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Curious about how your heart pumps blood? Use this model to learn about the right atrium and ventricle!Discover more about the science of pressure with a <a href="https://www.kiwico.com/us/store/dp/store-bottle-rocket-project-kit/4588" target="_self">Bottle Rocket kit</a> from the <a href="https://www.kiwico.com/store" target="_self">KiwiCo Store</a>! Assemble a launcher, rocket, funnel, and launch mixture to experience some extremely fizzy fun.

If you’ve ever squeezed your hand together to shoot pool water, you’re familiar with the basics of how your heart works. It’s a muscle that squeezes together to pump blood around your body! But shooting pool water with your hand is pretty messy and splashy. Your heart has to be a lot more orderly. In fact, because of how your body uses blood, your heart needs to pump blood in just one direction. Blood carries oxygen on it, and all the parts of your body need oxygen to work right. If the blood pumped backward, your body would get blood that had no oxygen in it!In order to keep your blood flowing in the right direction, your heart has two pretty cool design features: chambers and valves. The chambers fill with blood, then squeeze tight to pump it out. Each side of your heart has an entry chamber called an atrium and an exit chamber called a ventricle (so your heart has four chambers total!). The entry and exit chambers pump one after the other to push your blood forward.Each chamber also has an exit door called a valve. These keep blood from getting pumped backwards. When the ventricle contracts, the atrium’s exit valve closes so blood won’t push back into it. When the ventricle relaxes, its own exit valve closes to keep blood from spilling backwards into it. That way, the pumping of each chamber moves your blood forward! To see more about how the chambers and valves work, follow the steps to build this model.

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Cut the neck off of two balloons. Then, tape the cut end of the balloon neck closed. 

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Cut a very small slit (enough to insert a straw) in the neck of each balloon about ½ inch below where you taped. Then, insert a clear straw into the slit of one balloon. Set the other balloon aside. 

This should be a very tight fit. You may need an adult to assist you. 

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Cut the bendy straw so that there is about 1 ½ inches on either side of the bend. Then, cut the other clear straw in half. 

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Tape the bendy straw in between the two half-length straws. 

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Cut two small slits directly across from one another near the top of one of the balloon tops. 

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Insert the long straw and the bendy straw into the two slits. 

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Insert one of the half-length straws from the bendy straw into the slit of the balloon neck you set aside in step 4.  

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Stretch the balloon over the top of the small container with both straws inside of it.  

This balloon should be as tight as possible. You may need an adult to assist you. 

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Fill one of the cups about ¾ full with water. Then, drip about 5 drops of red food coloring into it. 

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Place the cup filled with water on the other end of the bendy straw and the empty cup underneath the other straw. Then, push down on the balloon and watch what happens! This is how the valves in your heart work. 

This particular model shows the right ventricle “receiving” oxygen-poor blood from the right atrium through the tricuspid valve and pumping it to the body through the pulmonary valve.

Do you know what makes the sound of your heart beat? It isn’t the heart muscles contracting (try flexing your biceps and see if that makes the same sound). It’s actually the valves in your heart opening and closing! The first sound from the valve between your atria and ventricles closing. The second sound is from the valve between your ventricles and the rest of your body closing. Doctors think those sounds go “lub-dub, lub-dub.” What do you think a heartbeat sounds like?

cups (3)

balloons (3)

clear straw (2)

bendy straw (1)

water

red food coloring 

Scissors

Tape

Pumping Heart

Valentine's Day

physics

STEM

learning activity

at-home learning

In honor of Valentine's Day, we decided to get a little messy and explore the science behind what the holiday is really about - the heart!Want to explore anatomy without the hassle of gathering materials? Dive into learning with a <a href="https://kiwico.com/us/store/dp/vet-starter-kit/3542" target="_self">Vet Starter Kit</a> from the <a href="https://www.kiwico.com/store" target="_self">KiwiCo Store!</a>&nbsp;

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Cut the neck of the balloon where the balloon starts to widen. 

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Fill a jar halfway with water and add 3 drops of red food coloring. This will act as the "blood" pumping through the heart!

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Stretch the balloon top over the jar. Keep stretching the balloon to make sure it is lays flat across the mouth of the jar.

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Use scissors to carefully snip two small holes into the balloon, about 1 inch away from each other. Make sure each hole is big to fit the width of the straw, but small enough so that the balloon is tight around the straw, preventing the air from escaping between the straw and the balloon.

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If you cut the holes a bit too big, use tape to patch the side of the straws. Also, tape the end of one of the straws. Now it's time to pump your heart! Place your heart pump on a tray (this is going to get a little messy!). Use your fingers to press down into the balloon between the two straws. Watch the blood pump out from the pink straw! Of course, the action of a real heart is much more complicated than this simple model, but your heart really is a pump! With every heartbeat, muscles in your heart contract and squeeze the chambers (or open spaces) within your heart, just like your finger poking into the balloon. This squeeze pushes the blood in the chamber and moves it out of your heart and into your arteries. In your balloon heart, the water "blood" gets pushed up and out the straw "artery". Your heart does this an average of 70 times every minute, pushing your blood all the way around your body and back to your heart again!

balloon

straws (x2)

Heart Pump

Valentine’s Day crafts

art project

indoor project

craft

homemade craft

easy craft

A quick and fun way to make a unique heart collage utilizing various fine motor skills.

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Gather all your ingredients (not pictured: masking tape and white glue).

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Start by using the heart stencil and pen to trace a heart shape onto your contact paper.  Trace onto the paper side with the words.

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Cut out around your heart, leaving a large border around the heart shape.  V just started using scissors, so she cut them out and I trimmed them up a bit.  Remove the paper backing from the contact paper (V loved doing this part!).  Tape down heart traced contact paper, sticky side up.

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Start tearing up the construction paper, placing the pieces onto the sticky side of the contact paper in any way.  V LOVED tearing up the paper - this was her favorite part of this activity!

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Fill up the entire sticky space with torn paper.  Cut out another piece of contact paper the approximate size of the collage piece.  Remove paper from this piece of contact paper and lay sticky side down on top of paper collage, sealing it together.

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Next, pat down the layers securing them together.  Another favorite of V's.

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Remove the masking tape and flip over the collage so that the traced heart shape is on top.  Cut around collage following heart shape around.

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If necessary, open layers and place a small amount of glue for extra closure.  Ours was quite thick with torn paper (V was quite excited about this project and tore many strips).  We had very few empty sticky spaces to hold it closed.

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And there you have it, the front and back look of a beautiful torn paper heart collage.  If you'd like, you can add a magnet strip to the back to make it a magnetic decoration, some double stick tape to add it to a window, or some string to hang it.

Construction Paper

clear contact paper

heart stencil

masking tape

white glue

Torn Paper Hearts

magnets

decorations

quick craft

handmade cards

A simple and quick little project that involves crumbling, smashing and gluing - which is sure to be a delight in any child's eyes.

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Start by gathering your supplies. We used both kid scissors and adult scissors in this activity, because we both did some cutting.

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Have your child squirt the glue into a small dish (V LOVES this part).  Next, remove the paper from the magnet strip, exposing the sticky back, and place it on the backside of the heart cut out.

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Cut the tissue paper in strips and then cut it again, into smaller squares.  Because she is just starting to learn how to use scissors, this part was done by both V and I.

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Now onto the fun stuff!  Start by crumbling up each tissue paper square, dip it in the glue, place it on your heart shape, and then smoosh it down.

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Crumble, dip, place, smoosh, and repeat until the heart is covered in color!

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As you are repeating these above steps you can also fill in the extra glue spots by placing plain tissue crumbles to fill in the holes.  Once completed, allow to dry for one hour.  Admire your creation.

card stock paper (heart cut out)

tissue paper (2 colors)

sticky back magnet strips

small dish

Magnetic Tissue Paper Hearts

This fun project was such a hit.  It involves several mediums that merge together to form a beautiful collage.

