#Science Educational Kit

[tornadoquest]

Tornado Quest Top Science Links For October 28 - November 4, 2023 #science #weather #climate #hurricane #health

Greetings everyone. Thanks for stopping by. With a few weeks left in the Atlantic and Pacific hurricane season I will continue with hurricane preparedness information that you’ll find helpful. There are other interesting reads this week, so let’s get started. There’s a joke in here somewhere. “China’s spy-hunting campaign has a new target: ‘Illegal’ weather stations.” In our warming planet,…

[curiouskidzzaus]

Educational and Fun Science Kits for Kids of All Ages

Established in 2019 with a mission to energise STEM learning, these science kits are designed especially for kids to inspire creativity and nurture essential problem-solving skills. CuriousKidzz offers an impressive array of educational science kits for kids, including exciting hands-on experiments and engaging STEM activities. Providing hours of meaningful learning for children of all ages, these kits are perfect for fostering the innovators of tomorrow. Every CuriousKidzz kit is a step towards building a brighter future for young minds.

[ebrahim3030]

"Discover the Micro World with an Amazing Kids Microscope! 🦠✨ #KidsMicroscope #STEMToys #ScienceForKids"

https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_ooYq0pe

"Looking for a fun and educational gift for your child? 🎁 This kids' microscope is the perfect way to spark their love for science and discovery! 🌟

Easy to use and safe for kids.

Comes with accessories for exciting experiments.

Ideal for children aged 6 and up. Order now and let your child explore the wonders of science! 🚀 #EducationalGifts #LearningThroughPlay #ScienceForKids"

[respirelearning]

Benefits of Experiential Learning for Teaching STEM to Children

Introduction

Teaching STEM to children is essential for fostering a love for learning and curiosity about the world. Experiential STEM learning, a method where students learn through hands-on experiences, is increasingly being integrated into STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) education. This approach makes learning more engaging and equips students with the skills they need for the future. At Respire Learning, we aim to transform children's education through experiential learning. Our STEM Kits provide hands-on activities that introduce children to science, technology, engineering, and math concepts engagingly and interactively. With Robotics Kits, students can dive into programming and automation, learning to build and control their robots. Our DIY Models foster creativity and problem-solving by allowing students to assemble projects independently. These Experiential Learning Kits are designed to ignite curiosity, promote critical thinking, and inspire the next generation of innovators.

What is Experiential Learning?

Experiential learning involves learning through direct experience and reflection. Unlike traditional methods that rely heavily on lectures and rote memorization, experiential learning emphasizes active participation and practical application. This method allows students to explore, experiment, and learn from their successes and mistakes.

Respire’s agenda to focus on STEM Education

STEM education focuses on teaching students in an integrated manner, combining science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. It's designed to prepare students for the complexities of the modern world. Experiential learning fits seamlessly into STEM education, as both prioritize critical thinking, problem-solving, and real-world application.

Advantages of Experiential Learning

Enhances Understanding and Retention Experiential learning helps students understand and remember concepts better by involving them in activities that require active engagement. Students participating in experiments or projects are more likely to retain the information.

Encourages Critical Thinking and Problem-Solving Hands-on activities require students to think critically and solve problems. This approach fosters a deeper understanding of scientific principles and enhances students' ability to apply knowledge in various situations. Promotes Engagement and Motivation Experiential learning makes STEM fun and interesting. Students are more motivated to learn when they can see the relevance of their studies and actively participate in the learning process. Develops Practical Skills Through experiential learning, students develop practical skills essential in the real world. These skills include teamwork, communication, and technical abilities crucial for future success. Respire’s Experiential Learning Kits Experiential learning kits are tools designed to provide hands-on learning experiences. These kits include materials and instructions for conducting experiments and activities. They are tailored to different age groups and educational levels, making STEM accessible and enjoyable for all students. Examples of Popular Kits for Teaching STEM

STEM Kits: These kits cover various subjects like electronics, engineering, chemistry, and physics, providing comprehensive learning experiences.

DIY Kits: These kits allow students to conduct experiments at home, fostering a love for learning outside the classroom.

Robotics Kits: These robotics kits teach students about advanced-level engineering and technology through building and programming robots.

