Seattle - (
Shannon) Now this is seriously cool: a Power House kit that teaches about regenerative energy sources, photosynthesis, greenhouse construction, cooking with solar power, all kinds of good, green stuff. Apparently, you can even make your own chewing gum. Developed by physicist Uwe Wandrey and produced by
Thames and Kosmos, this kit is a fun way to educate kids (and adults) about making wise use of resources.
According to the story in the Power House Experiment Manual, a group of people live on an island with no phone, no pool, no pets. They have only the resources nature and the island provide, so they must use what they have carefully. The kit teaches you to live sustainably: you build a model house that has solar panels, a windmill, a greenhouse, a desalination system, a solar cooker, a solar hot water tank, etc. Robinson Crusoe would have given Friday up to the cannibals in exchange for one of these kits. There are 70 experiments and 20 building projects designed to educate about the basic principles of natural energy sources. Get your kids ready either for a science fair or to survive on Gilligan's Island, or just teach them some nifty, hands-on, sustainable science as they build an electric car and make their own sauerkraut.
Some of the projects include: build a sail car and discover how wind can be harnessed by sails and wings to produce energy. Bake bread in your own solar cooker. Get energy from sunflowers. For ages 12 and up. Prices on the Internet range from $119 to $149.