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Start by gathering your supplies.  I used both kid scissors and adult scissors in this activity, because we both did some cutting.

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Start by tracing out your heart stencil on the foam sheets for as many collages as you would like to make.  Next cut out your hearts.  V just started using scissors, so she cut them out and I trimmed them up.

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Have your child start gluing and sticking the sequins and foam stickers on the cut out heart shapes.  They can be overlapped or put side by side.  Have fun with it. That's the beauty of collages -- anything goes!

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Allow your collages to dry.  Depending on how many layers are involved in your collages, drying time will vary.  While you are waiting, feel free to decorate your shirt to pass the time!

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Once your collage is dry, mark a spot near the top signifying where you would like to hang it.  Push your pen tip through the spot, making a hole in the foam.  Next, thread your twine through the hole.&nbsp;

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Finish off your collage by creating a loop and knotting it closed.  Hang your pretty little heart collage for all to see!

foam sheets (2)

string

sequins

Double-Sided Sticky Foam Set

Layered Heart Collages

playdate activities

slime

putty

This Valentine's Day, nothing says "love" quite like a giant tub of flubber!  Borax (sodium tetraborate) is a naturally-occurring mineral salt commonly used as a laundry booster or cleaner. As with any other cleaning product, it should be kept away from children not under direct supervision of an adult. Do not allow children to ingest Borax. If consumed, contact a poison control center immediately. Wash hands after play, as prolonged skin exposure may cause irritation. 

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In one bowl, mix 1 1/2 cups warm water with the glue and a few drops of food coloring or watercolor.

In a second bowl, mix 1 1/3 cups of warm water and the Borax.

There are various methods, but we prefer to pour the warm water/glue mixture into the bowl with the Borax, and gently stir with a stick.  There will be quite a bit of liquid left over.  The glue is still a liquid but it stays together, and within a few seconds  it will begin to turn rubbery and you can stick your hand in the bowl to mix it a little.  It will be a little slippery and very stringy at this point.

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Gather the glob of flubber in your hands while standing over a sink and work it a little with your fingers for about 30 seconds until all the liquid dissolves and it turns very rubbery.  The right consistency should be a little like putty - very pliable -  it will stretch very slowly when you hold up, but it won't be too solid or too runny.

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Stretch and play with your flubber or use cookie cutters to create fun shapes. Store in air tight container.

warm water (1.5 cups)

white glue (2 cups)

food coloring or liquid watercolor

warm water (1 1/3 Cups) (in a separate bowl from the 1.5 cups above)

borax (3 teaspoons)

Valentine's Day Flubber

Mother's Day

Mother’s Day gifts

Mother’s Day crafts

painting

handmade gifts

The perfect Mother's Day gift, from them to her...easy footprint hearts.

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Start with a small amount of paint first, then add more as needed.  Using the foam brush paint your little one's foot, left foot first.  V was actually pretty great at painting her own feet (she's 3 years old), but I had to paint T's feet myself (he's almost 2).

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Holding their foot flat and having them spread out their toes, place their painted foot on the canvas.  Press down heel first, then toes in a rocking sort of motion.  Place the left foot first, then the right, connecting them at the heels to make a heart.

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Here's a view of the first foot, the left one, and then both feet together forming the heart.  Ideally this is what you are striving for, but don't fret if it's not perfect.  As you can see below, little T moved his foot a lot, creating a messier footprint.  But, that's the beauty of it, essentially showing each child's individuality -- my messy T & my very neat miss V.

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Optional:  We made these for each set of grandmothers for Mother's Day, and I didn't want them to have to worry about how to hang it.  So I hot glued a piece of jute rope (approximately 4" in length) to the back in a loop.  I then flattened it with a piece of ribbon to secure it further.

44 best heart projects for kids

Screen-free fun!