Implementing STEM Labs in the Classroom

Teachers can integrate experiential learning into their classrooms using kits and hands-on activities. Here are some strategies:

Strategies for Teachers

Incorporate Experiments: Regularly include experiments and practical activities in lesson plans.

Use Learning Kits: Utilize available experiential learning kits to make science lessons more interactive.

Encourage Group Work: Promote teamwork by having students work in groups on projects and experiments.

Integrating Kits and Hands-On Activities

Integrating kits into the curriculum can be seamless. Teachers can start with simple kits and gradually introduce more complex ones as students become more comfortable with hands-on learning.

Traditional Learning & Learning in STEM Lab

Common Obstacles in Experiential Learning

Limited Resources: Schools may need more resources for experiential learning.

Time Constraints: Hands-on activities can be time-consuming.

Teacher Training: Not all teachers are trained in experiential learning methods.

Benefits of STEM Lab

Experiential STEM Kits: students have a variety of kits in STEM with which they can do hands-on experiments with the teacher's guidance.

Look and Feel of the lab: Our Innovation lab is a specially curated space for children with a Montessori color combination that can promote learning in the gated space.  

Children's safe Equipment and kits: All the kits representing various subjects and their theories are perfectly safe for students to use from pre-primary to higher secondary education. 

Teacher Training: Teachers are specially trained to use high-functioning equipment easily, they also teach the importance of storytelling which can help students to make boring theories interesting.

Experiential Learning Beyond the Classroom

Learning continues beyond the classroom door. Parents and guardians can support experiential learning at home by providing resources and engaging in educational activities with their children.

Importance of Learning at Home and in the Community

Home Activities: Simple experiments and DIY kits can make learning STEM fun at home.

Community Resources: Local museums, science centers, and libraries often offer hands-on learning opportunities.

Future of Experiential Learning in STEM

The future of experiential learning in STEM education looks promising. With technological advancements and an increasing focus on hands-on learning, we can expect more innovative and effective methods to emerge.

Trends and Innovations

Virtual Reality (VR): VR can provide immersive learning experiences.

Online Platforms: Online resources and platforms can offer interactive science activities.

Predictions for the Future

As experiential learning continues to evolve and Indian government is implementing experiential learning by putting STEM education in the National Education Policy 2020 and evolving as time passes by. it will likely become a staple in education, preparing students for future challenges and making them tech-savvy.

Conclusion

Experiential learning offers numerous benefits for teaching STEM to children. Engaging students in hands-on activities can enhance their understanding, foster critical thinking, and develop practical skills. As we look to the future, it's clear that experiential learning will play a crucial role in STEM education in the Indian Education System.

FAQs

What is the main benefit of experiential learning in STEM education?

The main advantage is that it enhances understanding and retention by involving students in hands-on activities.

How can parents support experiential learning at home?

Parents can support experiential learning by providing DIY STEM kits and engaging in simple experiments with their children.

Are there any specific experiential learning kits for different age groups?

Yes, kits are designed for various age groups, from preschoolers to high school students, ensuring age-appropriate learning experiences.

What are some challenges teachers might face with experiential learning?

Teachers face challenges such as limited resources, time constraints, and the need for specialized training.

How does experiential learning prepare children for future careers?

Experiential learning develops practical skills, critical thinking, and problem-solving abilities, essential for future jobs.

[sewgeekmama]

Grow N' Glow Terrarium Kit for Kids Review

[wonderlab01]

WonderLab specializes in science-themed events, workshops, and science kits. We bring the wonder of science to birthday parties, corporate events, schools, science carnivals, and the comfort of your own home through our kits.

[dontforgetukraine]

Ukraine Donation Guide Master Post

(Ver. 2 updated Aug 13th, 2024) I will be reformatting this and adding more in the future when I have time.

Also a quick note, all of the groups I have found through twitter have been around long enough for them to be vetted by each other and the brigades they work with. In fact, a lot of these groups collaborate with each other too. Those that are in the fight for Ukraine have been diligent in calling out those that are grifters. Word spreads around quickly if an organization doesn't show up with what they promised. They also use their social media (often Twitter) as a means of transparency for their work.

Remember: When considering on whether to donate, always use your best judgement and donate to those you trust if you do not see what is listed is up to your standards.

