How to Create a Rube Goldberg Science Experiment.

** UPDATE - HE WAS CHOSEN TO GO TO THE DISTRICT SCIENCE FAIR!!!

A few months ago, we wrote about our Sunday afternoon adventures designing a Rube Goldberg science experiment for our son's 6th grade project.  Now, with time, practice, note taking and some blood, sweat and tears, we are happy to share our story to help others with their future projects.  We want to walk through the steps involved in scientific experiment to help you better understand the process.  However, as with all scientific experiment, the learning process can come in small successes to sudden large advances.  It takes, time, patience, collaboration and the will to try alternative solutions to prove your hypothesis and we will help you walk through it.

Your first step is to come up with a question that requires testing through research and controlled tests.  Next, the student will need to come up with a sound hypothesis where there is a clear defining "True or False" response when the experimental test is complete.  Then, the student must design the experiment where all inputs can be held constant in order to control the results.  After the design is constructed, the experiment is tested where the results and findings are analyzed and documented.  Single and independent changes are made and retesting takes place so that the student can document and analyze the new results.  Continued changes, trial tests, documentation and analysis is completed until the student can ultimately prove or disprove the hypothesis with that"True / False" response.

For our son's project, he wanted to make a volcano erupt using several simple machines in Rube Goldberg fashion.  These tools include a wedge, inclined plane, pulley, lever, wheel and axle and screw.  Once he determined his goal, the question, he developed a hypothesis in order to prove his experiment.  Next, he documented ideas for completing his experiment where the rules included a mandatory 6 steps of energy transfer while using a minimum of 3 simple machines.  He documented and rough sketched a design to show the six energy transfers.  After completing the rough design, he needed to write down the simple machines he would use in his experiment while developing a list of materials needed to complete the test.  We then took him shopping and starting building the test model.  Finally, tests started and he documented the results of the tests while coming up with ideas on necessary changes that would impact the outcome to the desired result.

Volcano Construction

He learned many new skills while working on the design phase of his project.  He first needed to make a volcano.  Through his research, he determined that spray insulation foam and an empty water bottle would be the easiest, lightest and least expensive method for building this feature.  Working backwards from his ultimate goal seemed easier to ensure the simple machines were completing the necessary actions to achieve the goal.  He then had to learn how to use power tools to cut, drill and screw pieces together after placing items strategically in place.  His experiment was using 3 simple machines however with design changes in order to make the volcano erupt; he quickly found new ways to include additional tools through some guidance and critical thinking.  When placing his inclined plane, he discovered the need to elevate one end of a Hot Wheels track to keep the energy in motion.  Lastly, he discovered how outside forces can impact your results if you do not have a good controlled model in place.  From the wind blowing over his levers to little brother's accidentally kicking the table leg to being too excited when the step up and first test was ready to run, there were many learning opportunities.

Designing the test

As for his project, a theme started to take shape as test after test were run. His project starts with a lever that drops a weight off an elevated surface. This weight pulls off a clothes pin which is holding a marble taped to a string and wound around a pole acting as a screw. The marble unwinds from the screw knocking over strategically placed dominos which are acting as levers. The dominos fall and push a Hot Wheel fire engine down the inclined plane. Attached to the fire engine is a string that is wound around a wheel and axle to change its direction and which is tied to a cotter pin that is acting as a wedge. The cotter pin is pushed through a hole drilled into a PVC pipe fastened above the volcano. The premise is to have these 5 simple machines transfer energy in order to release Mentos (candy) into Coca-Cola (soda drink) inside the volcano to complete a chemical reaction which allows the volcano to erupt.

Final Stages

This project required hours of documentation, design, project testing, redesign and retesting and ultimately documentation and communication of the results. Photos and video of the design and experiment were taken to help document the overall project. With nearly 60 days of work consisting of 5 minutes here, 2 hours there and 20 minutes then, our son developed a masterpiece that was truly amazing. The results of the test, "Can you erupt a volcano using simple machines?" You will have to watch the video below to find out! Are you ready to start your Rube Goldberg science experiment? Have questions or want help with your tasks, leave us a comment and our young scientist will provide you with some feedback. Get out there and answer questions you have with science!

