Download this issue as a PDF littleclickers-apr19-eggs

1. How many chicken eggs does an ostrich egg equal? About 16 or so, and yes, it is possible to have one for breakfast. Here’s what it looks like to cook one, at https://youtu.be/pN7s_ZmYXG4

2. Where do most of the eggs we eat come from? Most likely, the egg you ate this morning came from a caged chicken. But not all egg farms are the same. Let’s have a look at a modern “free range” chicken farm, at http://bitly.com/2FKXZ5G

3. How many eggs does a chicken lay in it’s lifetime? The average hen will produce about 265 eggs a year and most hens have two productive egg laying years. That means about 530 eggs. http://bitly.com/2WIbklZ

4. What is the world’s most famous egg? According to CNBC a photograph of a single brown chicken egg has become the most liked post on Instagram. See what it looks like, at https://cnb.cx/2WEO5JB

5. What’s the difference between an egg white and a yolk?  A happy, well fed chicken produces a healthy egg with a well-defined yellow part, or yolk. Here’s what is inside of a chicken egg. http://bitly.com/2FKwmtF

APPLICATION: COOL EGG TRICKS
How can you tell if an egg is hard boiled? If it spins like a top, the egg is hard boiled, because the inside is solid. Here’s some other fun egg tricks.

1. Onion Skin decoration. Easter is a time when many people decorate eggs. Did you know that you can use onion skills to make a beautiful brown shell? http://bitly.com/2FKh1Jr

2. Make the perfect hardboiled egg.  Steam them… don’t boil them. Here’s how http://bitly.com/2UavTtN

———————————————————————————————————————————————— LittleClickers.com (this page and the associated web site) is sponsored by Computer Explorers. Neither Children’s Technology Review (publisher of LittleClickers) or Computer Explorers has any vested interest in any of the sites listed on this page. Librarians and teachers are permitted to copy this page for non-profit use. To report a bad link, use this form, or contact us. Copyright 2018, Children's Technology Review.

Our friend Alan Kay is fond of saying “The best way to predict the future is to invent it.” No where is this more true than the CES show, held each January in Las Vegas. Here are five cool inventions we spotted that help us better understand what lies ahead.

Download this page as a PDF –> lcfeb

1. A flying electric school bus. Well sort of. Thanks to advances in drone-like multi-rotor technologies, not to mention stronger batteries and GPS navigation, we’re only a few years away from flying shuttles that can take off and land in a driveway or parking lot. Learn more about the Bell Nexis, at http://www.bellflight.com/company/innovation/nexus

2. Airbag for riding your bike. Everyone knows — it’s no fun to fall off a bike. What there were a special jacket with sensors that could tell if you were falling, and fill up with air right before impact? Learn more about this technology, at http://bitly.com/2DbOECP.

3. Language translator earpiece Waverly Labs displayed an earpiece for pilots that allows them to understand an interpret up to 15 languages in real time — using speech recognition. The cool thing is that we spotted several models. Soon we’ll all be able to afford them. Learn more at http://bitly.com/2DfcCwG

4. A bluetooth solar beehive. The CoCoon behife https://www.beelife.fr uses solar power and heat or cool a beehive as sensors monitor the conditions inside. You can get an alert on your phone if something is needed. Sweet!

5. Wave-powered Emergency Signal Device. Developed by Hanyang University, this floating signal device produces it’s own electricity using the movement of the waves, so that it’s LED light will never go out. Learn more about the Korean inventor, at http://bitly.com/2DeGHwE

APPLICATION: Design your own Tesla

Few cars have more futuristic than the all-electric, mostly self driving Tesla. Visit http://bitly.com/2SxQmIa where you can design your car using a series of options that include engine power, color, wheels and electronics. As you select each option, the price changes automatically, and you can see how much your monthly payments would be. Just don’t click “buy.”  Your parents might get mad.

Welcome to the Future on YouTube Want more?