Multi-Purpose

United 24 has various fundraisers dedicated to defense and drones, medical aid, rebuilding Ukraine, humanitarian demining, and science and education. You can pick which one you want to contribute to under their various projects.

Liberty Ukraine uses funds for humanitarian aid, medical supplies, protective gear and equipment, and rehabilitation therapy. You can choose which campaign of theirs to donate to.

Come Back Alive is a charitable foundation that supports Ukraine's military with competent assistance while also focusing on security and defense. They also have projects that use sports to help veterans rehabilitate. You can choose which campaign to donate to.

Serhiy Prytula Charity Foundation works to help both civilians and Ukraine's army. You can choose to donate to an active project or any of their general campaigns. Civilian aid campaigns cover temporary housing, supporting crisis and emergency responses, schools, demining, and healthcare. Military aid campaigns cover drones, optics units, communications equipment, and support of air defense teams.

Food Aid

World Central Kitchen works with local partners wherever they are providing food aid. They make sure meals and meal kits are what the local population eats. Even though there is no separate fundraising campaign for Ukraine (that I can see), they still do great work.

Animal Rescue

Hachiko Foundation works to help displaced pets and strays in frontline areas. They help with veterinary care, outdoor shelters, setting up feeding stations, and rehoming animals.

Medical Aid

Hospitallers (Website) is a volunteer organization of paramedics that was founded in 2014. They evacuate the wounded, provide medical aid on the frontlines, assist in rehabilitation, and transfer of the deceased to burial sites. They are also supported by Ukraine Charity. Visit Hospitallers' website to see how many they have evacuated, different methods you can donate, and more information about them.

Other

Saint Javelin (Twitter; Website) is a great place to get apparel, gear, and other cool loot to show your support for Ukraine. They don't take donations, but instead raise funds through their shop with a portion of their sales going towards humanitarian aid and critical items needed by the defenders (generators, pick-up trucks, medical supplies etc). Part of their shop has items made in Ukraine to support Ukrainian businesses. Overall, their products are high-quality. I include them due to their impactful presence in the Twitter community I follow and how they make Ukraine visible in an alternative way. Consider buying someone a gift from their shop.

The Kyiv Independent (Twitter; Website) is a great English language resource for news about Ukraine. I include them because I think supporting good journalism is incredibly important, especially now when the information space is fraught with Russian propaganda, misinformation, and disinformation. My followers have probably noticed I've pulled a lot of quotes from their stories in an effort to amplify Ukrainian voices and experiences. Look on their website for more information on different way to support them, such as their Patreon.

---

If you're on twitter, there are a number of groups and people that fundraise for Ukraine and for specific units fighting on the frontlines. If there is no official website, a PayPal for donations is listed in their profiles. When considering on whether to donate, always use your best judgement and donate to those you trust if you do not see what is listed is up to your standards.

@/Teoyaomiquu almost always has a fundraiser for Liberty Ukraine with a specified purpose. At the time of writing this, he is currently raising funds for engineering equipment such as excavators. One such excavator is already in Kursk. Follow him to stay up to date with what he's fundraising for.

Dyga's Paw (Twitter: @/dzygaspaw) is a smaller group that has recently raised funds for starlinks, drones, batteries, and Ecoflow generators. You can look at the fundraising campaigns they currently have on their website.

@/DefactoHumanity represents and founded Planet of the People with their website U(a)nited for Freedom. She frequently posts updates about their fundraisers and what their partners need. They are known for providing Frontline medical aid supplies, protective equipment and other military aid, technical equipment (starlinks, drones, scopes, etc), and infrastructure equipment (generators, vehicles, power stations, etc). They even have a merch store of the battalions they partner with if that's your jam. Here is their link tree if you wish to explore more. And in case you're curious, there is an article bout the founder here.

@/wilendhornets (Website) specialize in making high quality drones that have gotten a lot of praise from Ukraine's army. They have attracted a lot of media attention too. Check out their website for the list of articles that have been written about them. Their Twitter is very active with strike footage.

Ants Kitchen Hub (@/ants_kyiv) is a volunteer kitchen that makes dry rations for the Ukrainian army. They are more active on their other social media. To learn more about them, check out their link tree.

