alternative plan.

If you have any cool information or pictures about any of our experiments this year, feel free to post or email me and I can post pictures in the blog. Take care, and see you soon!

-“Miss Melissa”