Here’s a video playlist that https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLcBVHzUUEKwmBohkXsv2beElPjl0s-V5F

Download this column as a one page PDF, at Jan 19-concrete

What can stop a river and hold up a skyscraper?

It’s not superman — it’s concrete — an ancient building material that’s easy to take for granted. So… how much do you know about concrete? Is it he same thing as cement? Do you know the where the world’s largest concrete structure is, or how much a bag of cement costs? Let’s find out…

1. How long has concrete been around? Various forms of concrete can be found in the Egyptian pyramids, as well as ancient Rome. The first concrete-like substance was found in the Middle East, used by builders in 1300 BC.  Learn concrete’s history at  http://www.rumford.com/articlemortar.html

2. Is “cement” the same as “concrete?” No. Concrete is a mixture of sand, crushed rocks and cement. Cement is a fine grey powder made up of calcium, silicon, iron, and aluminum. It reacts with water to bind sand and rocks together, into a single lump of hard rock. Learn about the chemistry of concrete, at  http://bitly.com/2FbTOC7

3. How long does concrete last? At http://bitly.com/2F6DXE6 you can learn that the Hoover Dam will last 10,000 years. The Pantheon– a round building in Rome, has a concrete roof that is 2000 years old and is doing just fine.

4. Do artists use concrete? Yes! It can be molded, carved or cast, there are many fun project ideas. See https://www.etsy.com/market/concrete_art for example.

5. What is the world’s largest concrete structure? At http://bitly.com/2F9QtmU you can read about the Three Gorges Dam in China. It was made out of 21 million cubic yards of concrete — five times the size of the Hoover Dam. That’s enough concrete to build a five highways across the USA. Learn more about the concrete in the Hoover Dam at https://on.doi.gov/2F6uEVA

APPLICATION: Make a casting

Start with about $14 and a strong parent to take you to a building supply store.

Pick up a bag of pure Portland Cement (named after the Isle of Portland, in England) and store it in a dry place. It will weigh 94 pounds, so get some help, and remember that cement dust is bad for you. Mix the one part cement powder with about three parts sand, and some gravel (or marbles!); along with enough water so the goop can pour into a mold.

Make a handprint or drop in some coins, or scratch a design with a stick before your cement hardens. Here are more ideas  http://bitly.com/2F7Zs8u. If you happen to own a kiln and a rock crusher, you can make your own concrete. Learn how at http://bitly.com/2F63NYG.

VIDEOS Here’s our YouTube playlist with select Concrete videos for this month.

———————————————————————————————————————————————— LittleClickers.com (this page and the associated web site) is sponsored by Computer Explorers. Neither Children’s Technology Review (publisher of LittleClickers) or Computer Explorers has any vested interest in any of the sites listed on this page. Librarians and teachers are permitted to copy this page for non-profit use. To report a bad link, use this form, or contact us. Copyright 2018, Children's Technology Review.

Teachers and librarians — download this month’s column as a one page PDF, to send home with your children –>Sep18-littleclickers

How long does it take for a plastic water bottle to disintegrate? (About 400 years!)  Who invented plastic? Do elephants like plastic? How many types of plastic are there?

Plastic is an amazing substance that we use for just about everything. It’s greatest advantage — it’s strength and the fact that it never decomposes — is also it’s greatest disadvantage (that it never decomposes). It’s amazing to think that as recently as 100 years ago, people lived without it. Let’s learn some more!

1. Why do elephants love plastic?  According to Scientific American, thousands of elephants were hunted in the early 1800’s to make billiard balls (for the game of pool) out of their tusks. That changed in 1867, when John Wesley Hyatt, a printer in New York, figured out how to make billiard balls out of a crude form of molded plastic called bakelite. His invention saved many elephants. http://bit.ly/2LV0jIh

2. How long does it take for a plastic water bottle to naturally break down? It depends on where it. If it’s in the ocean, it might float for a year before being ground into billions of tiny bits that will float for hundreds of years. A bottle by the side of the road could last for at least 400 years. That means if George Washington’s army left their water bottles on the shore the Delaware before the famous battle of Trenton, they’d still be there today! Yikes. That’s why it is important for everyone to recycle. Learn more at http://bit.ly/2LWBRqf

