Curiosity Kits Neon and Magic Powerballs Review

Curiosity Kits' Neon and Magic Powerballs Review Curiosity Kits offers a science kit called Neon and Glow Magic Powerballs. The kit, for ages 6, lets you create your own polymer bouncy balls. What You Get and What You Need Most of what you need to make powerballs comes with the kit. You get: 4 molds to make different shapes of balls20 packs of crystals in 7 neon and glow-in-the-dark colorsresealable plastic bags so you can store your ballsinstructions You need to supply: cup of waterscissors to open the packageswatch or timerfoil or plastic wrap My Experience Making Magic Powerballs My kids and I made powerballs. They are ages 9-14, so none was as young as the lower limit listed on the product, but I dont think a younger child would have any difficulty with this project. Children younger than age 6 might have trouble pouring the crystals into the mold to make a ball or might be tempted to eat the crystals. The instructions for this kit are very clear and include pictures, so its very easy to get great results. Basically, here is what you do: Snap together the molds.Pour crystals (one or many colors, be creative!) into a mold until it is full.Immerse the filled mold in a cup of water for 90 seconds. (We just counted to 90.)Remove the mold from water and allow it to sit on the counter for 3 minutes (time didnt seem to be critical), then remove it from the mold and set it on a piece of foil or plastic wrap.When the ball is set or not-sticky, bounce it and play with it.Store each ball in its own plastic bag (included). Pretty easy, right? It didnt seem to matter if you left the ball in the mold longer than 3 minutes, but you do not want to leave the filled mold in the water longer than 90 seconds. If you leave the ball in the water too long the crystals will swell up and split the mold open. The mold will be fine, but you will get a seriously mutated ball. The balls bounce really high. If they get dirty, you can just rinse them off with water. The package said you could make 20 balls using the materials, but we actually got 23 balls out of the package. What I Liked and Didnt Like About Magic Powerballs What I Liked Easy enough even a child can make them.The project is quick. I would say you could go from opening the package to having a ball within 10 minutes.You dont need any strange materials. Get a glass of water and youre set.The project is very safe. Its safe to touch the materials. The balls are non-toxic.Clean-up was simple. Just wipe down your work surface with a damp sponge when you are done.The balls are exactly as described. They really do bounce up to 15 feet. They really are bright neon colors. Most of the colors glow very brightly under a black light. Some of the colors glow in the dark (green for sure, possibly pink). What I Didnt Like This is one of the best science activity kits Ive come across, so there isnt a lot I would improve. However, I wish the instructions had included some explanation of the chemistry behind making the powerballs. It also might be nice if the crystals came in resealable bags so that you didnt need scissors and so you could store materials in case you dont make all the balls at one time. Magic Powerballs Summary Would I buy this kit again? Definitely! This would be an affordable and fun party activity for kids. It is an enjoyable family science activity. Do my kids want to do this activity again? Yes. The balls do not last forever (instructions said they were good for about 20 days), so this is a project that can be repeated.