@/frontlinekit (Front Line Kitchen) is represented by Richard Woodruff. Originally they made shelf stable food for the Ukrainian army, but now their fundraising has branched out to other campaigns such as raising funds for medical supplies and drones. They are a well known group that many battalions have come to for help.

@/bekamaciorowski (Rebekah Maciorowski) is as combat medic and nurse who helps provide medical care to soldiers and civillians at the frontlines. She raises funds for medical supplies and other equipment, but also helps train soldiers in first aid. More of her social media that features her work can be found in her link tree.

@/UkraineAidOps (Website) is another organization battalions frequently go to for help. They fundraise for all sorts of equipment from medical supplies to drones. If you're interested, they also have a shop with patches from different brigades and flags signed by soldiers. Their shop also includes a separate section called the Victory Gallery where artifacts from the war are turned into art. This includes shells that are painted on, scrap metal from downed enemy planes are turned into keychains, and pieces of a rocket are turned into lamps.

Chris Garrett is the co-founder of Prevail. His organization deals with humanitarian demining as well as training for trauma care, training of bomb disposal, and education to the public. Prevail works with local agencies in Ukraine as well as the army.

Project Konstantin (Twitter; Website; Linktree) is still going strong after the death of their founder, British paramedic Peter Fouché. His digital ghost can be found here. They collaborate with the military, thus giving them an insight into what is dearly needed. They often raise funds for starlinks, personalized first aid kits (IFAKs), generators, portable power stations, and other nonlethal military equipment. I regret forgetting them the first time this post went around. Visit their website to see everything they have done and more. It has more information on what and how they do it than this post can cover.

One Team One Fight (Twitter; Website; Linktree) has some of the original members that worked for Ukraine Aid Ops. They formed their own group after differences with the previous one, and are still helping Ukraine. They are very visible on various social media showing what they have accomplished in their deliveries to various brigades. They're another group that seeks to bring starlinks, drones, medical supplies and protective gear to the battalions that come to them for help. Check out their website for more information on their current fundraisers, their achievements, and received recognition.

NAFO 69th Sniffing Brigade (Twitter; Website) Another small group that focuses their funds on delivering drones, generators, vehicles, and saving the occasional furry companion. They are very diligent in their updates for their fundraising campaigns. Check out their website for more information and the articles written about them.

Postmaster General Boomer (Twitter; Website) focuses on humanitarian aid, animal aid, and logistics. Boomer is the beloved pet of one of the founders and the secret boss/mascot. They have many transparency reports and are diligent in reporting the various "tours" they do in getting supplies where they are needed to go. They are based in Germany but have built up many connections during their existence. They have also worked closely with Ukraine Aid Ops.

--

I am sure I have forgotten some, so please reply or comment with any more I should add to this master post. I will edit and update as I see and evaluate more.

Last updated: Aug. 13th, 2024

Version updates listed below

August 13th, 2024 Added:

Hospitallers

Saint Javelin

The Kyiv Independent

Project Konstantin

1 Team 1 Fight

NAFO 69th Sniffing Brigade

Post Master General Boomer

[dwellordream]

Book Recommendations of 2025

The Winner by Teddy Wayne. Thriller. In the midst of the COVID pandemic, aspiring lawyer Conor O’Toole struggles to find work and provide for his homebound mother. A welcome opportunity comes in the form of a job in an exclusive gated community, where Conor will work as a tennis coach to the bored and wealthy. But the pay is not enough to cover his bills, so when one of his clients, an attractive but contemptuous older woman, offers more money under the table in exchange for sex, he hesitantly agrees. Catherine is cruel but beautiful, and Conor is besotted with her- until he meets Emily, a progressive-minded, outspoken girl who challenges and excites him. But Emily is Catherine’s daughter, and Conor quickly discovers that there are no limits to how far he will go to keep his secrets.

Hey, Zoey by Sarah Crossan. Realistic fiction. Dolores has accepted a lot of things about her life- the mundane stresses of her job as a school counselor, her increasingly loveless marriage, her mother’s failing memory- but she cannot accept her husband’s sex doll, Zoey. Driven at first by shock, then rage, and finally banal curiosity, Dolores attempts to befriend Zoey, whose AI system makes her capable of simple small talk. But what Dolores discovers during her chats with Zoey will change the entire course of her life.

