Collections of Science

[science_spot]

This post was a bit hard to come by! I don't have a collection of any scienc-y stuff myself, but checking out these wonderful collections could inspire me to start!  It might give the same idea to you or your kids, too.

Starting a collection of objects is a wonderful activity for even the youngest kids.  It's an activity that can grow up with the kids, changing and adding more detail as some progresses.  Some examples (although not all suitable for children, obviously) can be found below.  Enjoy!

 

Collecting Rocks - some kids love rocks, and collecting them doesn't seem as hard as I orginally thought, and you can learn alot, a little at a time.  Identifying them might be tricky, but here are some resources to help. Looking for a little something unusual?  How about these images of the Moon Rock Collection.  If you don't want to start your own collection, many science museums keep a collection of fabulous rocks for you to visit (and sometimes touch).

USGS (US Geological Survey) has a nice short guide to getting started. 

RocksforKids - lots of resources here, including pictures, identification guide and tips for collecting more rocks.

RockHoundingArkansas offers tips to manage a growing collection.

RockCollectingAroundtheUSA - links for rock collecting sites and clubs based on the state you live in.

Visit Learner.org to build an interactive virtual rock collection while you learn about different types of rocks.

 

Collecting Science Postcards - can make an interesting collection as well as a tool for getting kids interested in science.

SciencePostcards offers designs you can send to your class as a trigger for a new science education section.

Check out Bob Marshall's virtual science postcard tour of Antarctica.

You can easily start your own science postcard collection (or add science postcards to your current postcard collection).  Postcards a cheap, easy to store, and pretty easy to find, especially since Science is Everywhere!  The zoos, museums, and aquariums are excellent places to start, particularly those with traveling exhibits (because they usually bring new items in the gift shops).  If you are interested in buying more to add to your collection, zazzle's got some nice ones.  That site has inspired me to buy a bunch to put in a huge frame to hang as art in my house when I am ready to decorate!

Find some vintage science postcards from the California Museum of Science here, in this personal collection.

 

Nature Walk Collections - the best part of this is the changing material you find each season, and it's FREE!  You and your kids can collect everything from bird feathers to leaves to wildflowers to bugs.  You can collect the object (be careful of the regulations in State and Federal parks) or a picture/sketch of each object for your collection.

Wildflowers can be pressed for keeping long term, and can be used for crafts later, or turning your collection into a series of walk hangings.

Bird feather collecting is a nice way to get kids interested in  the different types of birds, just in time for winter feeding.

Leaves can be collected more easily by making on-the-spot leaf rubbings instead of taking leaves home.  This way, identification can be done at home without the worry of leaves crumbling to pieces on the way there, and you can make a nice little book of your collections!

For more ideas see stormthecastle or make it even more fun by designing a scavenger hunt!

 

The Periodic Table of the....... - collecting these is more fun than science, but there is alot to be learned by posting these around your house!

The Elements  (and how they pertain to Comic Books) or this one with videos! Or how about the Chemical Galaxy format?

The Elephants

Condiments

Want to see even more?  Check out the Mania!

 

Catalogs from scientific supply companies - they are free, and full of cool sciency stuff you might not be able to buy or afford.  Having these in your house is a great way to open discussions with your kids about all things science!  You can even use the old ones to make great crafts such as colleges or book covers.

Here's a few to get you started, but these companies are so numerous, this could quickly be a huge collection!

VWR Scientific

Fermentas

Sigma-Aldrich

Science Kit

 

Other ideas for science collections:

Science tattoos was a topic Carl Zimmer recently wrote about, and he found some reallynice ones.  I am not sure if anyone would start their a collection of them on their own body, but if you do, his post gives some great ideas!  Check it out!  There are many pages and some incredible designs.

You probablly won't collect mammalian brains in your house, but viewing this collection could be just as education (or entertaining).

If your child is a Girl Scout or Boy Scout, you can collect science badges, such as these for Junior Girl Scouts.

 

What else can you think of to collect?  Test tubes, old microscope or other lab gear, old Science publications, funky jewelry shaped like science stuff?

 

Tonya

AKA sunmoonstars

The Science Spot