Find more stories on Rube Goldberg: http://www.fieldtripmom.com/2015/11/rube-goldberg-science-project.html

Hurry to the Discovery Cube OC - Winter Wonderfest is on for a limited time.

For a limited time, the Discovery Cube is offering the science of snow, "Winter Wonderfest."  Go tubing down a 70 foot slope, play in the snow, go sledding, learn snow science and so much more under one roof.  I should warn you that you will need snow gear: gloves, hat, warm clothing and closed toe shoes to play in the snow.  If you forget your gloves just run to the store inside the Cube and purchase them.  The Winter Wonderfest is only $5.00 plus the purchase of general admission.  You can play in the snow from December 19th through January 3rd.  It is a great way to experience the science of snow with the family. 

We received a chance to experience the science of snow at Discovery Cube Winter Wonderfest during media day.  Our kids were so in love with the 70 foot slope and the snow sledding.  We could not get them to take a break.  The experience made them feel as though they were far away from the big city on top of a mountain.  My husband was a big kid too.  We all had fun sledding and snow tubing.  The day was very memorable for all of us. 

We spent most of the morning playing outside.  Sledding and tubing brought such joy to our kids that we stayed until they were exhausted.  We cancelled all other plans for that day and played at the Discovery Cube Winter Wonderfest until the early afternoon. We were all tired, but extremely happy.  

This winter break visit the Discovery Cube and experience a whole lot of fun in the snow. Inside the Cube, The Hot Wheels exhibit will make the kids want to see under the hood of a car.  Stop by the Science of the Gingerbread to build a car out of candy and graham crackers.  Stop for a quick bite at the Bean Sprout restuarant while you take a quick rest.  After your healthy eating experience, continue exploring over 100 hands-on interactive exhibits that promote fun and educational value.  Both you and your children will enjoy a memorable day at the Discovery Cube. 

Happy Holidays,

Alma

Star Wars - The Force Awakens Movie

The Force Awakens - Star Wars trilogy is out today.  People have been waiting in lines for days to see it.  The series has been around for over 30 years.  It is part of the American culture to go with the family and watch it.  It all began back in 1977 with the release of "A New Hope."  Since then, thousands have become fans of the Star Wars Series.  Now, it is my turn to share with my kids this American cultural moment.

If by chance you don't know much about this series, then I recommend that you watch all six movies after you read the books. This way you will understand the creators vision.  I leave you with the order of the movie releases to help you get started. 

Star Wars (A New Hope) (1977), The Empire Strikes Back (1980), and Return of the Jedi (1983), The Phantom Menace (1999), Attack of the Clones (2002), and Revenge of the Sith (2005) and today the release of "The Force Awakens" 2015 is the latest in this trilogy. "The Force is strong with this one!"
We can not wait to see the latest addition to the Star Wars series.  In the meantime, we are sharing a trailer and a fun photos. 

"May the force be with you!"

The Big List of Educational Grants and Resources | Edutopia

This is just in from Edutopia website a large list of grants and resources. Edutopia was founded by the George Lucas Educational Foundation, a nonprofit organization. Their vision statement:"Our vision is of a new world of learning based on the compelling truth that improving education is the key to the survival of the human race." 

Please go to the link to get information on grants and resources for teachers and students. 

The Big List of Educational Grants and Resources | Edutopia

Disclaimer: This is not a sponsored post. 

Surviving baby's first flu.

No one can ever explain to you how to prepare to be a great parent.  Each child is different and every home has different needs.  One thing that is for sure is that love will guide you to do some awesome things.  I am sharing my personal story of parenting a child with the flu. My husband and I survived our baby's first flu. 

When my son was 9 nine months old, I had to take him to the ER.  Early in the day, he had been very fussy and not his normal happy self.  We thought he needed to be outside in the fresh air.  We packed him up and took him shopping.  As we put him in the shopping cart, I remember him wiggling and being fussy some more.  He began to cry as he sat in the store's metal shopping cart.  I reached to console him, when I saw him hit his head on the metal piece of the cart.  A few seconds later, he threw up.  As a new parent, I thought he had injured his head.  I urgently called my husband and we dashed to the Children’s Hospital ER.  Both my husband and I were scared and upset over our only son being so sick.  The tough part was our baby could not tell us how to help him.  My son did not have a fever nor had he thrown up previously to hitting his head.  There was nothing that would suggest that he had the flu.

