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chemistry

EASY Hands-on Earth Science: Fun Water Testing Kit

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This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

For years we’ve used a water filtration system in our home because we recognize the value of the human body’s makeup of water and need for safe water. So, when I heard about Test Assured and got a chance to use their home water testing kit, I jumped at the chance of connecting science to real life.

I was given this product free from Water Testing Kit and I was compensated for my time. However, paid for my time does not mean paid off. ALL opinions are my own and for sure I will always tell you what is on my mind. When I do accept a product it’s because I’m giddy to tell you about it. Read my full disclosure here. Now on to the fun stuff!

Also, living here in Texas, the Gulf Coast has been affected by Hurricane Harvey. So safe water has been on our minds more now than ever.

I think your kids will love this water testing kit because it’s not only easy and fun, but it’s relevant today with all the rain and flood we’ve had here.

Easy Hands on Earth Science Using a Water Testing Kit. Can't get any more easier than this. Click here to grab this kit.

SCIENCE FAIR WATER TESTING KIT

Look at all the supplies you get in the kit.

4-pack tests. Each packet includes a vial, test chart, iron reageant tablet, and 3 test strips to measure:
►Chlorine/Copper/Nitrate/Nitrite
►Iron
►Alkalinity/pH/Hardness
Guidebook
TDS Meter

You’ll want to find 4 different water sources. We used the ditch in the back of our house, the creek from the local park on our walk, bottled water, and tap water.

Because Tiny has gone with my husband to show the demonstrations of water ionizers to family and friends that needed safe water to drink, he was familiar with the effects of using a filtration system.

This was different though because he got to test the quality of water without a filtration system.

We take it for granted that our boys understand that the quality of water is important to our health. But this test really enforces an understanding of what is in the water we drink.When you get the kit, you’ll want to read the directions carefully like store it at room temperature and don’t use hot or bleach water. Then you’re ready to move on to the fun.

I know I’ve said it before, but I love easy activities that don’t require much setup and where I don’t have to round up a lot of supplies.The instructions are on the chart and it gives you an order in which to do the tests.

First, we checked each sample for chlorine/copper/nitrate/nitrite, then alkalinity/pH/hardness, and lastly the iron.

Then we compared that to the chart. Jotting down test results is easy because the kits have a results notebook. What is especially cool about the kit is the TDS meter. TDS is abbreviated for total dissolved solids which are the total weight of all solids (mineral, salts, or metals) that are in a given amount of water.And you use the TDS meter to check your water filter and to check the hardness of your water.

It gives out a digital reading and the lower the number the better the water can be absorbed by your body.

This water testing kit is a good fit for your family if:

►You want to teach in an easy way about the quality of water and connect it to every day life.
►You have multiple kids and they each want to participate in the activity.
►You like having all the supplies in one box for you. No hunting and gathering of supplies. I like that part. I know you will too.
►You’re looking for a project for your kid to do to participate in a science fair or homeschool co-op.
►You want your middle or high school kid to do science independently.
►You want safe home science products for your younger kids. There is no glassware here and the testing strip is safe. This is assuming your kids are not going to drink the creek water. Ha.

ENGAGING WATER UNIT STUDY IDEAS

Also, look at these topics and ways to include this water testing kit in your unit study.

►Learn about the geography of a country through understanding the natural resource of water.
►Learn about countries that are underdeveloped to understand the importance of clean drinking water.
►Learn about the human body and how it processes water.
►Learn about ways the local industry or even farming affects the local water source.
►Talk with your older kids about how to make water potable.
►Ask your high school kids if it’s necessary or even healthy to remove all the impurities from water for it to be safe for drinking.
►Connect water usage to the Ancient Rome aqueducts. How much water was in the aqueducts?
►If water could be made safe to drink in countries where water had to be used from streams and rivers, could water-related diseases be eradicated?

These are just a few of the ways I see that you could use the water testing kit in your homeschool day.

How to Purchase It.

►Product Name: Water Testing Kit
►Website: Test Assured Water Testing Kits and Supplies
►Grade Level: multi-grade level
►About the product: Looking for the perfect product to use to demonstrate water testing to your child, student, or classroom? Test Assured is here to help. We offer 4-pack kits that are perfect for schools and science fairs
►Price: 4-Pack Kit $24.99

When I heard about Test Assured and got a chance to use their at home water testing kit, I jumped at the chance of connecting science to real life. Look how easy you can use this water testing kit in your science day! Click here.

If you’re looking to add an easy and simple, but engaging way to learn about the water in your area or maybe have a budding environmental scientist you’ll want to grab this kit.

