Grab a MoonScope to view Sunday's rare super moon eclipse

My daughter loves to solve puzzles and tinker with things so it seems a career path in engineering or science might be something to keep in mind as she progresses through school. While many STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) fields provide interesting and financially lucrative career opportunities these jobs also are dominated pretty exclusively by males which has to be an issue of concern for the father of a little girl who doesn't want to see her future limited from pursuing any endeavor she may choose. According to research from the National Girls Collaborative Project (NGCP), women make up 47% of the overall workforce in the United States but only 28% of females have jobs involving science and engineering.  Researchers looking into this huge workforce differentiation have had the insight that boys tend to have more activities and play time as children that relate to STEM so they tend to consider these fields more interesting and fun than girls do.  Therefore parents and educators are being called out to become more engaged in encouraging girls to have fun with STEM at an early age so they may have more of an interest in growing up to become a future computer programmer, scientist, or astronomer.

As a parent of a young daughter myself, I was thrilled to discover the Nancy B Science Club from Educational Insights that makes STEM topics fun by encouraging girls to engage in exploring and learning through a variety of cool scientific gadgets.  Nancy B Science Club products include among other things a black light illuminator kit for science sleuthing activities, binoculars with a built in compass for exploring parks and nature trails, a microscope to examine the intricate detail of things in the world around us, a Stir-It-Up Chemistry Lab to experiment on how things react and a MoonScope to gaze into outer space.  These science club products are actually designed by "Nancy B" who is a science product designer, former science teacher, and an all-around science enthusiast who want to inspire girls to share her passion for science, technology, engineering and math.

My daughter was so excited when I brought home a Nancy B's Science Club MoonScope for us to check out the upcoming super moon eclipse.  This is a very rare phenomenon taking place from approximately 10:11 to 10:47pm E.T. on Sunday, September 27, 2015 where you will see a giant red moon.  That night's full moon will appear about 14% larger than normal creating a "super moon" effect because it will at the closest point (known as its perigee) in its orbit of the Earth.  It will also appear blood red in color during the total lunar eclipse; which is when the Earth passes directly between the sun and the moon.  Our planet blocks most of the sun light from illuminating the moon at this time, but some light does  reflect through the Earth's atmosphere giving the moon a red tin similar to the effect you see in the sky during an evening sunset.  How great is that to start off the Halloween season with a Blood Moon to have a teachable moment with your children and get them excited about science!



So we put together the Nancy B's Science Club MoonScope and tested out calibrating and focusing the lenses to make sure it was ready to go so we wouldn't have to be monkeying around getting it ready when wanting to view the big event in the night  sky.  It's instructions recommend putting it together during the day and testing it out on some objects like trees to make sure it works properly and to learn how to focus the lenses without it being dark out.  Everything worked great and we're ready to go for Sunday night!

The MoonScope, which has received The National Parenting Center's Seal of Approval, does a remarkable job of providing a clear view by magnifying the night sky by 18x to 90x through transferable 20mm and 4mm all-glass eyepieces.  The MoonScope requires 2 AA batteries to power a red light at the base of its tripod that isn't used for the function of the telescope but rather provides a way for kids to reference the included activity journal without hurting their night vision. I found the MoonScope, which was a 2014 nominee for Best Educational Toy of the Year by the Toy Industry Association and received a Silver Honor from the Parents Choice Foundation, easy to assemble and most importantly my daughter found it easy to use when she tried it out.

The only thing that took her a bit of getting used to was looking through one eye to see through the MoonScope's eyepieces, which I have to admit I'm not very good at either.  Make sure to take advantage of the pre-aligned finderscope next to the eyepiece on the MoonScope to line up your targets as it can be difficult to find things just by using the telescopic lenses.  The finderscope even has a glow-in-the-dark ring on it to help you target things in the night sky which we thought was pretty neat.  Also you will want to have a table or something sturdy to place the MoonScope on because its tripods aren't very tall making it challenging at times to get the right angle for a view if you don't have something to prop it on.

So we checked everything out during the daylight, gave it a test run the other night, and we are ready to go for viewing the Super Blood Moon!  Don't miss out because the last time there was a blood red super moon was when I was a third grader in 1982  - in fact since 1900 it has only happened 5 times (1910, 1928, 1946, 1964 & 1982) - and it won't occur again until 2033.  You don't want to wait another 18 years for another chance to get a glimpse of this special astronomical event. 