In the ER, the nurses and doctors seemed very concerned over the baby. They quickly admitted him and shortly thereafter put him through a MRI machine to scan his brain.  What they had to do to make sure they captured a good photo was unimaginable to any parent.  They had to tie him down, restrained in a straight jacket?  I could not help them to do that so I sent my husband in to help.  Crying in the hallway is where I stood waiting for the doctors.  My thoughts were racing and I could not imagine what was wrong with our tiny baby.  As a new parent, I had no idea that he was suffering from the flu. A few hours later, the doctors released our baby with no real diagnosis other than possibly the flu.  The flu?  Could the flu cause such a violent sickness in a short time?  They recommended we keep an eye on him and bring him back if anything else occurred.  They also instructed us to see his regular doctor on Monday for a follow-up.  Monday was two days away.  Both my husband and I had to go to work.  With a heavy heart and new parent fears, we left the hospital.

At home, both my husband and I took turns not sleeping.  We did not want to fall asleep at the same time just to make sure we kept an eye on the baby. We watched our baby sleep in our arms.  The whole time, his little body tilted slight upward with a pillow.  This was before the baby wedge was sold at Babies R Us.  Monday came and I took the day off to make an emergency appointment with our pediatrician, Dr. Akey.  Dr. Akey is the most wonderful doctor in the world.  He allowed me to come as soon as possible and saw my baby first.  He checked him over and found that he had an ear infection but no fever.  According to  Dr. Akey, our baby should have experienced lots of pain and uncomfortableness.  Our baby would have been wiggling, crying and most likely would have been fussy because of the pain.  This is something that the daycare provider might have experienced and should have mentioned to us. After talking to the doctor, I realized that our baby got sick at daycare.  He most likely had had a fever while my husband and I were at work.  The daycare had a high volume of kids and perhaps did not check on him enough.  Once I had all the information from the doctor and hospital, I realized that our baby had had a terrible flu.  The head scan was unnecessary and my daycare provider was overcrowded.  I left the doctor’s office with concerns over the caregiver and my role as a working mother.

Not trusting my instincts and having a mortgage to pay for, I continued to work a full-time job and taking my only son, at that time, to daycare.  The daycare was close to my work and it had been recommended by a co-worker. She was pleasant and kind to me for the five minutes we saw each other Monday through Friday.  I was new a parent and I did not know much about parenting or caring for a baby.  Our lack of experience forced us to trust other parent recommendations.  It would be another 9 nine months and several more illnesses to push me into quitting my full-time job and becoming a stay-at-home-mother.  

There are two things I want you to take away from this story.  One is that if you have the flu, please stay home.  Babies, pregnant mothers, the elderly and people with weak immune systems suffer much more than healthy adults.  Two, trust your instincts.  Visit your daycare provider unannounced frequently and if your child gets ill often it’s time to look for a better place. Finally, know that you should error on the side of caution. If you have new parent concerns, please email us fieldtripmom@gmail.com. 

If you have the flu then try to stick to the BRAT diet. Drink lots of fluids and stay away from others.  BRAT Diet - Banana, rice, applesauce and toast (saltine crackers) 
Prevent Dehydration with pedialyte. 

Legoland California is a fun place to play with your family.

Welcome to Legoland California: Velkommen, Welkom, Bienvenue, Ahlan'wa sahla, ようこそ (yōkoso), 환영합니다 (hwangyong-hamnida), Bienvenido, Mabuhay, Shalom, Καλώς ορίσατε (Kalōs orisate) LEGO®.  It is a great place to bond with your family or friends. The visit will give you a  STEAM experience (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math) that you will not soon forget. 

Disclaimer: We are huge fans of LEGO®. We were invited as media to the theme park. All thoughts and opinions are all my own. 

Southern California is home to one of the most creative and exciting places for Lego fans.  Legoland is a theme park filled with hundreds of models, statues and wall art pieced together and made from Legos.  This 128-acre park is made for true Lego fans of all ages.  The park offers 60 family rides with "hands-on" opportunities to create and build Lego toys throughout. Check out Adventurer's Club, the Legoland Factory tour and Snow Days during this holiday season.  

Entering the park, you will find Lego models that will capture your eye. Some of them are super colorful, others have cute themes that will make you wonder and sparking your curiosity.  Adults, as well as kids, will point to works of Lego Art that can be seen when you enter the park.  All of the Lego models are very creative and awestruck because of the manual labor it took to bring them to life.  We pointed and chatted about them before we enjoyed the the first ride at the park.

In plain sight, there is a museum-like walking tour.  The Adventurer's Club is located right across from Snow Days activity area.  This is a gem of a place, the Adventurer's Club, cleverly displays the Amazon, Ancient Egypt, the Rain Forest all as LEGO® art.  The kid's eyes were big with surprise that anyone could build these art pieces.  This is a must see with your own two eyes.  

Snow Days are now happening at Legoland California.  When we visited, we saw happy parents and children playing in the snow.  A snowman hangs out waiting for parents and kids to play in the snow or take pictures with.  We just hugged him and wished him well while we through a few snowballs at one another.  What a great place to play with the family. 

We followed the Lego road to the roller coasters, the boat rides, food adventures and some games.  Our kids stopped at Legoland's Tree House, "Hideaway". They offer a play structure that is every kids dream come true.  It is multi-level structure with slide opportunities and much more.  Burned off a few calories there climbing, sliding and hiding from each other. 

Near the Knights' Smokehouse Barbeque restaurant, there is this cute game station.  This station is a game of chance that gives you an opportunity to win a plush unicorn.  "It's so fluffy!"  Well, of course, we had to play and win it!!! Buttercup, the unicorn, is doing well.  With the fun we had, it was so worth it. 

Don't forget the delicious food at Knights' Smokehouse Barbeque, located in the Castle Hill theme area of the park.  The food selection is delicious and smokey.  There are many items to choose from including slow cook roasted pulled pork, beef brisket, pork ribs and chicken. Other offerings are roasted corn, fresh brazed veggies, fruit salads, Texas chili, specialized kids meals, and desserts including brownies.  The restaurant is comparably priced to other outside BBQ restaurants.  The quantity of food provided was straight out of Texas and delicious.  For example, a standard plate at our local BBQ hotspot runs $24.99 per person however has enough food to share between two adults. For our family of 4 with drinks, we will spend $70 plus tip.  At Knights' Smokehouse, we ordered one Adult meal, 3 sides, 2 kids meals, dessert and drinks and only spent $83.  Still very reasonable comparatively speaking.  But your visit doesn't have to include BBQ because the park is host to many other food options like burgers and fries, hot dogs and more, all at very affordable prices.   

Our final destination was the Miniland USA Legoland. It is the most popular place to be in the park because of the 20 million Legos that reproduce (7) areas of the United States. The Lego models make you feel like a giant. It is unreal how a Lego can bring a city to life. Any Lego fan will be in great wonder because of the construction of the buildings, people and cities. 

We had such a great time riding the roller coasters, playing games, pretending to be giants in Miniland and eating good food. We highly recommend that you visit our sponsor Legoland California and make memories too. 

Merry Christmas,

Bosek Family

Visit our Instagram to see more pictures from the days events @fieldtripmom

Our Gift to You December 26 - January 3, 2016Receive a FREE ticket to return when you visit LEGOLAND between December 26 - January 3, 2016. Present any paid admission ticket at the Our Gift To You kiosk inside the Park, and receive a ticket to return to LEGOLAND California and SEA LIFE Aquarium between January 4 - February 29, 2016.* * You must request your free return ticket on the day of your paid visit. Free tickets valid only between January 4 - February 29, 2016. Additional restrictions may apply.

Top 4 Southern California Places to Buy a Fresh Christmas Tree

Buying a Christmas tree can be a wonderful family field trip.  Pack your family in the car and find a farm or memorable place to pick up your Christmas tree. Locally, we have some of the greatest places to get a beautiful tree including Irvine Park Railroad, TanakaFarms, Peltzer Pines (Brea & Silverado) and Richfield Pines.  These places offer great photo opportunities, beautiful trees and some even have Santa Claus waiting for you.  The prices might be a little higher than your grocery store, however, visiting these places offer a more memorable family moment.  Create your family traditions this holiday season.

