a homeschooling blog about Simon, a young mathematician and programmer, and his little sister Neva. Visit https://simontiger.com
Simon is baking Dutch traditional “pepernootjes” (“pepper nuts” or spicy cookies) and explains why they get bigger in size after you put them in the oven and what the optimal … Continue reading Why Cookies Get Bigger in the Oven
Want some me sugar in your tea? Simon built this sucrose (table sugar) molecule with the help of Theodore Gray’s Molecules book (although he is pretty sure there is a … Continue reading Sugar and Salt
Simon really wanted to try building a capillary bowl – a version of a perpetual motion machine in which water circulates. Although aware of the fact that perpetual motion was … Continue reading Physics Experiments: Capillary Bowl
Our new MEL Chemistry box arrived, containing tons of color fun! We have already tried two experiments. In the Color changing milk experiment, the soap touches the milk creating a very thin … Continue reading Chemistry Experiments: Colors (surface active agents and pH indicator)
Simon went further on his research about what exactly valence is, and what determines how many other atoms an atom can bond with. “What about Helium? My question is, how … Continue reading The way to own your knowledge
Simon has been down with a serious flu for the past three days and yet, the moment he started feeling just a little more alive he resumed his learning: following … Continue reading Valence and bonds
Our third MEL Science box arrived back in August, when we were on vacation. We have already tried two experiments from the box, both perhaps more suitable for winter. Instant … Continue reading MEL Chemistry Box number 3: Artificial Snow and growing crystals on a Xmas tree
Above: “Mom, look, this is what we breathe in and this is what we breathe out!” Looking for a better organic chemistry set now, with plenty of carbon and hydrogen … Continue reading Some basic molecules
Today we opened our second MEL Chemistry box with two experiments using tin (Sn). We made a tin dendrite and grew a tin hedgehog. Both experiments involved preparing a tin … Continue reading The second set of MEL Chemistry experiments
We have received our first MEL Chemistry box, something the kids were really impatient to start. And guess what, finally something to be proud of being a Russian from St.Petersburg … Continue reading Our first MEL Chemistry set has arrived!
Another fun chemistry workshop today with John Maas: solubility of salts, metal dissolving in acid and burning like a star, and other interesting lab tests and the theory behind them. The … Continue reading Salts and Metals
Simon dissolving salts and watching ions form during his monthly chemistry workshop with John Maas
Geeks out of the box 