Snap Circuits

I found a brand new (never been opened) snap circuit set at the Thrift Barn on Thursday.  I couldn't believe it!  I had been looking to purchase one, but really didn't want to spend thirty dollars.  I paid three dollars and fifty cents at the Thrift Barn.  Score!

Little Man quickly spied the interesting looking box in the shopping buggy.  He wanted to play with it and couldn't wait to get it home.  We had so many errands and Aikido practice that day, by the time we got home it was late.  However, he remembered it on Friday evening around 7:30 pm!

So, a tired Mommy reluctantly agreed to experimentation.  Now, I am not a physics person.  I have a degree in biology and have taken my fair share of chemistry course, however I never took physics.  Hubby is the computer and electronic person of the household.  Unfourtunately, he was not home to help.

Little Man and Egee were excited.  We cleared the coffee table and set the box on it.  I pulled out the manual and began to study it.  Little Man was taking out pieces and wanting to build the flying saucer.  I found the directions.  When the directions started talking about reversing polarities of something and refering back to another experiment, my brain locked up.  The children were insistant on trying this and that.  I decided to start with the experiment the directions refered us.

We were now in agreement that we would start out building the fan.  I showed them how to read the directions.  They retrieved the parts we needed to make the fan.  The excitement built, as we snapped the last piece on the board.  Little Man flipped the switch and the fan started.  Success!

Now on to the flying saucer.  We studied the diagram and compared it to the fan.  What was different?  The children looked and compared.  We found that the fan motor was turned in the opposite direction (reversing its polarity).  So, we switched it on our board.  Egee flipped the switch and the fan ran in reverse.  Wasn't it suppose to fly?  Then up it went!  The children repeated the experiment over and over.


Next, we had to make the alarm.  Then we had to make the LED light up.  The children were full of what if we did this.  Let's see if this will work.  Everyone was having a good time. 

Unfourtunately, time passed quickly and before we knew, it was nine o'clock at night.  Little Man wanted to do all 100 experiments before he went to bed, but I overrulled him.  We have to save some for later.

This is the best three dollars and fifty cents I have spent.  Maybe we will stumble upon another circuit set later.  Until then, we still have ninety more experiments to go!

A Day Out with MeeMee

The kids and I enjoyed a day out with MeeMee.   Summer is winding down and school is starting back, so MeeMee will be working again. 

We decided to go to Cooley Farms and pick up peaches and blackberries.  The blackberry crop is almost finished for the summer and we had yet to make a trip to get these delicious berries.  MeeMee had never been to Cooley's and today was a perfect day to go. 

The children sampled the different varieties of freestone peaches, of course each had their own favorite!  So, we bought some of each.  The general consensus was for the O'Henry yellow peach.

Egee's favorite - O'Henry yellow peach

Little Man's favorite - White Rose white peach

My favorite - blackberries

After we picked out the sweet tasting fruit, we headed over to the cafe.  Burgers and ice cream was a special treat!

On our way back home, we drove up to Landrum to visit the Hospice Thrift Barn.  I normally find odds and ends to add to our homeschooling collection of games and books.  The children like going to treasure hunt.  A dollar can buy quite a bit there!

A favorite stop when in Landrum.

Today was no exception to finding 'treasures'.  MeeMee even found a few books for her classroom.

I had been looking for star maps at Barnes and Noble, but had not had success within my budgeted amount to spend.  Today, a man at the Thrift Barn was stocking books and asked if I was looking for anything specific.  I told him we homeschool and I just pick up things that I think I can use.  He said he would be right back and brought back a big box of books.  The 'Starfinder' just happened to be in the box! 

Not a bad find for a dollar!

 This game is for beginning readers to advanced learners!  A wonderful addition for both children to use.

Science Stuff!

This kit had never been opened and only cost three dollars!

We ended up with several books to go with the above goodies and spent a grand total of ten dollars.  I just love the Thrift Barn!  I think MeeMee will be asking to go back soon to our treasure spot.

Overall, we had a wonderful outing.  To bad MeeMee has to go back to school next week.