Ever watched a kid turn a cardboard box into a spaceship? That kind of creative spark is what Unplug & Play is all about. From amigurumi with @Auli Takala and cooking together to storytelling with @Joanne Langston and imaginative play, our speakers are bringing hands-on creative ideas your whole family can try — no special skills needed. Free, virtual, August 16-22. Save the date and get ready to make something together.

I'm curious about your family's approach to educational YouTube content, especially for younger children. I'd love to hear your thoughts: - At what age did you start letting your child watch educational videos on YouTube? - How much screen time do you usually allow for educational content? - Which educational YouTube channels or programmes do your children enjoy the most? - What made you choose those channels? (For example: educational value, entertainment, trust, recommendations, production quality, or something else.) - Have you found any channels that genuinely helped your child learn or develop new skills? I'm asking because I'm researching children's educational content and would really value hearing about real experiences from parents, rather than just relying on online articles. Thank you in advance for sharing your insights! 😊

This week, over in the Crust & Crumb Academy @Sandy Chong and I are experimenting with homemade pita pockets, let me know if you'd like the recipe. Here in the community though, we're wrapping up sweet science week with one of my favorite treats - brownies. For the full activity, complete with twists and variations by age check out #The Great Brownie Experiment the short version is provided below. What's your favorite sweet treat? Brownies can be thin or thick, chewy or cakey, crisp at the edges or soft in the center. Small changes in how you prepare or bake them can create surprisingly different results. If you bake, don't forget to share your results with us. Gather Your Gear: Use your favorite brownie recipe or a boxed brownie mix. You'll also need: - Ingredients required by your recipe - Mixing bowl - Spoon, whisk, or spatula - Measuring cups and spoons - Two small baking pans, or one pan divided with folded aluminum foil - Parchment paper or cooking spray - Oven mitts - Timer - Knife and cutting board - My Science Notebook (optional) Optional additions - Cooled caramel - Mini marshmallows - Sugar crystals - Chocolate chips Be sure to wash your hands thoroughly before handling food. Adult help is required when using the oven and handling hot pans. Steps: 1. Read the recipe together before beginning. 2. Choose one brownie question to investigate. Examples: - Thin brownies or thick brownies? - Warm brownies or completely cooled brownies? - Plain brownies or marshmallow brownies? - Plain brownies or caramel brownies? - Shorter baking time or longer baking time? 3. Predict what you think will happen. 4. Prepare the brownie batter according to the recipe. 5. Divide the batter evenly between the two pans or pan sections. 6. Change only one variable while keeping everything else the same. 7. Bake with adult supervision. If one section is thinner, begin checking it a little earlier. 8. Allow the brownies to cool enough to handle safely. 9. Compare:

Hello! I just found out Class Crunchlabs is a free STEM education site with cool experiences for middle schoolers and up. https://www.classcrunchlabs.org/curriculum Did you know about this project?

Last week, I shared a simple homemade ice cream recipe and asked for your favorite flavors. I also teased we'd have something more in-depth and here we are. For the full activity, along with variations by age go to the Curious Kitchen Lab in the classroom and select #Ice Cream Magic Ice alone is cold, but ice mixed with salt becomes even colder. That extra drop in temperature is enough to turn a sweet liquid into creamy homemade ice cream. Gather Your Gear: Ice Cream Mixture - 120 mL (½ cup) milk, half-and-half, or a combination - 15 mL (1 tablespoon) sugar - 1.25 mL (¼ teaspoon) vanilla extract Freezing Mixture - About 700 g (3 cups) ice - 75 g (⅓ cup) table salt or coarse salt Supplies - 1 small zip-top bag - 1 large zip-top bag - Kitchen towel or oven mitts - Measuring cups and spoons - Bowls and spoons - My Science Notebook (optional) Optional toppings - Cooled caramel from From Sugar to Caramel - Sugar crystals from Crystal Makers, if prepared using food-safe materials Be sure to wash your hands thoroughly before handling food. Check both bags carefully for holes before beginning. Steps 1. Combine the milk, sugar, and vanilla in the small zip-top bag. Press out excess air and seal tightly. 2. Fill the large zip-top bag with the ice and sprinkle the salt evenly over it. 3. Place the sealed small bag inside the large bag and seal the large bag tightly. 4. Wrap the bag in a towel or use oven mitts. The outside will become very cold. 5. Shake, roll, and gently turn the bag for 5 to 10 minutes. 6. Check the ice cream. Continue shaking until it becomes thick and creamy. 7. Remove the small bag and wipe away any salty water before opening it. 8. Scoop the ice cream into bowls. Add optional toppings if desired. 9. Watch how your ice cream changes as it begins to warm.