Ward’s Science: grants, lessons, products and more

This week, Owen and I had an absolute blast taking a look at some of the fab science kits that were sent to us from our friends at Ward’s Science.

Ward’s Science is seriously an educator’s one-stop shop for all things science, and it has been for years and years.

They’ve got tons and tons of products, resources, lesson plans, and support for helping students connect to science and to really make science come alive for them.

And the coolest things about this company are the history of Ward’s Science (it’s been around for a long, long time!), the scope of science products it provides, and the Ward’s Science Plus Us team of real, live people who are there to support educators in any way they are able.

Oh–and the grants and funding service? INCREDIBLE. Ward’s Science knows that educators are crazy busy and overwhelmed, so they are there there to help teachers with grant-writing. If you’ve ever tried your hand at writing a grant, you know it’s a lot of work. It’s laborious. It’s time-consuming. But Ward’s Science has people there to help you. How awesome is that?

I have a rockin’ discount code for you to use or pass on to your favorite STEM teachers or to the administration team at your school. Read on, friends.

Here’s the skinny. . .

Ward’s Science: Grants, Lessons, Products and More

Ward’s Science goes waaaaay back.

I always love to know a bit about the “behind the scenes” of brands or companies I support. In this day and age, knowing that Ward’s Science has spent over 150 years in the science education business is pretty cool.

Take a minute to read about Henry Augustus Ward (1834-1906) and how he started his company, Ward’s Science. It’s remarkable.

Ward’s Science products cover nearly every science subject.

Ward’s Science sells hands-on science supplies and activities aligned to the standards, curriculum, or science program you teach. Teachers will love this.

They’ve got:

• curriculum kits with standards-aligned activity guides;
• recommended equipment and supplies for the most commonly-taught science programs throughout the country;
• solutions to save time in your science classroom and meet program requirements or curriculum standards.

We had a chance to look at a few science sets that totally rocked.

Ward’s® Essentials Human Circuit

This kit—like most of the Ward’s Science kids—came with a Teacher Guide and a Student Guide, materials, and handouts to be used for the lesson.

The Human Circuit set was something that I think all students will love when they’re learning about electricity.

Owen and I had a blast becoming a “Human Circuit” and testing out how the Energy Tubes carried electrical currents. (It sounds a whole lot more dangerous than it actually was!)

You must take a look at some of the fun Owen and I had with this set. (This is a link to our Instagram Highlight of STEM at Home, so click until you get to the Ward’s Science photos!)

These guys were a riot playing with the materials from this set. We all did.

Again, check out our Instagram Highlight of STEM at Home, so you can see some videos of our experience!

from the site: Interactive energy tubes are ideal for teaching students about open and closed circuits, conductors versus insulators, and light and sound waves. When you hold both ends of the energy tube, your body becomes the conducting material. The gap between the two metal electrodes on the tube is bridged and your body creates a closed circuit. The result is that the energy tube produces sound and red, green, and blue LED lights flash. Engage the entire class using the students as “wires”. Elevate this lesson by incorporating the included simple circuits kit and testing student-generated circuit diagrams. This kit includes enough materials to engage EVERYONE in the classroom- just hold hands.

Ward’s® Essentials Magnetic Slime Kit

With a slime-lover in our house, this activity is bound to be a head-turner.

Especially because slime is all the rage right now, I think students of all ages will absolutely love getting their hands into some magnetic slime!

from the site: This inquiry activity takes exploration of solids and liquids a step further by challenging students to formulate and test magnetic slime. Students observe physical properties of “pure” substances and track properties as they create various mixtures. Students synthesize their results and create a recipe for the “perfect” magnetic slime.

Ward’s® Essentials Spacesuit Design Challenge

I think when we opened this set, we all had a blast just playing with the materials. It’s been ages since I held a “Water Worm”, and the “Space Worms” are who students actually try to build a spacesuit for!

from the site: With this activity, students are presented with a defined set of materials and asked to design a spacesuit that can help maintain the body temperature of an astronaut in the extreme heat and cold of outer space. Water-filled “Space Worms” are used as test subjects that mimic the water composition of the adult human body. Students must create a budget and plan their testing rounds accordingly. Students collect data on internal temperature changes of the Space Worms and evaluate which suits work best given the economic constraints.

How incredibly fun would this be?!

Ward’s® Essentials Crawling Color, Walking Water

The Crawling Color, Walking Water set was super cool, and I can just imagine how students will respond to this activity.

The colors and movement will get them talking for days. (In a good way–about science–I mean!)

from the site: This high-quality acrylic display allows the classroom to explore color mixing and the properties of water, including cohesion, adhesion, and capillary action. Students take their knowledge a step further by engineering a plant model and mapping capillary action through the “xylem.” This kit includes enough materials for 15 student groups.

Ward’s Science Grants and Funding Services rocks.

Have you ever tried to write a grant, friend?

Grant writing is no joke. It’s laborious. It’s time-consuming. It’s absolutely exhausting.

But unfortunately, for many teachers, it’s the only way they can secure materials or experiences for their students.

I love that Ward’s Science has a whole crew available to help people with grant-writing and funding. Ward’s Science wants to help and offers:

• Step-by-step support for all your science and technology funding needs
• One-on-one partnership with an expert Ward’s Science Grant Consultant
• Proven success – over $5 million secured since 2012

They’ve helped over 1,000 educators win science and technology funding – and we can help you too! (I LOVE THIS!)

Share a Ward’s Science discount code with your teachers and schools.

Guess what? We’ve got a sweet discount for you, my friends. Share this post with your kids’ schools, with your favorite teachers, and with your PTA or PTO.

TeachMama readers Get 15% off  your order total plus FREE SHIPPING with exclusive promo code WardsWorld15TM.

Offer valid on web only at wardsci.com. To activate offer, use promo code at checkout. Offer expires 11/31/19. Free shipping includes standard ground shipping only and excludes items with hazardous shipping; standard hazardous shipping fees will apply. Unless otherwise specified, contract discounts and special offers may not be applied to any item priced with a final digit of ‘9’ (i.e. $6.99; $10.09; $129.99.) Offer excludes Somso models due to custom nature of the product. Offer excludes all Triumph Board products. Promotional discounts also may not be combined with other offers, discounts, contracts, or promotions. For more details, visit wardsci.com/terms. Selected items may be or contain chemicals, live materials, or hazardous materials and may be restricted for purchasing by educational institutions only. To purchase restricted items, please log into wardsci.com with your Full Web Profile, or create a new Full Web Profile here using your school’s Shipping Account Number. A full profile also allows you to pay with purchase orders, receive tax exemptions, contract pricing (if applicable), and other advanced features.  Don’t know your Shipping Account Number or not sure what it is? We can help. Email wardscs@vwr.com or Click to Chat on the profile registration page and a Ward’s Science Representative will help you locate your Shipping Account Number or apply for a new one. 

Connect with the Ward’s Science team on social.

I love it when brands and businesses make it super-easy to connect with them. I love it when they try to reach folks in a number of different ways, to meet people where they are.

Facebook:     https://www.facebook.com/wardsci

Twitter:      https://www.twitter.com/WardsScience

YouTube:    https://www.youtube.com/user/wardsci

Pinterest:     https://www.pinterest.com/wardsscience/

Instagram:    https://www.instagram.com/wardsscience/

Hashtag to follow:     #wardsworld 

fyi: This post was written as part of a sponsorship with Ward’s Science and We Are Teachers. As always, opinions and ideas are all my own, influenced only by my experience as an educator and parent.

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