Foil Rivers & Water Beads!

Our summer learning fun continues. A couple of the more popular things we've done lately are experimenting with the laws of gravity using a foil river and learning about molecules with water beads!

I can't remember exactly where I read about creating the river (Pinterest, most likely) but I knew this would be one The Husband would tackle. He loves doing these types of projects with the Things. Bonus - it was a HOT day so this doubled as a way to cool off during Thing 3's nap. 

The Husband helped them construct the river to keep the water in but it was all Things changing the direction of the river, putting rocks, twigs, and anything else they could find along the path to see how it changed the water flow.

This was the official report I got from The Husband while at work:

"They learned a lot about rivers, dams, water flow, gravity, floods, etc We had an invisible town and I challenged them to make the river overflow its banks to flood it and then try to save it removing the least amount of rocks possible."

They all enjoyed it so much the giant sheet of foil is now perched on a shelf in our garage so they can do it again (which seems to be a trend this summer - they are LOVING so many of the activities we've done).

Today we played with WATER BEADS. I'd been wanting to do this one for awhile. Water beads are just tiny bits of polymer - the same stuff they put in diapers and those little food packages to absorb moisture. I also learned it was originally developed in the 60's to help crops retain moisture during drought. See - summer learning isn't just for the kids! We found our beads at the local craft store in the floral department. They are marketed as a decorative filler for vases but are so much more fun to play with! If you have seen Orbeez in the toy department, it is the exact same thing but cheaper.

$2.99/pack - The Things chose clear and pink beads.

Carefully pouring the beads into a clear container. (Ignore the recital gloves she is STILL wearing almost a week later.)

Thing 1 learned very quickly to pour carefully and close to the bottom as those little beats bounce EVERYWHERE. 

We then filled our bowls full of water. 

We stirred the beads up with our hands a bit to separate them. If they stick together they take much longer to absorb the water and grow! 

Our beads about an hour later. Already growing! 

 

Still growing! 

Thing 2 was fascinated with the clear beads. 

They seem to disappear in the water but you can feel them when you put your hands in. 

And they appear to be see-through when in the water. 

We let ours absorb for about five hours. I don't think they got to the full size they could have but we were all anxious to play. Even the babies got in on the action! (I shouldn't have to say it but - watch babies closely. These are not to be ingested and their first instinct is to explore with their mouth.)

We only used a half a pack of each color and it filled this 16 qt tote almost a third full of little beads. 

It didn't take long for the older Things to break out the pool toys.

Or to stick their feet in and squish the beads with their toes.

We decided to leave a few out to see what will happen as they lose their water source.

As I type, the babies are napping but Things 1 & 2 are still happily playing in the beads. NOTHING holds their attention this long. I figured Thing 1 especially would get bored pretty quickly (because she's seven, you know, and this is kind of a "baby" thing) but her little science mind is trying to figure out how they work. Next time I plan to utilize the observation sheet created and discussed here.

Learning through play - the best kind!