3. Can a “brass” instrument be made out of plastic? Yes! Increasingly, plastic is replacing metal and wood for all sorts of things. The Allora brand plastic trombones and trumpets are cheap (1/10 the cost of a good brass instrument), light and dent free, made with ABS plastic — the same kind that LEGOs are made from. The come in 11 colors http://bitly.com/2Q5MbPI. Here’s a video of one being played https://youtu.be/NLAHSgZaMU0

4. Where does plastic come from? Oil, mostly, although different types of plastic have different components; and LEGO is exploring using sugar cane based plastic (see https://bloom.bg/2M2qJbc). Here’s a video that explains the entire plastic life cycle, from oil to plastic. https://youtu.be/IwdUwffecsM

APPLICATION: Make a Plastic Collection

How many types of plastics can you find in your house?

Look on the bottom of containers and you can find numbers that help you know what type of plastic you’re dealing with. Here are the seven standard classifications for plastics. Learn more about each type, at http://bitly.com/2wOvtLU or watch https://youtu.be/_qTelxi3MjU

#1 – PET (Polyethylene Terephthalate) cold drink bottles
#2 – HDPE (High-Density Polyethylene) grocery bags
#3 – PVC (Polyvinyl Chloride) pipes, clothes, toys
#4 – LDPE (Low-Density Polyethylene) squeezable bottles
#5 – PP (Polypropylene) microwave plastics
#6 – PS (Polystyrene) styrofoam cups, egg cartons
#7 – Other (BPA, Polycarbonate) baby bottles

———————————————————————————————————————————————— LittleClickers.com (this page and the associated web site) is sponsored by Computer Explorers. Neither Children’s Technology Review (publisher of LittleClickers) or Computer Explorers has any vested interest in any of the sites listed on this page. Librarians and teachers are permitted to copy this page for non-profit use. To report a bad link, use this form, or contact us. Copyright 2018, Children's Technology Review.

Download this month’s column as a one page, easy to print PDF with this link –> lc-caves

Did you hear about the soccer team that was lost in a cave? Luckily they were all rescued. How did they get in such a situation? What was it like inside the cave? How are caves formed? Let’s learn more about caves.

1. Where did the soccer team get lost? Answer: Thailand, in a cave called Tham Luang. It is home to monkeys, statues and huge chambers that are lit by beams of sunlight. But if you go in deeper, the cave gets dark and narrow, and you can get trapped if the water rises. Learn more about this cave, at http://bitly.com/2n1vsjm or take a virtual tour, at https://youtu.be/v4JputXZXXY.

2. Where is the world’s biggest cave? Answer: A 747 could fly into the mouth of the Doong Cave in Vietnam http://bitly.com/2mYNqTA. But the longest cave is in the USA. It’s called Mammoth Cave in Kentucky, which has over 400 miles of tunnels. It’s been called a grand, gloomy, peculiar place. Learn more at https://www.nps.gov/maca/index.htm

3. How are caves made? One drip at a time. Caves are made by running water, and they take tens of thousands of years to form. Learn more at PBS http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/caves/

4. What’s the difference between a stalactite and a stalagmite? Each is formed when dissolved minerals drip in a cave. Stalactites hang from the ceiling (like icicles); stalagmites form on the floor. Here’s some news of a recent discovery of some amazing formations https://youtu.be/y2rMlyhhvDs

5. How is a cave like a time machine? Caves are nature’s vaults. If you put a mark on a wall, it could last for thousands of years, because it is protected from wind and rain. In fact, there are drawings that date back 64,000 years! Here’s a link that shows some good cave drawings http://bitly.com/2n4Nz88.

