Paper Labs
April: Seed Paper
12:30 & 2:30 PM
In celebration of Earth Month, we at Atlas are dedicated to giving back to our home planet. Join us this month in our Science Paper Lab for a unique experience—crafting Seed Paper. As the name suggests, this special paper includes a blend of wildflower seeds, creating a pollinator-friendly addition to your garden. Seize this opportunity to create paper that you can plant and witness bloom. Embrace the intersection of science and nature in this unique paper lab.
Upcoming Paper Science Labs
May: Spring Pulp Painting
Welcome to the beauty of Spring! Join us in celebrating this wonderful season at our Science Paper Lab with a technique known as Pulp Painting. Using a plastic squeeze bottle, participants will have the opportunity to create figures, scenes, or abstract patterns, elevating their homemade paper designs. Dive into this fascinating interdisciplinary lesson and learn the science that makes these artistic creations possible. Embrace the blooming creativity of Spring in this engaging and educational paper lab!
June: Colorful Mottled Paper
Explore the diverse world of papermaking techniques with us this month, as we proudly present the art of crafting colorful mottled paper! In our Science Paper Lab, immerse yourself in a palette of vibrant color options. Learn the skill of harmoniously blending these hues to create a visually stunning design where each color shines through. Join us for a hands-on experience that unlocks the secrets to crafting captivating and uniquely mottled paper creations.
July: Red, White and Blue themed Paper
Celebrate the spirit of this month with a tribute to the colors of our flag! Explore the possibilities of red, white, and blue as you craft a beautiful paper design. Will you opt for a blend of all three colors as the base for your paper? Or will you choose a single hue and enhance it by decorating the surface with additional pulp in contrasting colors? Also, what does blending pulp have to do with science? Immerse yourself in a world of creative choices while delving into the fascinating science of papermaking.
August: Bookmarks
Calling all avid book readers! In our Paper Science Lab this month, we will delve into the interdisciplinary nature of science, art and reading, guiding you in crafting your own paper sheet and shaping it into charming bookmarks. Join us for an inspiring session where the world of papermaking transforms into a fresh and inventive experience.
September: Dip Papermaking
Experience the age-old art of papermaking through the traditional method of Dip Papermaking! Whether you're an experienced papermaker or a first timer, this paper science lab promises an enjoyable exploration into the historical technique that has been used for centuries. This time around, we'll be using virgin fibers instead of recycled materials, ensuring that your paper will have a distinct texture and feel not found in our previous methods. Join us for a hands-on activity, where tradition meets the innovation of the present.
October: Halloween Pulp Painting
Welcome to the enchantment of Halloween! Join us in celebrating this spooky season at our Science Paper Lab with a technique known as Pulp Painting. Using a plastic squeeze bottle, participants will have the opportunity to conjure up eerie figures, or haunted scenes, adding a touch of Halloween magic to their homemade paper designs. Delve into this fascinating interdisciplinary lesson and unravel the scientific principles that make these hauntingly artistic creations possible.
November: Thank You Cards
Embrace the spirit of giving in our Science Paper Lab, where you can craft personalized Thank You cards. Engage in the science and art of papermaking, creating your own card and embellishing it with the Pulp Painting technique. Explore the freedom to design patterns, frames, and figures, transforming your handmade paper into a beautiful and heartfelt expression of gratitude.
December: Holiday Ornaments
'Tis the season for decorating, and we're seizing the opportunity to guide you in creating your very own holiday paper ornament in our Science Paper Lab! Utilizing circle deckles and employing the papermaking technique of embedment, you have the chance to craft a unique decoration for your tree, desk, wall, or any space where you want to showcase your lovely science and art creation. Join us for a festive and joyful experience!
April: Microscopic Math
11:45 AM & 1:45 PM
Have you ever stopped to think how truly small the world is around you? Delve into a world of applied math concepts where students learn about the nanoscale and microscale that we cannot see, but that makes up everything we know. We work on 'scaling' everyday ideas like oxygen and bacteria to build an understanding of size and end with some microscopy work on pathogens.
Science Live! Show
Upcoming Science Live! Shows
May: National Inventors Month - Building without Instruction
After a brief discussion on engineering, students will build a simple machine (using only scissors, a small PVC pipe and a balloon) capable of launching a marshmallow into a bucket. We discuss the steps of the engineering process, including iteration and revision of our machines after we gather initial data.
June: Pride Month – Changing Colors: Acids and Bases
The colors people see depend on the chemicals that things are made of. By participating in colorful and fun chemistry experiments together, students will learn how color changes can help identify two classes of chemicals called acids and bases.
July: International Rock Day – Rock Cycle
Students are put into teams and learn where rocks come from and how they are made. Then we proceed with a hands-on food demonstration that takes them through each step of the rock cycle. Using white chocolate, dark chocolate and butterscotch chips, they get to smash, melt, and more!
August: Power of Polymers
We'll discuss the basic chemistry of polymers and how prevalent they are in our everyday lives. Then, we'll test the strength and flexibility of polymers as we build our own models. Finally, we use 'Cra-Z-Snow' (a safe polymer-based material that is the same chemical found in diapers), food dye and water to show how much polymers can expand and absorb their mass in water.
September: National Forensic Science Month – Paper Caper
There has been a crime at Atlas, and we need your forensic science skills to help catch our thief. Students learn what blood types mean at a molecular level and get hands-on experience determining what makes each of them different from the other. After learning DNA profiling and practicing micro pipetting skills, we use UV light analysis to solve The Paper Caper!
October: Spooky Science
October is the perfect time for Spooky Science! Chemistry, biology, physics and math all come together making Frankenstein’s toothpaste, learning what your skeleton can make, creating a non-Newtonian fluid, pumpkin density and much more!
November: National STEM Day - Paper Strength and the Scientific Method
Through this demonstration your students will use the scientific method to form a prediction about how much weight different types of paper will hold. The scientific method is then reinforced when students do another experiment, this time testing the wet strength of toilet paper and facial tissue.
December: Snow Crystal Physics
Have you ever wondered how snowflakes are formed? Beauty meets physics as students learn how temperature and humidity impact the formation of each unique crystal. We conclude with microscopy images of a variety of snowflakes that inspire participants to build their own snow crystal using geometrical shapes.