Irvine Park Railroad offers fresh Christmas Trees for a limited time. Jump on the rail for train rides, visit with Santa and Mrs. Claus and enjoy some cookie decorating.  The park is gorgeous, filled with 475 acres of acorn trees, wild life and activities.  Inside the park, you can find a lake and the OC Zoo.  There is a lot to see so plan to stay a while.  Bring a picnic lunch and wear comfortable shoes.  There is a parking fee to enter the park.

Location: 1 Irvine Park Road, Irvine, CA 92869

Tanaka Farms is a working farm that offers tractor rides and organic fruits and veggies.  Families visit the farm to experience a day of fresh eating and walking. The farm is filled with plants, flowers and a boutique of handmade items for the home.  During the holiday season, they bring in fresh Christmas trees and decorations.  Expect to shop, eat and walk the farm with a grateful heart.
Location: 5380 3/4 University Drive, Irvine, CA

Peltzer Pines offers a cut your own tree farm.  You will see with your own eyes how a Christmas tree grew.  Cut and carry the crop of the farm and make your home smell wonderful.  These trees have been grown from seeds that were flown in from New Zealand.  You will get to experience the wild life that has supported the growth of these wonderful Christmas trees.  Peltzer Farms is family owned and operated for over four generations.  Ask questions about your purchase to learn more about their farm operation.  This is a great place to learn about nature and its beautiful products.

Locations: 3400 Rose Dr, Brea, CA 92823 & 7851 Blackstar Canyon Rd., Silverado, CA 92676

Richfield Pines is 10 Acres of live Christmas Trees. The farm has been selling trees since 1977. The average cost of the trees at this farm is $8.50 per foot. Monterey Pine grows beautifully on this farm. Choose the perfect tree that will make your holiday special this season. 

Location: 5392 Richfield Road, Yorba Linda, CA 92886

Why you should buy a fresh cut Christmas tree: They offer a teachable moment for young kids.  Explain to them the cycle of life through your purchase.  The fresh Christmas tree offers a great pine smell and organic feel to your home. There is no need to worry about storing the tree after the holidays. Every fresh cut Christmas tree supports a working farm and it’s community through its sales.  This purchase is filled with benefits to our local economy and the farming industry.  These trees, before they arrive at your home, have been working hard to emit fresh oxygen.  Buy fresh this year.

To find more Christmas Tree Farms in your area, check out these local farms we found for you.

San Diego County 
Family Christmas Tree Farm - El Cajon 
300 Pepper Drive 
El Cajon, CA 92021
619-448-5331
Tree Varieties: Monterey Pine trees

Highland Valley Christmas Tree Farm - Ramona
18425 Highland Valley Rd.
Ramona, Ca 92065
858-336-0663
Tree Varieties: Monterey Pine, Leyland Cypress

Los Angeles County 
Nancy's Ranch - Santa Clarita 
25039 Magic Mountain Parkway 
Santa Clarita, CA 91355-4675
Tree Varieties: Monterey Pine
661-255-6943

Frosty's Forest Christmas Tree Farm - Santa Clarita
25235 Orchard Village Road
Santa Clarita, Ca 91355
Monterey Pine
661- 259-6450

Chamberlain Choose and Cut - Claremont

(909) 626-0243
3436 Padua Ave.
Claremont, CA 91711
Tree varieties: Monterey pine, Leyland cypress
Quote from the California Christmas Tree Association:

“Living trees emit fresh oxygen. In fact, every acre of Christmas trees grown produces the daily oxygen requirement for 18 people. In North America at any given time, there are between 500,000 to one million acres of Christmas Trees, which produce enough oxygen for between 9-18 million people each day! The Canadian Christmas Tree Growers Association adds that "a one acre Christmas tree plantation can remove up to 13,000 kg of airborne pollutants per year".

Real Christmas Trees are a renewable resource. The trees are not simply removed from natural forests, but are grown on farms just like any other crop. To ensure a constant supply, most Christmas tree growers plant one to three new seedlings for every tree harvested.

Farms that grow Christmas Trees help to stabilize soil protect water supplies and provide habitat for wildlife, while creating scenic green belts. Often, Christmas Trees are grown on soil that cannot sustain other crops, and much of the farmland used to grow Christmas trees would not be used agriculturally were it not for Christmas Trees.”
Disclaimer: Not a sponsored post. All thoughts and ideas are all my own.