No Angel by Penny Vincent. Historical Fiction. It’s 1904, and spoiled, ambitious Celia Beckenham is used to getting what she wants. What she wants is Oliver Lytton, the soft spoken, charming son of a prominent publisher. Defying her aristocratic parents, Celia and Oliver wed, but the coming years will not be easy for them. Celia chafes against the rigid boundaries of Edwardian motherhood, while Oliver resents his wife’s desire for a career and education. And their decision to adopt an impoverished young girl, Barty, into their growing family, will have repercussions no one could have anticipated.

The Unit by Ninni Holmqvist. Dystopian sci fi. Dorrit has recently turned 50, and according to the new laws of her society, all unmarried, childless women over 50 and men over 60 must report to ‘units’, where they can enjoy a peaceful, pleasant retirement with world-class luxuries. But there is a catch- to repay their ‘debt to society’ for refusing to reproduce, the ‘Dispensables’ must donate their bodies to science, piece by piece. Dorrit is resigned to her fate, until she meets Johannes, and for the first time in her life, falls in love.

Before This is Over by Amanda Hickie. Sci fi. An emerging viral pandemic terrifies Hannah, who recovered from cancer just seven years prior. But her family dismisses her warnings as paranoia, until the virus rages through Australian society and grounds life as they know it to a screeching halt. As the piles of dead mount, water and power are cut off, the military mandates martial law, and Hannah must find the strength within herself to protect her husband and sons while the world crumbles around them.

Fevre Dream by George R.R. Martin. Dark fantasy. In 1850s Louisiana, struggling steamboat captain Abner Marsh’s luck is about to change- a wealthy, mysterious gentleman called Joshua York has offered to help him build back his business- starting with the grandest boat to ever steam up the Mississippi River- the Fevre Dream. But Joshua’s generosity comes with a hidden cost, and Abner soon finds himself in the midst of a war between vampire clans- one that may change the fate of history.

The Wife in the Attic by Rose Lerner. Historical fiction. Spinster Deborah Oliver is thrilled at the offer to become a governess at an idyllic country estate, and charmed by the kindhearted Sir Kit Palethorpe and his adorable daughter, Tabby. But Kit’s mysterious, sickly wife has been confined to her bedchamber for years now, and Deborah’s attempts to learn more about her are met with stiff resistance. Tabby claims her mother is damned to Hell. Kit warns she is a madwoman. But Deborah suspects there is more to the story than that, and intends to find out the truth.

The Last Neanderthal by Claire Cameron. Historical fiction. 40,000 years ago, Neanderthals roamed the Earth- and then began to die off, replaced by a new species- Homo sapiens. Girl, a young Neanderthal woman, and her small family roam an increasingly lonely land, hoping to reunite with friends and family at an annual meeting-place. But the life Girl knew is rapidly changing, and the fate of her and her loved ones is uncertain. In the present day, Rose, a determined archaeologist, works frantically to present her discoveries about Neanderthals before her child is born, but motherhood is changing her, and her career seems precarious.

[tornadoquest]

Tornado Quest Top Science Links For September 8 - 15, 2023 #science #weather #climate #lee #climatechange #hurricane #hurricanesafety

Hurricane Lee over the western Atlantic Greeting everyone. Thanks for stopping by. The major stories this past week have been Hurricane Lee, the first Atlantic hurricane to reach Category 5 status, the flooding on Lybia, and the earthquake in Morocco. As for the topical Atlantic, there are several more weeks left in the 2023 hurricane season. I will continue with hurricane preparedness…

[curiouskidzzaus]

Spark Curiosity with Engaging Educational Science Kits for Kids 

Learning becomes an adventure with Curious Kidzz’s science kits for kids—a perfect way to turn screen time into discovery time! These interactive kits are designed to inspire curiosity and build a strong foundation in STEM through hands-on experiments. Whether your child is mixing chemicals or exploring magnetism, every box is packed with fun, learning, and surprises. Curious Kidzz proudly delivers premium educational science kits that challenge young minds while keeping them entertained. Ideal for rainy days, school projects or gifting, these kits are a gateway to a lifelong love for science. Don’t just teach—ignite a passion for learning. Discover the full range at Curious Kidzz today and turn your child’s “why?” into “wow!” with every experiment. 