You’ll love these other activities for understanding the power and necessity of water:

Hugs and love ya,

Atomidoodle Chemistry Game App

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This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

I am so thankful to Hero Factor Games so that my boys don’t have to depend on their mom’s science prowess or should I say lack of it when it comes to learning science and especially chemistry.

Atomidoodle Chemistry Game App

Wildly, I was waving my hands asking Hero Factor Games pick me, pick me to review their Atomidoodle app and I am so glad they did. We love this game app and Tiny just can’t put it down!

Let me back up first because you remember I shared with you my post about starting Chemistry this year with Tiny. And you know how important it is to me that subjects, even at the middle and high school level stay fun.

That is just what Atomidoodle does. What a treasure find for us.

Who knows maybe I won’t have to teach chemistry at all this year with this awesome app? (okay, okay).  Let me tell you how it works though.

Atomidoodle Chemistry Game App @ Tina's Dynamic Homeschool Plus

I was given a free download of Atomidoodle and I was paid for my time. However, paid for my time does not mean paid off.  ALL opinions are my own and for sure I will always tell you what is on my mind. Your experience may vary. When I do accept a review it’s because I am excited to tell you about it. Read my full disclosure here.

How to Bring the Periodic Table of Elements to Life

Atomidoodle is a virtual chemistry notebook  that brings the period table of elements to life. By the way, this great learning tool is available for iPad and on Google Play for Android devices.

The key to bringing the periodic table of elements to life is in how the game is played. More on that in a minute.

Atomidoodle Chemistry Game App 1 @ Tina's Dynamic Homeschool Plus

I want you to know first that this action packed game weaves logic, math and science skills together in a fast paced moving game.

  • Kids use fusion (addition of atoms) and fission (division) to understand how atoms work.
  • A player has to open and close widgets. For example, Helium is HE 2 and an atom is let out of the portal to move along the path. In this case the atom’s number was 4.
  • The player has to get the atom to the fission (division) widget to divide 4 and get 2 for proper atomic number.
  • Your child needs to keep the atoms moving along on the path because if they don’t atoms will explode.
Atomidoodle Chemistry Game App 2 @ Tina's Dynamic Homeschool Plus-1

The object of the game is to unlock all the elements on the notebook above. So cool!

Atomidoodle Chemistry Game App 3 @ Tina's Dynamic Homeschool Plus-1

For Tiny, it’s like unlocking little chests of information since our study of chemistry until now has been very basic.As a player unlocks the elements, he gets a Did You Know fact full of things that inquisitive minds want to know.

Did I mention the art work is truly beautiful? You notice the notebook looking paper type background along with all the doodles.

Tiny got frustrated with me because I deleted and reinstalled the app because the high stepping music wasn’t playing on our app. (Of course not having the volume turned up solved this problem.)

But Tiny said the levels get challenging as you go up.

So that is why it is hard to put a grade level on this because a child in elementary grade go start off on this and it increasingly gets challenging up to a high school level.

It really is an app that you can use with all of your children and for multiple ages. It is such a value for the price.

One important thing to me that is worth mentioning is that the owners are a husband and wife team that believe in using your powers for good.

In reading their vision, I was thrilled to know that they support, “Creative video games that support positive, moral, and biblical decision-making.”

Science is a logical study and the universe is full of the work of an orderly Designer. And I very much appreciate that a non creation view is not subtly sprinkled throughout the game.

Too, Tiny decided that you really needed to see how this fun app works, so he created a video.

Watch and enjoy!

Benefits of Learning Interactively

  • Children who run from boring worksheets will love the interactive way to learn the periodic table of elements.
  • A child who is gifted or wants a challenge will love Atomidoodle.
  • Elementary grade children who have a science bent will love being able to play.
  • High school kids (like me who ran from science in high school) will love the fact that with logic and some math, they too can learn chemistry the easy and fun way. They can learn to love the fascinating world of science through Atomidoodle.

I JUST love doing these reviews because I love it when my sponsors LOVE YOU and do giveaways.

Before we get this party started though, I just wanted to say a public Thank You to the awesome folks of Hero Factor Games for making such an awesome app to bless both science(y) and non-science(y) homeschooled kids. Thank You Tim and Sara!

Company Name: Hero Factor Games
Grades: From beginners to High School
Format: Available for iPad at iTunes for $2.99. Available for Android at Google Play for $2.99

Update 2022. I can’t find this app in the Apple store. I will keep trying, but it is available in the Google store.

Finally, look at these other chemistry homeschool ideas:

Hugs and love ya,