Tag Archives: toys

Ground Control to Major Tom

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After watching some fantastic episodes of science podcast episodes from Dragonfly.TV my son Gabriel expressed an interest in building a model rocket  – this particular Dragonfly.TV episode caught his interest.  This past weekend we visited Gingerbread Toys, a great locally owned toy store in Prince George, and equipped ourselves with some rocket supplies.

We spent about 3 hours on the top of a hill at a local park assembling the rocket and preparing for launch.  It was fabulous to see Gabriel and Lydia get excited and involved in the rocket assembly and launch details with lots of questions and discussions about how the design of the rocket might affect speed and height.

We plan to bump up the power of the engines this weekend and adjust the fins.  Once we get good height and parachute deployment working good we are going to start recording the ceilings of the flights using this nifty device.

Kids’ Edtech Xtravaganza!

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This Christmas was kind to the Potter kiddies and brought some fantastic loot – among this loot were some particularly interesting edtechie toys that I thought would be just the thing to blow the dust of ye olde blog. So, inspired in part by the epic toy blogging brought forth by the Bava I give you both the Jedi Force Trainer and the Discovery Night Vision Camcorder.

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The Night Vision Camcorder packs a 3 megapixel camera and night vision sensor into a small package that withstood the battery of tests my son and I put it through.  From front sled-cam duties to closet Blair Witch sequels – this little toy packs lots of fun into a $40 package.  Submit for your approval – this pretty spooky monster story told in a dark bedroom and captured with night vision magic.

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The Jedi Force Trainer takes the science kit to the next level with wireless brain monitoring and coaching from no other than Yoda himself.  The wireless headset features dry EEG sensors that detect your alpha and beta brainwaves.  Fluctuations in signals are then translated to a fan in a column.  Depending on the degree and direction of your concentration, you are able to control the fan and movement of the ball. I am happy to report that I am at level 6, but Yoda and I have met an impasse.  I keep feeling like I need to flee my training to find my friends in need of my help …