Learning at home can be a daunting task but these complimentary educational resources can help!
Whether your STEM student is interested in outer space, engineering, or coding, there is something to pique everyone's interest in the list below. Some are more formal curriculum while others have you learn through game experiences. Either way, here are hours of ideas you can use when learning at home.
For some more fun ideas tried and tested by Orlando Science Center staff, check out OSC at Home!
Click on these links for external activities and resources to support learning at home.
Get a round up of our latest activities and ideas delivered straight to your inbox so you don't miss a thing!
Find out when we release new resources by following us on social media!
Follow us on social media for even more science fun including fun facts, games, behind-the-scenes photos, and more!
Support OSC At Home
In these ever-changing times, it is our pleasure to adapt quality Orlando Science Center experiences to engage with everyone while they are safe at home. Please consider supporting our operating fund to ensure we can continue developing resources today and well into the future. Thank you for your generosity and support!
Calling all at-home scientists and makers! We're collecting submissions for our Science Showcase!
We're asking for you to share what you’ve created, tried, or learned through our OSC at Home resources page or any other activities you have been inspired by while at home.
The OSC Science Showcase is an open call for you to share anything you're proud of or enjoyed doing!
Have you tried an experiment? Made something awesome? Found a new hobby? We want to hear all about it so we can show off our favorite part of Orlando Science Center – you!
If you have any questions about any of our resources, you can reach our team by email at sciencelive@osc.org.
What to submit:
Photos of you in action
Photos of your finished product
Short videos (under 30 seconds)
How to submit:
Fill out our online Science Showcase submission form below to share your amazing projects for an opportunity to be featured on our channels.
Please note that by filling out the form, you are giving Orlando Science Center permission to share your images.
Rock candy recipe results from @ModernAlternativeMom on Instagram!
If you post on social media, be sure to tag Orlando Science Center or use the hashtag #OSCatHome. We can't wait to see what you've been working on!
OSC At Home Emails
Get a round up of our latest activities and ideas delivered straight to your inbox so you don't miss a thing!
Find out when we release new resources by following us on social media!
Follow us on social media for even more science fun including fun facts, games, behind-the-scenes photos, and more!
Support OSC At Home
In these ever-changing times, it is our pleasure to adapt quality Orlando Science Center experiences to engage with everyone while they are safe at home. Please consider supporting our operating fund to ensure we can continue developing resources today and well into the future. Thank you for your generosity and support!
OSC challenges you to make an indoor obstacle course Superhero Training Camp in your own home!
Through working together and using the Engineering Design Process to build your obstacle course, you may discover that you have superpowers of your own!
Ask: Can you make a training camp that shows you what it takes to be a Superhero? What skills does a superhero need? How can you create challenges that highlight some of those skills?
Imagine: Think about different things you could use around your home to make obstacles. Imagine how those objects can work together to make the best superhero course.
Plan: Draw or write out your materials list so you can plan your course. Create layout of what you want your course to look like.
Create: Assemble your course! Think about the different steps needed to bring your ideas to life. Adjust your diagram as necessary and make sure the course is safe!
Improve: Once you’ve given it a try, think about if there are ways you could improve your training course. Can you make it more challenging? Did everything work the way you planned? If not, you can use the Engineering Design Process to help you improve your course!
Here are some suggestions to get started:
Item: Couch cushions or pillows
Uses:
Stand them up and weave around them
Climb over them
Jump on them
Crash through them
Item: Laundry basket
Uses:
Toss small items into them
Duck inside them
Use them as large obstacles to maneuver around
Item: Clothing
Uses:
Gear up with different clothing items throughout the course such as hats, jackets, gloves, scarves, etc.
Some of our other favorite prop ideas:
Cardboard boxes are great for tunnels!
Masking tape on the floor makes for an instant DIY balance beam.
Blankets make good tunnels and can separate one challenge from the next.
Chairs or stools are great obstacles that you can also drape blankets over.
More ways to conquer the obstacle course:
Spy Mission: Go through the course as quietly as possible! Shhh!
Save the Citizen: Grab your favorite stuffed animal and go through the course while keeping your citizen safely by your side.
Freeze Blast: Grown-ups can freeze their hero in training during different parts of the course to catch them off-guard.
“Superman Says”: Grown-ups can choose what actions their superhero in training does while going through the course.
Grown-ups can also act as a cheering section or blow bubbles while little ones conquer the course!
Share your design, results, and in-action photos with us!
OSC At Home Emails
Get a round up of our latest activities and ideas delivered straight to your inbox so you don't miss a thing!
Find out when we release new resources by following us on social media!
Follow us on social media for even more science fun including fun facts, games, behind-the-scenes photos, and more!
Support OSC At Home
In these ever-changing times, it is our pleasure to adapt quality Orlando Science Center experiences to engage with everyone while they are safe at home. Please consider supporting our operating fund to ensure we can continue developing resources today and well into the future. Thank you for your generosity and support!
Did you know that you could make avocado dye at home out of your guacamole scraps?
Avocados have a special tannin, an acid present in plants, that turns fabric to beautiful a beautiful pale pink or peach color.This tannin acts as a mordant, or fixative, that helps the dye to stick to the fabric fibers. Learn how to extract tannin from the pit and skin of avocadosto make your own fabric dye!
Materials you will need:
Skins and pits of two avocados
A large stainless steel pot
Heat safe container (bowl, basin, pot)
A strainer or sieve
A clean white t-shirt (you could also use a bandana, scarf, tank top, whatever you like – just make sure it’s a natural fabric for best results)
Optional: gloves for handling dyed fabric (you can also just wash your hands afterwards!)
Directions:
Rinse the avocado off your pits & stones. You don’t need to be too thorough with this - the strainer will take care of any avocado pieces that are left behind.
Heat water on low heat in your stainless steel pot, enough for your pits & skins to float in. Just heat – don't boil! Be very careful as boiling will turn your dye brown.
Drop the pits into the water. Tear up the skins & drop them in. Don’t forget to remove any stickers!
Cover & let the water simmer on low heat. Check on it frequently. If the water is starting to bubble, lower the heat.
Check on the water for color. Because plants vary & tap water can have different minerals in it, the time you will need to extract the tannin will vary as well – somewhere between 30 & 60 minutes.
Once you’re happy with the color, strain the dye into a heat safe container.
Repeat steps 2 – 6 with the same avocado pieces to make another batch. Do this as many times as you need until you have enough dye to submerge your t-shirt.
Submerge your white shirt into the dye. You can either put a lid on your container to keep it warm or leave it out in the sun.
Let it sit! Leave your shirt in the dye for at least an hour. You can leave it overnight if you want a deeper color.
Remove your shirt & rinse it in cold water. You can let it air dry or throw it in the dryer by itself.
Admire your handiwork! You now have a fabulous new shirt made with natural dye.
OSC At Home Emails
Get a round up of our latest activities and ideas delivered straight to your inbox so you don't miss a thing!
Find out when we release new resources by following us on social media!
Follow us on social media for even more science fun including fun facts, games, behind-the-scenes photos, and more!
Support OSC At Home
In these ever-changing times, it is our pleasure to adapt quality Orlando Science Center experiences to engage with everyone while they are safe at home. Please consider supporting our operating fund to ensure we can continue developing resources today and well into the future. Thank you for your generosity and support!
