New FREE S.P.A.R.K. resources

Shannon NewbyFebruary 19, 2024Comment

Thank you WRAL and Whitley Law Firm!

Shannon NewbyFebruary 19, 2024Comment

Kid Lab in schools

Shannon NewbyFebruary 19, 2024Comment

DIY mud kitchen

Tutorial roundup for building your own outdoor kitchen!

Shannon NewbyAugust 17, 2020DIY, tutorial, science, preschool, elementaryComment

Favorite Science Tools

A list of our favorite tools and science resources for kids

Shannon NewbyAugust 4, 2020montessori, homeschool, science, resources Comment

Free Printable Lesson Planner: The Daily Menu

free customizable daily menu planning sheets

Shannon NewbyAugust 2, 2020homeschool, resources, free printable Comment

Art lesson with Pulp & Pigment: Matisse coral reef collages!

Henri Matisse video art lesson with Pulp and Pigment Studio!

handmade, free printable, arts and crafts, Homeschool, Ocean Study, TutorialShannon NewbyMarch 25, 2020art lessonComment

Activity Guide for Learning at Home

An activity guide for learning, creating, and playing at home! This guide is chock full of sensory, creative and gross motor skill activities. There are also games, science experiments and recipes for bubble solution, edible playdough, slime, and more.

Scroll through the slideshow using the arrow buttons for activities like making your own rain gauge, balloon ping pong, flashlight games, and super spy laser maze.

DIY Play Ideas, Early Learning, Fine Motor Skills, HomeschoolGuest UserMarch 20, 2020Comment

Ocean Learning: Week Two (Atlantic Ocean)

Ready to take a deep dive with us into the Atlantic Ocean? We’ve partnered with a homeschool Kid Lab family to bring you ocean learning activities for preschoolers and beyond. Follow along as they share their week.

DIY, Early Learning, Homeschool, Ocean StudyGuest UserMarch 18, 2020scienceComment

Practical Advice for First-Time Homeschoolers

As COVID-19 forces most of us to be home with family almost 24/7, many caregivers are being thrust into homeschooling with little or no experience. Educating kids at home definitely comes with a steep learning curve, but there are strategies to help parents and children find a comfortable daily rhythm, stay on top of schoolwork, and experience the joy of togetherness.

Read on to learn how the concepts of play, prepared environments, and pacing helped one experienced family love their homeschool.

HomeschoolGuest UserMarch 18, 2020 Comment

Kid Lab Announcement

We are sad to say that all Kid Lab programs, STEAM Labs and workshops are on pause through the end of March. We will reassess the situation for our early April programs, closer to time.

With schools, museums and kids spaces across the Triangle now closed, we recognize that many parents and caregivers will be homebound and looking for playful learning ideas. We’ll be sharing our favorite resources, craft tutorials and lots of play at home ideas in the next few weeks.

Guest UserMarch 16, 2020Comment

FREE Printable Book: Count the Fish

Teaching artist Sarah has created a FREE printable book, Count the Fish, and a fun jellyfish counting craft for readers to try at home. The printable book is quick and simple to make with a few folds and one cut.

Guest UserMarch 15, 2020free printable, preschool, science Comment

Ocean Learning: Week One (Pacific Ocean)

We’re excited to launch a new homeschool learning series by one of our Kid Lab families. This month, they have linked their homeschool theme with our March theme: Ocean Deep. Follow along each week as we learn about the Atlantic and Pacific oceans, create sand and shell terrariums, sand dollar shortbread cookies, and finish with diagramming kelp forests and learning about the Arctic Ocean.

DIY, Homeschool, Ocean StudyGuest UserMarch 12, 2020homeschool, science, ocean, tutorial, unit studyComment

Coral Reef Window Display & Kids' Art Collab

When we were planning for our ocean theme in the Lab, it was a no brainer to bring a piece of this amazing marine ecosystem into the Lab for us to talk about and spark playful learning. Check out Shannon’s process for building a coral reef and what sparked her interest in this amazing marine system. Kids can contribute to the window display throughout the month by adding their own creations.

window display, Raleigh art, STEAMShannon NewbyMarch 5, 2020Comment

Ocean Theme {FREE} Printables

Our March theme is all about the ocean. Download our FREE printables for kids to learn about seafood and ocean life. In our Play Labs, we’ll explore the warm waters of the coral reef, build a deep-sea submarine, sort seashells, discover ocean layers, and create interactive fish puppets.

Guest UserFebruary 29, 2020ocean, unit study, free printableComment

DIY Texture Rollers & No-Cook Play Dough Recipe

DIY texture play dough roller, the best no-cook playdough recipe, favorite tools and add-ons.

DIY, Handmade, DIY Play IdeasGuest UserFebruary 14, 2020DIY, recipeComment

Outer Space Resource Roundup

We’re back with a space-themed resource roundup we think you’re going to have fun with! This month, our Play Labs are focused on the fascinating world of outer space. To enhance the playful learning we’re doing in the Lab, we’re sharing these FREE printables, recommended videos, space-themed art and activities.

Guest UserJanuary 25, 2020homeschool, unit study, outer space, free printable, coloring sheet Comment

Outer Space Window Display & Artist Spotlight: Chelsea Mason

We were honored to work with artist Chelsea Mason, owner of Pulp & Pigment Art Studio in Wendell, NC, to create this month’s outer space-themed window installation, which transformed the Lab into a magical space for our Kid Lab families. Read on to see what inspires her, how she became an artist, what it's like to run a busy art studio and her exciting plans for the future.

Guest UserJanuary 22, 2020artist spotlightComment

DIY Marbled Planets

Marbled planets are a wonderful DIY project for science enrichment to inspire creativity and help kids learn about planets and the solar system. There are so many ways you can use these sculptures to inspire discussions about outer space!