[science70]

ACE (Advisory Centre for Education) Things of Science, Kit 9, 1966.

[theglowsociety]

Aisha Bowe, a trailblazer in aerospace engineering, has made significant contributions to science and serves as an inspiring figure in Black history. Born to Bahamian immigrants in Ann Arbor, Michigan, Bowe’s journey to prominence began at a community college, where her aptitude for mathematics propelled her toward engineering. She earned both a bachelor’s degree in aerospace engineering and a master’s in space systems engineering from the University of Michigan. 

At NASA’s Ames Research Center, Bowe contributed to developing algorithms supporting Air Traffic Management. Her work earned her the National Society of Black Engineers’ Outstanding Technical Contribution award in 2012. Beyond her technical achievements, Bowe mentored students through the Mathematics, Engineering, Science Achievement (MESA) Program, demonstrating her commitment to fostering the next generation of engineers. 

In 2013, Bowe founded STEMBoard, a technology company addressing complex challenges for government and private sector clients. Under her leadership, STEMBoard ranked 2,284th on Inc. magazine’s 2020 list of the 5,000 fastest-growing private companies. Bowe also launched LINGO, a coding kit designed to teach hardware and software design, making STEM education more accessible to underrepresented youth. 

In 2025, Bowe is set to make history as part of Blue Origin’s first all-female crewed spaceflight, alongside notable figures such as singer Katy Perry and journalist Gayle King. This mission will mark the first human-crewed spaceflight with no men since 1963, highlighting Bowe’s role in breaking barriers and inspiring future generations. 

Aisha Bowe’s journey from community college to aerospace engineer and entrepreneur exemplifies resilience and dedication. Her efforts in promoting STEM education and her upcoming spaceflight solidify her status as a pivotal figure in science and Black history.

[doyouevenknowwhatshappening]

Sally Kristen Ride (May 26, 1951 – July 23, 2012) was an American astronaut and physicist. She pioneered the way for American women in space and still does today, twenty-two years after she passed.

Born in Los Angeles, she joined NASA in 1978, and in 1983 became the first American woman and the third woman to fly in space, after cosmonauts Valentina Tereshkova in 1963 and Svetlana Savitskaya in 1982.

NASA was still adjusting to female astronauts, and engineers had asked Ride to assist them in developing a "space makeup kit", assuming it would be something a woman would want on board.

They also infamously suggested providing Ride with a supply of 100 tampons for the six-day mission

"Everywhere I go I meet girls and boys who want to be astronauts and explore space, or they love the ocean and want to be oceanographers, or they love animals and want to be zoologists, or they love designing things and want to be engineers. I want to see those same stars in their eyes in 10 years and know they are on their way." -Sally Ride

On July 1, 1989, Ride became a professor of physics at the University of California, San Diego (UCSD), and director of the California Space Institute (Cal Space), part of the university's Scripps Institution of OceanographyRide and O'Shaughnessy, along with three colleagues, founded Sally Ride Science in 2001 as a science education company. When Ride died after a 17-month battle with pancreatic cancer, O’Shaughnessy wrote Ride’s obituary for the company’s website.

The obituary said Ride was survived by “Tam O’Shaughnessy, her partner of 27 years,” revealing their relationship to the public for the first time. Ride had ensured that O'Shaughnessy would inherit her estate when she drew up her will in 1992. They registered their domestic partnership on August 15, 2011.

Ride and O'Shaughnessy, along with three colleagues, founded Sally Ride Science in 2001 as a science education company. When Ride died after a 17-month battle with pancreatic cancer, O’Shaughnessy wrote Ride’s obituary for the company’s website.

[noiriarti]

The Arrangement: Armitage Hux x Reader (College AU) Ch. 1

Summary: A cuddle-buddies-to-lovers college AU.