For more information about the MoonScope, visit nancybscienceclub.com

If you don't have a MoonScope of your own to view the Super Moon Eclipse with, NASA will have a live feed from 8:00 pm through 11:30 pm ET streaming views of the eclipse from the Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama, the Griffith Observatory in Los Angeles, California, Adler Planetarium in Chicago, and Fernbank Observatory in Atlanta, Georgia among other locations across the United States.  NASA solar physicist Mitzi Adams will discuss the eclipse and answer questions from people on Twitter using the hashtag #askNASA during the broadcast.

** Disclaimer:  A Geek Daddy received a complimentary Nancy B's Science Club MoonScope to review.  The opinions in this post about the product are my own and a positive review was not mandated for this blog to receive the product.  **

IAmElemental - Action Figures for Girls

My twin 6 year old son and daughter really enjoy playing together with super hero themed action figures and I really enjoy that during these play times there tends to be harmony and peace in the house versus the bickering and fighting that often occurs between siblings.  One issue though that isn't so nice that often comes up when they are playing "super heroes" is out of the twenty or so action figures my kids have only one is a woman and the rest are men so at some point the question always comes up from my daughter why can't she have more girl super hero toys to play with and why does her brother get to have more toys than her.  I explain that the toys are for both of them to enjoy and unfortunately most of the characters just happen to be boys but if we see some girl super hero characters at the store we'll pick them up for her.  I also make an effort to explain that just because the super hero characters are guys doesn't mean she can't as a girl enjoy playing with them and she shouldn't worry about something being a "girl" or "boy" toy but rather focus on having fun playing with any toy she wants to.  That being said it would be nice to have a few more lady super heroes for my daughter to play with.

Therefore, I was happy to have recently discovered a new line of action figures meant to show girls and boys that women can be super heroes too.   Launched last year, IAmElemental is a series of seven 4" articulated action figures that are individually packaged and include a drawstring carry bag, shield, an interchangeable accessory, Elements of Power chart and two trading cards featuring strong, healthy female super heroes.  In addition to the super hero aspect of these action figures, the toy line also incorporates STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering & Math) to help encourage girls to take interest in these professional fields where women traditionally lag in comparison to men.  Individual figures are $9.99 and are available to purchase online and at these retail stores.  At 4" these action figures are also a nice size so that they are relatively compatible to playing with other popular action figure lines like DC Comics Justice League, Marvel's Avengers, and Star Wars toys that tend to range in size from 3.75 to 4 inches as standard sizes.



Each IAmElemental action figure has its own unique theme.  For the current 7 figure lineup the characters represent bravery, energy, honesty, industry, enthusiasm, persistence, and fear:

 BRAVERY does not shrink from challenge or difficulty.  She has the ability to create a protective force-field around herself and others.

ENERGY approaches life with excitement and does not do things half way.  She has the ability to control electrical impulses.

HONESTY tells the truth. She has the ability to make others tell the truth.

INDUSTRY works hard at all she does.  She has the ability to control physical objects and repair anything that is broken.

ENTHUSIASM cultivates and shares a positive mindset.  She has the ability to change the negative emotions of others.

PERSISTENCE finishes what she starts and persists in spite of obstacles.  She has the ability to push through any obstacle with super strength.

FEAR spreads the impulse to pull away.  She has the ability to stop a moving object in its tracks.

IAmElemental action figures were named one of the "25 Best Inventions of 2014" and "Top 10 Toys of 2014" by TIME Magazine. These toys are suggested for children 4 years old and older. In addition to purchasing the action figures individually they can also be purchased in a bundle that includes a lunchbox carry case for $65. For parents or grandparents of elementary school aged girls and boys, these are some action figures this Geek Daddy believes you should check out. 

IAmElemental was started as a Kickstarter campaign that met its funding goals in 2 days drawing backers from all 50 states and six continents. According to Julie Kerwin with the privately held New York City-based toy company behind these action figures, "IAmElemental, which was launched to worldwide acclaim via Kickstarter, envisions kids as the creators of a play experience in which they are the active agents in a story of their own design."



For more information, visit www.iamelemental.com

Help make a LEGO Han Solo Building Block Blaster a Reality...Vote for it to be built on the Lego Ideas Page

Who's quicker to the draw....Greedo or Han Solo?  Well no matter who really shot first Greedo is the one that ends up on the floor with a smoking hole in his chest so we know who won that battle.  Next to the light saber, Han Solo's pistol is one of the most recognized props from the Star Wars movies.  How would you like to own your very own?  Lego Master Builder Julius von Brunk recently did just that by building a full-size replica from LEGO Building Blocks.

Brunk's laser pistol is made out of 400 LEGO pieces and features a pullable trigger that activates light and sound effects.  It is "Impressive, Most Impressive" to quote a certain Darth Vader.  So want one of your very own?  Here is a link to the instructions so you can build your very own. 