Your Guide to the Hottest Jobs in Chicago

Your Guide to the Hottest Jobs in Chicago ah, the windy city†¦home of deep dish pizza and perennially dashed baseball hopes (sorry, cubs fans!). by any measure, chicago is a bustling hub in the heart of the country. and while its thriving cultural and sports scenes are vital to everyday chicagoans, chances are you’ll need a day job in case that improv career with second city doesn’t pan out. if you’re seeking a new job or a new career path, take a look  at some  the hottest jobs in chicago. the tech sectorsure, chicago is considerably colder than silicon valley, but if you’re looking for a job in the tech sector, don’t count out a midwestern move. over the past 6 years, the chicago-based tech world has grown even faster than silicon valley’s. companies like google have offices there, and the city is also home to co-work spaces and business incubators that are steadily putting chicago on the tech map. business incubators are communities-within-the-community that help support talent and entrepreneurs as they develop new products and businesses. and this kind of collaborative community is one of the reasons that chicago is becoming a magnet for young tech innovators and entrepreneurs.hot job: software developerin an increasingly tech-friendly city, software developers are at the very heart of it all, working on software programs and apps. with a bachelor’s degree and the programming skills, software developers command a median salary of $100,000. and the demand keeps growing: the u.s. bureau of labor statistics predicts 17% overall growth by 2024.the service sectorover the past few years, chicago has seen an unprecedented number of visitors to the city. that means soaring demand for people to fill jobs in hotels/hospitality, restaurants, bars, and other service industries. and it’s not just chicago- the united states bureau of labor statistics predicts 6% growth for hospitality-related industries by 2024.hot job: mixologistin chicago as anyw here else, there are plenty of places where you can drop in for a cold beer, no fuss. these days, there are also a lot of places where you can drop in for the plenty-of-fuss version: an artisanal cocktail, crafted with homemade bitters, herbs grown in a community garden, and an instagram-ready look. bartenders and mixologists are taking on the status of chefs these days, and with the fancier cocktails commanding prices in the $10-$15 range, this is not your grandpa’s suds-slinger. the average mixologist in chicago earns $22,000 before tips- and the field is expected to grow by a healthy 10% nationally by 2024, per the bureau of labor statistics.the healthcare sectoras a nation, our health is†¦a growing challenge. as such, healthcare-related industries are booming just about everywhere, especially as the population ages. chicago is no exception, and it’s even being touted as one of the next big hubs for health technology. chicago is a city with world-class medical facilities (90 hospitals, six medical schools, and numerous fictional tv hospitals), as well as headquarters of major medical organizations like the american medical association, the american hospital association, the american alzheimer’s association, and the american heart association. (not to mention the walgreen’s pharmacy mothership just outside the city.)hot job: home health aidei mentioned chicago’s many exciting tv hospitals before, but the reality is that some of the most important healthcare jobs are considerably less flashy. home health and personal care aides fill important roles in this industry, providing daily care to seniors, the disabled, and other home-bound patients. what the job lacks in glamour and riches (the median salary is $22,920 per year, or $10.54 per hour), it makes up in stability and accessibility. you can become a home health aide without a formal degree (and with some on-the-job training). and the bureau of labor statistics predic ts that the field will grow by an astonishing 38% over the next decade. if you’re trying to decide whether the healthcare career path is right for you, this job could be a good way to dip your toe in and find out.the manufacturing/production sectorspeaking of less-glamorous jobs, chicago is a leader in manufacturing. and in fact, manufacturing is chicago’s second-biggest business sector, tied heavily to its strong trade and export industries. and this has a long and storied history with its get-your-hands-dirty jobs: as far back as 1914, poet carl sandburg referred to the city as â€Å"hog butcher for the world / tool maker, stacker of wheat, / player with railroads and the nation’s freight handler.†basically, you name it, chicago has probably processed and handled it. these days, manufacturing isn’t the nationwide industry it once was, but in chicago there are some areas of the industry that continue to thrive, like food processing and production. companies like kraft, heinz, wrigley (of ballpark and chewing gum fame), sara lee, keebler, and quaker oats have maintained major operations in chicago, alongside a growing industry of small-batch food companies that are rising in popularity on the foodie tide.hot job: truck driverall of these foods and products need to make it from point a to point b, and that’s where a fleet of dependable drivers come in. whether local, regional, or long-haul, trucking can be a great career option for someone with a spotless driving record, an ability to find zen in the open road, and the knack for solving problems on the fly and get somewhere on schedule. with a specialized commercial driving license (cdl) and some on-the-job training, drivers make a median salary of $40,260 per year, or $19.36 per hour. according to the bureau of labor statistics, the need for drivers will continue to grow through the next decade.whatever you want your career path to be in chicago, windy city newbie to s easoned chicagoan, you have so many options, in fields that will continue to grow and thrive. happy hunting, and go bulls!