[Ch. 1], Ch. 2, Ch. 3, Ch. 4, Ch. 5, Ch. 6

Chapter 1: A Can of Homestyle Chicken Soup

It started because of a can of soup. Armitage didn't quite know how he ended up here, standing in his bathing suit in his own bathroom, waiting for you. Well, he knew, but he still thought it was the weirdest alternate universe he could have ended up in since this morning. Not that there was any other option. He wouldn't just skip out on helping you once you'd cut your hand, of course. When you split open your palm with the pull-top chicken noodle soup (homestyle), he heard your hiss in the kitchen of your shared suite from his room, and he rushed out. He was the only other one home--Kylo was at practice, Phasma was in class--and luckily, his car was parked around back. The gauze from the first-aid kit was rough against his fingers as he pressed it to your hand. You had just wanted some soup for breakfast, you said. It was clear you needed stitches, mainly because it was on your palm, easy to accidentally open again, but it was only an inch long. Armitage mentally placed a bet on three stitches, and he was right, he discovered when you had arrived to the emergency room. He was a premed, anyway. It was practically educational to be there and watch the physician work while you held his hand tightly, afraid of the needle. Three stitches later, you were strictly ordered to avoid wetting the injury, your palm almost absurdly bulked up with gauze and bandages.

That was a problem, though. Your hair was greasy, and you had an interview for an internship at four. You needed the experience--it was junior year and you had just switched into computer science--but more than that you needed to come off as a young professional, not a greaseball. But no wetting the injury meant no showering, and that meant greasy hair. You were complaining about the dilemma on the way back to your shared house in his immaculate Lexus when he practically had an out-of-body experience and asked you if you wanted his help. He had literally actually legitimately asked you to shower with him. What the fuck was wrong with him? He kicked himself mentally, but you hadn't found anything weird in the offer, and happily accepted.

At 2 p.m., he slipped on his swim trunks and walked over to the bigger bathroom. It was yours and Gwen's, technically, but he sometimes used it when Kylo hogged the one they shared. He liked yours better, anyway. It smelled nice, and it at least seemed like there were two people cleaning it, instead of one who did so regularly and one who somehow found a way to make it even more gross every time. He pulled out the folding chair he had dug out of the garage and set it up in the shower. There was no denying that this was going to be fucking weird. Since you had moved in this year, the two of you had only hung out in groups or, occasionally sipped coffee in the bleary hours of the morning together, trying to pump out some assignment or study for some test. Other than that, he didn't know you like Gwen did, though that was his own fault. He was kind of a recluse, and he was taking graduate bio and psychology courses, so he was never lounging around the house anyway. Pretty much all he needed to know was that Millie was obsessed with you, trailing you around the house and sneaking into your bedroom some nights. That was character endorsement enough.

You knocked on the door, and pushed it open gently with an awkward smile. Totally normal, hanging out in the bathroom with your roommate. Your roommate, who is shockingly hot under his crisp collared shirts, it turns out. But you elected not to think of that. At all. 

"Hey. Thanks for doing this, Armitage. I just--I'm so sorry I'm so gross. I didn't expect you, or anyone really, would have to do this for me," you said, stepping into the shower with him. You untied your robe to reveal your bikini in a way he hopefully didn't find sexy--that would make your rooming situation just downright weird.

"It's really no problem. I've seen worse at the hospital, I promise." It was true. Nothing you could ever do would surpass that one guy whose surgery he watched who he swore had cysts within cysts. It was gruesome. "But if you throw up on me, or get pus on me, I'm moving out," he added with a chuckle.

"Alright, ready?" He asked. You nodded, moving your bandaged hand far away from the shower head, so he turned the water on. Of course, it was immediately freezing, and you gasped. 

"Sorry, sorry!" He yelled out as he cranked the handle to the warm side. He gritted his teeth and begged the gods to turn it warm soon because he was getting the brunt of the water. 

It took a minute, but it finally got warmer. The pipes in your building gave decent water pressure, but any toilet flushing or sink turning on would fluctuate the temperature wildly. The housing was cheap enough that none of you complained, though. Armitage angled the shower head fully toward you, and your hair started getting thoroughly wet. For a moment, he wondered why people enjoyed shower sex. The spray off your body was hitting him in weird directions, some of it going straight into his eyes, and he was miserably cold and wet. There wasn't enough warm water to hit the both of you, and he was just there to help, not to shower, so he didn't get any of it. His thought just distracted him from the inevitable: it was time to begin.