APPLICATION: MAKE A STALACTITE
Get some salt, some water and some string. http://bitly.com/2AxjQhC or try this experiment to make a small formation in a just a few days http://bitly.com/2ADgMQW

Now… let’s watch some amazing videos about caves! –> Visit YouTube

———————————————————————————————————————————————— LittleClickers.com (this page and the associated web site) is sponsored by Computer Explorers. Neither Children’s Technology Review (publisher of LittleClickers) or Computer Explorers has any vested interest in any of the sites listed on this page. Librarians and teachers are permitted to copy this page for non-profit use. To report a bad link, use this form, or contact us. Copyright 2018, Children's Technology Review.

How much do you know about dinosaurs? Find out with this dinosaur quiz.

Download this month’s LittleClickers as a one page PDF –> Jul18lc

1. Could you have a dinosaur as a pet?  Not a good idea. Most dinos– like the large meat eaters — would see you as a snack. The Irish news explored this question http://bitly.com/2NogqAd and determined that perhaps a plant eating, horse-sized dinosaur could work if it were raised it from an egg.

2. How many years ago was the last dinosaur alive?
a) 100 years
b) 100,000 years
c) 1 million years
d) 66 million years
Answer: At the Natural History Museum http://bitly.com/2NoRQ1Z you learn that the last dinosaurs were alive 66 million years ago.

3. What killed the dinosaurs?  Most scientists agree that dinosaur life ended suddenly when a six mile wide asteroid struck the earth. The dust from the impact blocked the sun and changed the climate, starving the dinosaurs. See https://www.psi.edu/epo/ktimpact/ktimpact.html

4. What living creature today most resembles dinosaurs?
a) A crocodile
b) A sturgeon
c) A chicken
d) All of the above.
The correct answer is d) all of the above, although the crocodile might be the most similar looking. Learn more at http://bitly.com/2NokQad

5. T/F The biggest dinosaur was larger than a whale. False. The largest land dinosaurs, the sauropod Argentinosaurus was about half the size of today’s adult blue whale. Land animals have to support their own weight, whereas sea creatures get some help from the water, so they can grow bigger. https://bbc.in/2tIBVUc

APPLICATION: HOW MANY DINOSAURS CAN YOU NAME?

Here’s a nice list of dinosaurs, with facts https://simple.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_dinosaurs
Here’s a National Geographic Kids dinosaur fact quiz http://bitly.com/2ISy8Zg
See how many dinosaurs you can name at Quiz Biz: https://www.quiz.biz/quizz-722947.html

YouTube Playlist

———————————————————————————————————————————————— LittleClickers.com (this page and the associated web site) is sponsored by Computer Explorers. Neither Children’s Technology Review (publisher of LittleClickers) or Computer Explorers has any vested interest in any of the sites listed on this page. Librarians and teachers are permitted to copy this page for non-profit use. To report a bad link, use this form, or contact us. Copyright 2018, Children's Technology Review.

Teachers and librarians — Download this month’s topic as a one page PDF.

Scratch is a free, easy to learn computer language that is growing in popularity. Did you know there are six types of projects you can make? Can you name them? Let’s take a closer look, at https://scratch.mit.edu/explore/projects/all

1. Animations. Use the camera and timing features to make things move on the screen. https://scratch.mit.edu/explore/projects/animations/

2. Art. Scratch has built in drawing tools that make it possible draw in freestyle. You can also create interesting geometric patterns, like this one. https://scratch.mit.edu/explore/projects/art/

3. Games. From Pong to Pokémon, you can find all sorts of games in Scratch. Maze games are good to start with, because they introduce you to motion and collisions. https://scratch.mit.edu/explore/projects/games/

4. Music. Scratch gives you a library of sounds, or you can record your own. https://scratch.mit.edu/explore/projects/music/

5. Stories. You can mix your writing with pictures, videos or recordings. In fact, Scratch makes it easy to narrate your story. https://scratch.mit.edu/explore/projects/stories/

6. Tutorials. What to teach somebody how to train a puppy or build a treehouse? Make your own tutorial, at  https://scratch.mit.edu/explore/projects/tutorials/

APPLICATION

How do I start with Scratch?  Scratch won’t work with mobile devices, so you’ll need a Chromebook or Laptop (Windows or Mac) plus good internet access. A camera and microphone is recommended. Follow these three steps.

