replacing screen time with ‘spearments’

At least once a week, I get to spend time with my nephews. They are little guys (elementary school), full of energy, and wonderfully curious. So many questions! The heat in Arizona (114 degrees yesterday) makes our afternoons challenging because we are limited to indoor activities. As a former science teacher, I pull out old lessons and activities I did with my junior high students. The first grader will frequently ask me, "Uncle Jeff, what 'spearments' do you have for us today?" Yesterday, we made "lava lamps" by adding colored water and mineral oil to bottles. This alone was a win for them. Then, we started dropping in pieces of alka-seltzer tablets and they were hooked. As carbon dioxide was released, bubbles traversed the oil, giving it the appearance of a lava lamp. They spent a good hour dropping in tablets, watching with awe, and (of course), asking questions. Why does it bubble? What will happen if we shake the bottle? Why is the water on the bottom? Why does the water look…