Make a snow snake

The Museum of Discovery is open 11am-5pm Tuesday January 11, 2011.  


Yesterday we made snow ice cream. Today, how about a SNOW SNAKE? (thanks to TLC!) 


If you don't have enough snow for a snake, you can do a smaller version and call it a caterpillar!  Decorate it with food coloring (just be careful not to stain your clothes). Send pictures of your snowy creations to kmcmanners@amod.org and we'll post them here!

Speaking of snakes, join us for COLD BLOODE CREATURES on January 27-29; where you can meet cold blooded creatures of all kinds (including snakes). You'll be amazed!

Snow ice cream

The Museum of Discovery is closed today, Monday, January 10, 2011. If you have cabin fever, try this recipe for snow ice cream.

Snow Ice Cream

1 gallon of snow

1 cup of sugar

1 spoon of vanilla extract

2 cups of whole milk

Directions:

Use a clean container to collect clean snow. Add sugar and vanilla, stirring everything to make it even, then pour in milk and continue stirring to make it look like ice cream. Eat it right away!

Send pictures of you enjoying your ice cream marketing@amod.org and we'll post them here!

Snow ice cream!

The Museum of Discovery is closed today. Snow day #2! If you have cabin fever, try this recipe for snow ice cream.

Snow Ice Cream
1 gallon of snow
1 cup of sugar
1 spoon of vanilla extract
2 cups of whole milk
Directions:
Use a clean container to collect clean snow. Add sugar and vanilla, stirring everything to make it even, then pour in milk and continue stirring to make it look like ice cream. Eat it right away!

Send pictures of you enjoying your ice cream marketing@amod.org and we'll post them here!

Why do we shiver?

Brrrrrrr. With wind chill temperatures below 0 in Arkansas today, we thought it might be appropriate to talk about WHY we shiver!

First, it's important to know that humans have a core body temperature, which must be kept at 98.6 degrees Fahrenheit for the proper function of vital organs. The subconscious act of shivering is your body’s way of protecting itself. Your muscles surrounding your vital organs shake in an attempt to keep these organs warm and the shaking motion produces heat energy.

Come to the Museum Saturday January 9 from 1-4 for a great program called COOL CONCOCTIONS. We'll mix up some interesting combinations, including ice cream made from liquid hydrogen...and yes, you can eat it! Reserve your place by calling 396-7061. Cost is $20/person and includes all materials and fun!

Snow and Hail - Science of Weather

Weather explained...part 2! SNOW and HAIL



Snow is created in the cloud from which it falls. As every second grader knows, each individual snowflake has its own unique pattern.




Though hail seems as if it would occur during the winter time, it usually occurs during the summer months. Hail forms in storm clouds typically during thunderstorms and is frequently known to be the size of golf balls. The largest hail stone on record is seven inches in diameter and has a 18.75 inch circumference!





Remember, you can make your own winter weather forecast! Visit the Museum’s own television green screen! You can be on TV!

Sleet and Freezing Rain - Science of Weather

Winter weather explained...part 1! Today...sleet and freezing rain. Tune in next week for snow and hail.


Freezing rain consists of water droplets that fall from clouds as rain but freeze upon contact with the ground when the temperature is below 32 degrees Fahrenheit.




Sleet begins in the form of a snow flake. As it falls to earth, it passes through a layer of warm air and transforms into a liquid state. However, it refreezes before reaching the ground. When sleet hits the ground, it generally bounces.





And, if you would like to predict your own winter weather forecast, visit the Museum’s own television green screen! You can be on TV!

Lastly, a helpful tip: Keep an ice scraper in car just in case; Arkansas has been known to have unusual spurts of wintry weather! You don’t want to be unprepared as I was last winter. (I had to scrape the frozen sleet off my windshield with a debit card!)

The Science of Shivering

If you have ventured outside without a warm jacket, you have probably discovered the frigid air of Arkansas in December, and you may have even felt your hands shaking or teeth chattering. However, you probably didn’t know why you couldn’t steady your hand. Humans have a core body temperature, which must be kept at 98.6 degrees Fahrenheit for the proper function of vital organs. The subconscious act of shivering is your body’s way of maintaining homeostasis. Your muscles surrounding your vital organs shake in an attempt to keep these organs warm; the shaking motion produces heat energy. According to Kazuhiro Nakamura of Oregon Health & Science University, shivering requires a lot of energy and thus is the body’s last resort at maintaining its internal temperature. Before shivering, your body goes through a number of processes to keep heat within the body. First, blood vessels are constricted in an attempt to keep the blood as far from the surface of the skin as possible. This prevents the blood from being cooled and inhibits evaporation. In addition, tiny muscles known as erector pili flex to make your hair stand up straight. This causes the hair to serve as an insulator, and it causes goosebumps to appear on the skin. If these processes do not work to keep the core warm, your body resorts to shivering. But how does the body know when to shiver? Well, your brain monitors the temperature of your skin and tells muscles when shivering should commence. So, the next time you shiver, remember the science behind it; then, put on a sweater.




Want something to do this weekend? Visit the Museum this Sunday, December 12 for FREE SECOND SUNDAY!