Step 1: Find Scratch. On your computer, type the word “Scratch” into any search engine, or go to http://mit.scratch.edu

Step 2: Register. Think up a screen name and password. You’ll also need an email address in order to confirm the account. Login, and choose “Create.”

Step 3: Take the tutorials. We’ve linked to some tutorials in this month’s YouTube playlist. It’s also smart to preview samples. https://scratch.mit.edu/starter_projects/

———————————————————————————————————————————————— LittleClickers.com (this page and the associated web site) is sponsored by Computer Explorers. Neither Children’s Technology Review (publisher of LittleClickers) or Computer Explorers has any vested interest in any of the sites listed on this page. Librarians and teachers are permitted to copy this page for non-profit use. To report a bad link, use this form, or contact us. Copyright 2018, Children's Technology Review.

Teachers and librarians — download this topic as a one page PDF (all hyperlinks are spelled out, so it works on paper). Use this link.

Drones are a mixture of the powerful technologies, many of which didn’t exist a few years ago.

Today you can purchase a drone for about the price of a bicycle that can fly for 20 minutes while taking clear, stable videos. Your new eyes in the sky requires new responsibilities, so let’s take a crash course in flying a drone.

1. How high can I fly?  400 feet; or a 40 story building. At the https://faadronezone.faa.gov you’ll find as set of rules that include:

• Only fly for fun. You must register with the FAA if you are hired for a job, such as to take photos of a roof. If the police spot you flying an unregistered drone or if someone complains, you could get fined.
• Fly during the daytime, when you can see your drone.
• Your drone can’t be too big. But this shouldn’t be a problem, because the FAA says it must weight less than 55 lbs (a heavy suitcase).
• You must always keep your drone in view when flying.
• Stay away from other aircraft or emergency response efforts.
• Never fly over active roads, moving traffic or people.
• Be aware of controlled airspace, such as around military bases or around airports.

2. Can anyone fly a drone? There are more and more rules about drones. If you’re serious you should register your drone with the FAA (Federal Aviation Association). It only costs $5, and takes a few minutes. Visit https://www.faa.gov/uas/ to learn more.

3. What does UAS stand for? Unmanned Aircraft Systems. That’s what a drone is. Check out this college degree in UAS, at Embry-Riddle University http://bitly.com/2rrOu4r

4. I’m really serious about drones, and I don’t want a toy. What should I get? You have a lot of choices. One of our testers uses a the DJI Spark for about $550. It can fly for about 20 minutes and works with your smart phone. It comes with crash guards and spare parts.

APPLICATION: MAKE A DRONE OBSTACLE COURSE
Sharpen your drone flying skills! Check out this drone store, full of ideas for making a drone obstacle course http://bitly.com/2KAVAMw. Or you can make one inside your house. Here’s a plan we found http://thomasrenck.com/share/Microdrone_Course_Project.pdf

Drones Rules on YouTube Want more? Here’s a video playlist that go along with this column. Use this link.

———————————————————————————————————————————————— LittleClickers.com (this page and the associated web site) is sponsored by Computer Explorers. Neither Children’s Technology Review (publisher of LittleClickers) or Computer Explorers has any vested interest in any of the sites listed on this page. Librarians and teachers are permitted to copy this page for non-profit use. To report a bad link, use this form, or contact us. Copyright 2018, Children's Technology Review.

It can keep a car on the road, read a bar code, prevent blindness and entertain your cat. That is it? The laser.  How is laser light different than regular light? Who invented lasers? How does a laser work? Here are some answers:

1. Who invented the laser, and when?  According to http://www.laserinventor.com/bio.html, Theodore Maiman was the first person to demonstrate a working laser while working at the Hughes Research Laboratory in California.

2. Many people don’t know that the word “Laser” is an acronym. What does it stand for?  At http://bitly.com/2GcWIav you learn that LASER stands for Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation.

