In case you missed it, we’ve put together instructions on creating a variety of rockets at home- then you can join us next Saturday at 3:30 pm for an online community rocket launch! Check out the video here.

Rockets and other spaceships are featured in many science fiction books and movies. In these stories, high-powered spaceships are usually able to travel to multiple galaxies without much effort. Unfortunately, we are not able to travel like that in the real world, but rockets are still used a lot for human space flight and other means. We’re going to show you a simple yet fun rocket building activity that’s perfect for anyone who enjoys space. Adult supervision is recommended for this activity. You’ll also find a bonus story-writing activity below that you can use to feature your new rocket.

Today we will show you how to create an impact crater using simple kitchen ingredients, but first, let's find out more about them.

What is an impact crater?

When a meteoroid is able to penetrate the Earth’s atmosphere without completely breaking apart, it is called a meteor. When a meteor hits the Earth’s surface it is called a meteorite. A meteorite travels at very high speeds, ranging from 25,000 to 160,000 miles per hour (40,233 - 257,495 kilometers per hour). When it hits the ground at such a high speed, a bowl-shaped depression, or hole called a crater is produced.

If you live near the Atlantic coast in North America, then you know that summer is both a lovely time to spend by the shore and holds the possibility for some dangerous storms. In the North Atlantic, hurricane season is June 1 through November 30, with activity peaking between August and October. Nearly all tropical storms in the Atlantic area occur during this window, which very nearly lines up with the summer season (June 20-September 22). So why is that?

Let’s learn all about hurricane season and then capture a storm in a bottle by making a hurricane in a jar!

We’re spending this week looking at planets! Today, we’ll learn a little about the development of models of the solar system and Kepler’s Laws of Planetary Motion, and then we’ll simulate how planets move around the Sun by making our own gravity well.

In honor of National Wildflower Week, this week’s Distance Learning offerings are focusing on the plant world.

An animal that helps plants cross-pollinate is called a pollinator, and they are an especially important for farming and for the ecosystem as a whole. In New England, the most common pollinators are bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. Let’s learn about why plants need pollinators and ways we can make the outside of a home an inviting space for this essential creatures!

Turn April showers into an opportunity for at-home science! In this all-ages activity, learn how to track rainfall using a simple homemade rain gauge.

Adult supervision required—sharp objects utilized in one step.