Problem is that Brunk's instructions are a wee bit complicated for the rest of us non-Master Builder types.  Ah Ha! there is another option for the rest of us ... have LEGO create a mass production version that is customized to make it easy enough for the average consumer to pop and click it together.  The LEGO IDEAS web site allows fans to petition for products to be created and ideas that receive enough online support are reviewed by the company for consideration for being produced and sold by it.  The new LEGO Scientists pack (LEGO SHATTERS THE BUILDING BLOCK CEILING) that was recently introduced originated through the LEGO IDEAS program. 

To get a project off the ground though it takes 10,000 votes on the LEGO IDEAS page to get things rolling.  If you'd like to be able to pick up a DL-44 blaster pistol off a store shelf one day, rush over to the LEGO IDEAS web site and cast your vote in support of Brunk's idea.  CLICK HERE to vote.

Get those votes in by hitting the blue "support" button on the right side of the DL-44's LEGO IDEA page and spread the word about this creative idea.  Let's make this happen!

LEGO SHATTERS THE BUILDING BLOCK CEILING

LEGO SCIENTIST PLAYSET SHOWS GIRLS CAN HAVE CAREERS TOO

My children are twins, one is a girl and one is a boy (no they are not identical...wow I can't believe the number of times people ask me if they are identical twins but that is for a post on another day) which puts me in a unique position to see them playing together a lot.  One of their favorite toys is LEGOs and I've noticed that while many of the things that kids can construct could be construed gender neutral most of the playsets that we have in our house tend to include the little yellow action figures that come with them as guys.  My daughter has asked me a few times where all the gals are for the LEGOs and could we buy some more sets with girl characters in them.  The ones we've found tend to be Disney Princess themed or with characters recreating the movie Clueless under the label LEGO Friends.  While I don't mind my daughter being a little girl and enjoying things like princesses, ponies, and dolls, I also don't want her feeling limited to those things being what she feels she is supposed to be playing with.  So I was impressed when LEGO recently came out with a science themed playset that featured a cast of women as the assortment of action figures that came along with it.  I must not have been alone because the toys sold out on the LEGO website in 1 day!

As a father, I want to see my daughter be happy and successful in life at whatever path she wants to pursue whether that be a princess working at a Disney World theme park, an astronaut conducting experiments on the International Space Station, a future Justice of the United States Supreme Court, or a stay at home mother.  I don't want to see her choices limited or biased against her and unfortunately I've witnessed struggles that my wife has had working her way up the management ladder in her career that have demonstrated to me how women often have additional hurdles thrown in front of them. So maybe by confronting stereotypes at younger ages showing that girls aren't all about pink and frilly things it will positively impact both men and women who play with these toys as children when they are adults.  On a more realistic note though these are just toys and they aren't going to change the world, but if they can just subtly show girls that there shouldn't be a gender bias when it comes to professional and scientific careers than it could have a profound impact on some individuals.  Studies have shown that if parents engage in gender stereotypes it creates a lack of confidence for women to pursue an interest in science, technology, engineering and math. So as a dad who would love to see his daughter become an Astronaut, Doctor, Scientist, or did I say U.S. Supreme Court Justice, I want to thank LEGO for breaking the building block ceiling.  Now my little girl is also asking you add a few more female super hero figures to your collection to go along with her Wonder Woman (or as she calls her "Lasso Girl") little yellow action figures.

The new Research Institute playset has everything boys and girls need to explore the world below, around, and above us.  It was created by real-life geoscientist Ellen Kooijman and selected to be brought into production based upon its submission through LEGO Ideas which allows fans of the toys to have a say into future products.  This set of building blocks includes a paleontologist, astronomer, and a chemist minifigures:

Help the paleontologist study the dinosaur fossil with a magnifying glass

Map the skies with the astronomer through her telescope

Assist the chemist in carrying out experiments in her lab

Hopefully one day a toy set like this can be a mix of male and female scientists working together as equals, instead of a concerted effort to make a point about women in the workplace.  This is a nice start to getting there.  I know my son would love playing with this just as much as my daughter making a positive impression on both of them that anybody can do anything if they put their mind to it and apply themselves.

CLICK HERE to visit the product page on the LEGO website for the Research Institute playset.  While it is currently sold out, I'm sure that based on its popularity, and the fact they haven't taken the page selling it offline, that more will be available sooner or later both online and optimistically on store shelves too.  The toy retails for $19.99 which isn't a bad price as anyone who has bought LEGO building blocks knows they can have astronomical price tags.  I was thinking of getting the LEGO Death Star for my kids ... and me ... to build until I saw the $400 price tag - wow!  The Research Institute in addition to the three scientist figures has 165 pieces and is suggested for children 10 years old and older.