3. Why does a cat chase a laser? At Petful http://bitly.com/2GizQ5B you learn that cats chase lasers because they think the little red dot is prey. And they can get frustrated because they never get the “catch.” The solution? Offer a lot of other types of toys for your cat. PS. It works with dogs and fathers, too.

4. How do Lasers work?  At http://bitly.com/2pZ9kXV you learn that light is made up of photons, but laser light is special, because all the photons line up on the same wavelength; in sync. So the beam is concentrated. Most lasers use tiny red ruby crystals, which is the most laser beams are red

5. Where is the world’s strongest laser?  Meet “Bivoj”– a 20 ton laser in the Czech Republic. It’s powerful beam is helping medical research and is being used to treat metals. Two other huge lasers are in Austin, Texas (one petawatt) and Osaka, Japan (two petawatt). Learn more at http://bitly.com/2pWuRRa

6. Is there such a thing as a laser light show artist? Absolutely. There’s an entire group of programmers and artists who make their living designing laser shows. Learn more at http://www.ilda.com, where you can also learn that the lasers in light shows and laser pointers can’t damage your eyes.

APPLICATION

Make a sound visualizer. Here’s an experiment you can do that shows you how to turn a small speaker and a laser pointer into a sound visualization system. Have a look at https://youtu.be/eA2CaK9TNBM

VIDEOS

Want more? Here’s a YouTube  video playlist that go along with this column.

———————————————————————————————————————————————— LittleClickers.com (this page and the associated web site) is sponsored by Computer Explorers. Neither Children’s Technology Review (publisher of LittleClickers) or Computer Explorers has any vested interest in any of the sites listed on this page. Librarians and teachers are permitted to copy this page for non-profit use. To report a bad link, use this form, or contact us. Copyright 2018, Children's Technology Review.

Download a handy one page PDF of this column

What is 1,400 miles long, and is home to 3000 types life (including the great white shark?) This month’s release of Coral Reef by Tinybop inspired us to take a deeper dive into these amazing natural wonders. Test your knowledge…

1. Besides warm, clean saltwater, what does every reef need to survive? At coral.org http://bitly.com/2oMzBs5  you learn that light is the key ingredient. A reef can only exist in water less than 165 feet deep.

2. What is a coral polyp, and why should you care? They are tiny organisms that are the building blocks of a free. A cathedral is made of millions individual bricks. The polyp is the “brick” of the reef. Related to anemones and jellyfish, they collect calcium that becomes the reef. Learn more at National Geographic http://on.natgeo.com/2HWGI9T.

3. What is largest living organism in the world? It’s the Great Barrier Reef. It takes up more area than the country of Italy, and is 1400 miles long. It is off the coast of Australia and can be seen from space. Here are some more amazing facts about the reef http://bit.ly/2I368Ty and here’s what it looks like from space, via Google Maps https://goo.gl/maps/z9pBtCAu45t.

4. Do sharks live around reefs? Yes. And so do whales. In fact there are over 3000 fish species that call a reef their home. In Sport Diver magazine, we found some amazing diver photos http://bitly.com/2oMGTvP.

5. Can a reef die? Yes. According to the National Ocean Service things like global warming can stress kill coral, causing them to bleach. Learn more at http://bitly.com/2HWWpy1.

APPLICATION

1. Set up a salt water fish tank. It might be hard to grow a reef, but you can buy some living samples for as cheap as $5, http://bitly.com/2HXEZRM. We found this EVO saltwater kit on Amazon.com with LEDs for the coral light, at http://amzn.to/2I3aFp2.

2. Take a virtual dive. Google has done the work, by applying it’s “street view” technology to an underwater diver. The result is a virtual tour of a ship wreck in the Great Barrier Reef. Here’s the link http://bitly.com/2oLV4Bp

3. Send a question to Nancy Knowlton. She works at the Smithsonian as a marine biologist, and her job is to increase public understanding of the world’s ocean. Her email is knowlton@si.edu.