Exploring Electricity With Steve Spangler Science Kits In Our Homeschool

If you are anything like me, you always want to do the fun homeschool science experiment, but it just doesn’t get done.

I’m bad about skipping the experiments because I don’t want to track down the supplies needed. It takes so much time! By the time I’ve done that, the kids have already watched the video.

Or so much time has passed I forget what science experiment I was going to do in the first place.

Or I want to do something fun but I don’t know what to do. Maybe you can relate?

Disclosure: I may receive commissions for purchases made through links in this post.

*I received this box to provide you with an honest review. All opinions are mine, as always. 

This is where The Steve Spangler Science Club Box comes in! Everything you need, even the odd “what is that and where do I buy it” stuff! Add a few regular household items you probably have on hand and you are good to go.

When this article was first written, the only place to purchase any of the Steve Spangler Science products, kits, and games was their store. I am happy to share they are now available on Amazon!

I am so excited to dig into our brand new Spangler Science Club box all about Electricity.

Inside the box was everything that we will need for the experiments. That is right, I said experiments. You can get up to 10 experiments in each Science Club Deluxe Box which for us is weeks of science fun I didn’t have to worry about, yay!

You can learn more about exactly what is in our box here: Unboxing My First Steve Spangler Club Box

Not only did we receive most of the tools we needed but it included two workbooks. One for the kiddos and one for me! The Adult book broke down each step, how to present the information and what was happening and why in each experiment. Perfect for when you don’t know the answer to “why”.

We’ve currently completed the first 3 experiments and I promised to keep you updated.

Each experiment ties into the word wall page. This page provides the vocabulary words that might be new to the student along with a definition.

We created a vocab sheet where the children put the definition I read to them in their own words.

Each experiment listed materials needed along with a general time required to complete the experiment. This does not include the time needed for the wonderful conversations, rabbit holes and arguments 😉 We took about 45 minutes for each one as we got a tad carried away.

Experiment 1: Soda Bottle Static (Time: 15 minutes)

Our first lesson in the Steve Spangler Science Kit was about static electricity.

I remember learning this one the hard way in school. We used to drag our feet on the classroom carpet or shuffle along then “shock” a fellow classmate and run! Not that I ever did that or anything…

The box included everything we needed for the experiment. “Technically” we needed nothing else but there was a problem.

Using Steve Spangler Science Kit To Learn Problem Solving Skills

Someone (me) can’t blow up a balloon which was one of the steps needed.

I handed the balloon over to my teens who discovered they also are unable to blow up a balloon, ha!

I love rabbit trails, don’t you?

Therefore, our lesson began with Google and a “How to blow up a balloon” search. I let each child try out what they had read would work. After a few attempts, we found our Stability ball pump and used that.

Learning To Follow Directions With Steve Spangler Science

Next, as the children followed the instructions, I read the Adult Helper booklet steps to make sure I understood what was going on and why! (I love this thing!)

After filling our soda bottle with the little foam beads we talked about what we were seeing and why.

It is really important to follow the directions. The children kept rubbing the items “back and forth” when the instructions were “in one direction”.

Also don’t do this to your hair before you plan on doing a video for work, just sayin! It ain’t pretty.

The questions in the booklet are really great for sparking conversations.

Real-World Applications Of Science

The “Top Secret” booklet also has a Real-World Application. This is so important because it allows the children to connect what they are discovering has value in their lives right now.

I really enjoyed the “take it further” section as it moves beyond the page. In this part, the children had to teach me what they had learned today and demonstrate this knowledge either by showing me or drawing out their experiments.

They decided to show me.

Note: They continue to play with the bottle full of foam beads daily and get a kick out of trying to attract or repel the beads. I find it in various places around the house, often upside down.