FAQs

I am based in Waikanae on the beautiful Kāpiti Coast, Wellington.

Yes I am. My PhD is in the ‘Oral Absorption of Polymer Peptide Conjugates’ for
Keele University in the UK. I worked for GlaxoSmithKline as a Research
Scientist where I helped discover the medicines in their asthma inhalers.  Then
I worked for the New Zealand forensic service or as I like to call it CSI-NZ.
Now I’m a trained Primary School teacher and I have developed a line of
science resources and services.  My goal is to get everyone, especially children,
as passionate and excited about science as I am.

I have been doing science parties for over 14 years, I started when I was training to be a Primary School
teacher.

• Most experiments are suitable for children from 4 years old to adults. See the party experiment list.
• Science parties work best if the majority of participants are of a similar age. If you have a large range of ages or lots of children a Family Science Party would be most suitable for you.
  

• A basic Science party has three of the hands-on experiments – click here for the list.
• Extra experiments can be added for a fee.
• If you have a safe launch space I will also bring my big rocket launcher.
  

• Fake Snow
• Slime
• Mini Rockets
  

No problems Sarah the Scientist will always bring wet and windy weather alternatives suitable for your party. If we can get outside we will try.

Yes some do but those are the ones we do outside! Part of the Sarah the Scientist party experience for the parents/caregivers/ homeowners is to tidy up as we go and not leave a big mess for anyone to tidy at the end.

• I do already have some themed parties click here for the list.
• I am happy to discuss making bespoke parties to a theme.
  

If you want larger quantities of any of the products on the website please contact Dr K at info@sarahthescientist.co.nz to discuss discount and availability.  Please note that the availability of all these products may be depend on my suppliers.

If you need help sourcing other equipment or chemicals please e-mail me at info@sarahthescientist.co.nz.  I may be able to help.  Not all my stock is listed here and I have gathered a long list of supplier over the years.

Safety:

• Non Toxic
• Biodegradable
• If spilt it can get VERY slippery on hard flooring!
• Rinse out with plenty of water if it gets in your eyes.
• Good scientist wash hands after using Fake Snow.
• If you are worried contact your doctor.

Science:

• The chemical name is Sodium Polyacrylate.
• It is polymer (a chemical made up of many repeating units in a long chain). Plastic is also a polymer.
• It feels cold because the water that was added is evaporating. Evaporation is a heat steeling action.
• It’s white because the light waves are bounced off in a million different directions.
• The dry Fake Snow Powder can absorb up to 300 times it’s own weight in water! WOW!

Storage:

• Store it in an open bowl, tray, old ice-cream container etc.
• Do not store in direct sun, it will start to break down!
• Salt will break it down too.
• Add more water when your drift becomes smaller, the water is evaporating all the time.
• Throw it away when it gets dirty and/or mouldy.

Disposal:

• Clean up spills with a dustpan and brush or a vacuum cleaner. NOT a damp cloth!
• It is biodegradable.
• I compost my old Fake Snow but it can be safely throw away in the rubbish bin.

Extra Experiments:

NOTE: If you are doing a new experiment do it to only a small amount of your Fake Snow, then if you don’t like the result you still have more Fake Snow to play and experiment with.

• Add a little food colouring.
• Put it in the freezer once it’s frozen you can make snowmen and snow castles with it.
• Take a tiny amount and add more water – what happens?
• How long does it take to dry up?
• What else can you think of?

Where Can I Buy More:

• This slime will not last long, it has no preservatives in it so it will go very runny and/or mouldy. In this case throw
  it away!
• Play with your slime on a smooth, waterproof surface. The kitchen bench is probably good. Ask an adult or whomever has to clean it up!

Safety:

• This slime is made with PVA glue, borax and school dye.
• It is safe to handle unless your child has severe allergies or a dermatological (skin) problem.
• If in doubt consult a doctor or other medical professional.
• Wash hands thoroughly after playing with any slime.
• Look out for mound or runniness and throw it away.
• NOT suitable for anyone under 3 years old.
• DO NOT EAT!

Science:

• The PVA glue is a polymer. Imaging long lines of the same type of Lego brick stuck together or spaghetti.
• The borax sticks these spaghetti strands together in a few places. This is called crosslinking. The more Borax, the more cross links and so the firmer the final slime is.
• It makes a farting noise when you push it into the tube in the right way because the escaping air vibrates the slime against the tube.

Storage:

• Slime will dry out if it is exposed to air.
• Keep your slime in the sealed container or a sealed plastic bag.
• This slime will not last long, it has no preservatives in it so it will go very runny and/or mouldy. In this case throw it away!

Clean-up:

• If the slime gets into clothing, carpet or other material scrape off all you can them wash with warm water. It is water soluble. If in doubt consult a cleaning specialist.

Disposal:

• Make sure it’s in a sealed container or plastic bag. Then it can be safely thrown away in the rubbish bin.

Extra Experiments:

• What happens if you dry a bit out?
• Does it bounce?
• What happens if you roll it into a sausage and pull it gently?
• What happens if you roll it into a sausage and pull it fast?
• Can you make a fart noise with your slime?

Where Can I Buy More: