What Is a Simple Machine?

Today I faced a difficult choice. Should we watch a science video that explained what simple machines are (which might be a little boring) or watch two awesome examples of simple machines in action?

I went with awesome.

Now, not everything you see in these videos are simple machines, but there are many, many of them if you watch closely. Can you spot some?

The first video is a commercial for a Honda Accord.

The second is a video from the band OK GO. I don't know much about the band, but I do know this is an awesome and hilarious video. (Watch for the simple machines!)

An Invention that Keeps Changing

You all have probably used a calculator before, but check out this commercial from 1970's. It's the smallest calculator you can get and it has a price to match. (Check out that price!)

Now take a look at the price on this calculator app for an iPad. (Calculators come with every iPod and iPhone already.) Calculator App

Underwater Earthquakes

Think about this: if earthquake vibrations can cause the ground to move, which is a solid object, what can those vibrations do to water? What if an earthquake happens underwater?

Waves. A wave this big is called a tsunami. This video shows how large the waves can be. A tsunami isn't just one wave, but a series of waves as the water rises on the shore. Watch how much of the shore and the buildings on the shore get covered up, all in a matter of about 2 minutes.

Here is a short explanation of how an underwater earthquake can cause a tsunami.

An Invention that Saves Lives

Today we are going to read about a product called Kevlar that was invented by Stephanie Kwolek. Watch the video below and look for the many uses of Kevlar. How many can you remember? Watch how the gold dots travel over certain objects in the video (like on tire). Those gold dots show where the Kevlar is used.

Our reading talks about how Kevlar can save lives, but how can it also protect lives and keep people safe?

Duck, Cover, and Hold

We live in Wisconsin. We don't get earthquakes. Now, we know what to do in blizzards and tornadoes and thunderstorms, but not earthquakes. So, what DO you do if an earthquake happens? Here is a video that explains how to stay safe in an earthquake.

This next video is cool because it's got LEGOs! And it was made by kids! (Nice work, by the way.)

Solving a Problem

Two days ago it was glow-in-the-dark toilet seats. Now it's glow-in-the-dark clipboards. I wonder what else you could do with things that glow in the dark? (Although, I'm not sure if this is an example of solving a problem. Oh, well. It's funny!)

Predicting and Measuring Earthquakes

We read about how scientists can predict when and where a bad storm, like a hurricane, can hit, but scientists can only predict where earthquakes might happen. It's too difficult to predict exact times when they will occur. Wouldn't it be nice to know when something like this is going to happen?

Earthquakes are measured on the Richter scale. The following video shows the basic idea of how that scale works.

Finding the Right Use

Today's reading tells about a man who invented a special kind of glue. It was so special that it DIDN'T HOLD ANYTHING TOGETHER. (Not a great glue, right?) But another person discovered that even though it didn't actually glue things together, it was strong enough to hold a piece of paper, his bookmark, in a book. He used to glue that was useless to make Post-It notes!

Just think, Post-It notes were invented only because another invention failed. I'm so glad they were invented because now we can stick notes everywhere and watch cool videos like this one.

What is an Earthquake?

Today's reading doesn't go into very much detail about what earthquakes are, but this video does an excellent job of showing what causes earthquakes and what happens because of them.

What Is an Invention?

Today's reading tells us that inventions happen when people try to solve a problem. Then the reading gives us an example. Something like this:

Hmmmm...  What is the problem? What is the solution? Would you use this invention, this solution to a problem?

Hurricane Names

Ever since 1950 hurricanes have been given names. This helps us easily identify storms and everyone knows which storm you are talking about. There can be many hurricanes in one year, so you can't really say "that hurricane in 2014." There might have been ten. Or twenty!

Here are the names that will be used in the upcoming years. The lists are reused every six years unless there is a really bad storm. Then that name is retired and never used again. 

Pets in Hurricanes

Sometimes people leave their homes quickly when a hurricane is coming and pets get left behind. Pets might get scared and hide where people can't find them. This video shows some people who help rescue pets after a storm, care for them, and try to reunite them with their owners.

Many people go to hurricane shelters to stay safe during the storm, but most shelters do not allow animals. This shelter in Georgia is trying to change that.