So we are always looking for ways to get kids interested in math and science. What could be better that doing that and teaching them practical life lessons. I originally found this site because it has a cool conversion calculator over at the Science of Cooking site. If you further explore the site, there are cool kitchen lab experiments. They even break down the structure of the Maillard Reaction and how to make salt sculptures. Even in the most basic issues, they deal with both the practical and the scientific. One example of this is their answer to why hardboiled eggs have the green ring and how to avoid getting it. So get your kids in the kitchen doing math, science and eating!

Here are the answers to the Wednesday feature and remember that they are not according to me;). They are according to the Star Tribune. Let me also say that Julie from Family Jules rocks because she got the most!

1. About 71 percent of the earth’s surface is covered by water.

2. The single cells in the brain communicate through electrical and chemical signals.

3. No. Dinosaurs went extinct at the end of the Cretaceous period, 65 million years ago. Modern humans did not appear until around 200,000 years ago.

4. Darwin’s theory of species origination says that natural selection chooses organisms that possess variable and heritable traits and that are best suited for their environments.

5. A year, 365 days, is the time it takes for the earth to travel around the sun. A day, 24 hours, is the time it takes for the earth to spin around once on its axis.

6. Solar radiation sunlight is scattered across the atmosphere by a process called diffused sky radiation. The sky is blue because much more short-wave radiation — blue light — is scattered across the sky than long-wave radiation — red light.

7. Rainbows can be seen when there are water droplets in the air and the sun is shining. Sunlight, which contains all colors, is refracted, or bent, off the droplets at different angles, splitting into its different colors of red, yellow, blue, etc.

8. Influenza viruses and others continually change over time, usually by mutation. This change enables the virus to evade the immune system of its host so that people are susceptible to influenza virus infection throughout their lives. Bacteria mutate in the same way and can also become resistant if overtreated with antibiotics.

9. About 3.8 billion years; they’re bacteria-like organisms.

10. Adding salt to snow or ice increases the number of molecules on the ground surface and makes it harder for the water to freeze. Salt can lower freezing temperatures on sidewalks to 15 degrees from 32 degrees.

Extra credit: Seasons occur because the earth is tilted at an angle of 23.5 degrees. At certain times of year the top half of the earth leans to the sun and therefore gets more sun and has summer. When that same half of the earth leans away from the sun it gets less light and has winter.

As the rate of technological changes increases (and we approach the Singularity), I’m fascinated with the world my children will accept as normal. Growing up, the 21st century was the future. For my kids, the 20th century will be before their time.

My children think it’s normal for TV programs to be paused and commercials to be skipped. That movies and music should come on shiny metallic discs. (They have never seen a vinyl record and are suspicious of audio tapes.) That you can make a phone call from anywhere. That news and weather information are always available on the computer. That there is a computer in the living room!

On Gizmodo today, I saw the end of something kids have “always” had to endure. I’m certain GyroBike, or something like it, will replace training wheels.

What typical things did you grow up with that kids today have no concept of? And what’s normal today that 21st century kids will see as icons of the past?

Here is a little nerdy quiz to take the place of the quote feature. I will be posting the answers Friday. This is from the Star Tribune in St. Paul, Minnesota

Think you know you know your science? Recently, several science gurus — Nobel Prize winners, institute heads, teachers and others who spend most of their time thinking about science — were asked, “What is one science question every high school graduate should be able to answer?”

Take their quiz and see how you do.

1. What percentage of the earth is covered by water?

2. What sorts of signals does the brain use to communicate sensations, thoughts and actions?

3. Did dinosaurs and humans ever exist at the same time?

4. What is Darwin’s theory of the origin of species?

5. Why does a year consist of 365 days, and a day of 24 hours?

6. Why is the sky blue?

7. What causes a rainbow?

8. What is it that makes diseases caused by viruses and bacteria hard to treat?

9. How old are the oldest fossils on earth?

10. Why do we put salt on sidewalks when it snows?

Extra credit: What makes the seasons change?

If you dare, post one or more of the answers (or your guess;)! I haven’t even given NerdDad the quiz yet!

I love it but what does everyone else think?

Today is Yom Hashoah, Holocaust Remembrance Day. This is an Israeli holiday but is observed by many everywhere. This is a day in which you remember the 6 million Jews and millions of others killed in the Holocaust. There are a few places to learn more including the Wikipedia and about.com. I recommend reading up on it because the history was very interesting (ok, I’m history nerd). There is also a good editorial in the Jerusalem Post. A question you may have reading this is, “I am not a Jew, I wasn’t part of WWII, why should I care?” Well, America and the church stood by while all of this happened. There were many postns at which someone could have effected the outcome. I am not just speaking of military options. I am speaking of the heart. When I think of the extermination of the Kurds or of the outrage in Darfur. What are we to do? These atrocities happened in Eastern Europe and nothing was really said. So what can we do to prevent this terror from being revisited bu anyone. I know that we as a church can support the efforts the US to introduce freedom into the Middle East. Just today I read about an effort to send school supplies to Afgan children. I know that there are missions going on in Darfur. These may seem like little things but if we mobilize it will speak to the world governments. It causes me to think about some of the points in Bono’s speech to the National Prayer Breakfast. I just ask everyone to reflect on the reason for the holiday and to think of our roles to prevent these tragedies from occuring again. Be grateful if you live in freedom and pray for all those that don’t.

The 17th Carnival of Homeschooling is up. Go on over to the Common Room to check it out!

So I am making an effort to not just spread negativity in the blogosphere. So in that vein…There is a website that only shares good news. It is appropriately HappyNews.com. So when you need to see the good in the world or just need a pick me up, pop over.

(HT: With Reckless Abandon)

Since good news should always be shared! This was taken from the Ben and Jerry’s website!

Tuesday, April 25th is Free Cone Day at Ben & Jerry’s, and you know what that means… free ice cream for you!

As a way to thank our customers for their support and to celebrate 28 years of scooping the chunkiest, funkiest ice cream, frozen yogurt and sorbet, Ben & Jerry’s scoop shops are giving it away!

Around the world, scoop shops are opening their doors from noon to 8:00 pm, to serve up a free scoop of your favorite flavor (or better yet, a new one you’ve been wanting to try, like Turtle Soup™, Peanut Butter Swirl or Lemonade Sorbet).

So as promised here is a further look into the kooky chaos of our lives. Last week I took my potty training NerdPie (2 1/2) potty before naptime. I was very please that her Pullup was still dry and I told her to tinkle (yes, that is what we call it;). So she stands facing the potty chair. I ask her what she is doing and she delares that she is now “big”. Since that wasn’t an answer that had anything to do with the question I asked again. She maintains that she is big like her brother. It clicks, I ask if she thinks she is going to tinkle standing up. She says yes and I say no. She is very insistant that she is bit and I state that I sit when I tinkle and that all girls have tosit because we have different private parts. She says once again that she is big. I then say that I am bigger than brother. It finally clicks and she sits down to pee. Next snapsot…the NerdBug.

Click here to read the previous post in this series about the Nerdling.