"Ready?" He asked you, but he was really asking himself. Although you told him you were, the answer inside his head was a resounding no. When was the last time he had touched someone's hair? Or, hell, even touched someone? For a moment, his heart ached as he realized he couldn't remember the last time he was hugged. Was it his mother? The details of her face were slipping away from him; he could hardly remember the exact contours of her nose, or whether she had dimples, or if she had a cleft chin. What were her hands like, again? He could barely picture her, the image going fuzzy the more he tried to grab onto it. His chest felt like someone had taken a hammer to his ribs, leaving a gaping, raw hole.

He was so distracted, he barely even noticed when he put his hands on your head. He gently worked his thumbs over your scalp, working in the water. He grabbed some cheap 2 in 1 shampoo/conditioner--the one you had texted him you had left in the bathroom for this very purpose, to make it quicker than a full hair care routine, and he lathered it in his hands. It smelled like crisp green apple, so fresh and bright and energetic that he decided he had to stop being angsty, and just focus on the task at hand.

When he applied just a bit more pressure, going down to the nape of your neck with his sudsy hands, you let out a borderline sinful groan. The truth was, you hadn't felt anyone taking care of you like this in a long time. And his hands were so big and strong, you almost wanted to ask if he'd do this again. But that would be weird. So, you let yourself close your eyes and enjoy the feeling. You could feel warmth radiating off his body, and his nearness from the water that was cascading off of him and onto you. Although you found him hot--not that you would ever verbalize just how badly you wanted to run your hands over his lean chest--just being near someone was comforting. Just a touch that didn't want to take you for a drink or fuck you, a touch that had no ulterior motives. Simple, honest, trustworthy. You had been falling asleep clutching a stuffed dog the past couple of nights, imagining it was someone who would pet your hair as you fell asleep and tell you it'd all be alright. You couldn't stand it when every single time a hookup or a guy you were dating was cuddling with you, then immediately tried to grab your ass or shoved his boner against you. Simple, honest touch. And you were getting it from your roommate of all people.

He angled the water back to your head, rinsing out the suds in silence, as both of you enjoyed the quiet moment of intimacy. It wouldn't happen again, after all. After a few seconds, the water ran clear, and Armitage spent another couple of seconds chasing bubbles that weren't there. If he stopped, it would be over, and he'd have to go back to his room, alone. There, he'd remember the lonely ache that he pushed away with books and classes and As on his transcript that he hoped his father would acknowledge. Here, he was single-mindedly focused on you, and nothing else mattered. Even he recognized that he was taking weirdly long, so he counted down in his mind--5, 4, 3, 2, 1--and shut off the water.

"Thank you so much Armitage. You're literally a lifesaver," you commented, turning around to face him, "And look! My hand's still dry!" You wiggled your fingers at him with a bright smile to prove your point. His chest constricted, like it was somehow aware that his yearly ration of human touch was over. He masked that feeling with a chuckle and some platitude in response to you. He excused himself and dried off with a towel, which he unceremoniously tossed onto the bed when he was back in his room.

He peeled off his bathing suit and put on his standard outfit for working at home (a polo and dark jeans), trying to forget the feeling of your warm body near his. Armitage was on auto-pilot, and he was good at it. He tossed the swim trunks and dirty clothes in the washer, pulled out his textbook (Modern Physical Organic Chemistry) when he got back to his desk, and buried himself in it like he didn't feel empty. Even when he made himself a gourmet dinner of instant mac and cheese and ate it over an MCAT flashcard session (it was never too early to start, his father said), he barely felt the aching loneliness in his chest. Only Millicent curling around his feet pushed that feeling away, but she had left, probably to scurry into your room as you went to bed, leaving him alone for hours. That's how he liked it, anyway, he thought.

Around midnight, he closed his lab report--finished, of course--and changed into his flannel pajamas. Somewhere in between neatly folding his polo and putting it in the dirty hamper, he heard it.

There was a knock at his bedroom door.

[dayofaestheticorsubculture]

Vintage Toycore is a visual and emotional aesthetic that centers on the nostalgic appeal, cultural history, and sensory experience of toys primarily from the mid-20th century to the early 1990s. This aesthetic movement and niche interest reflects both a historical and sentimental fascination with toys from past decades, drawing heavily on childhood memory, early consumer culture, retro design motifs, and the psychological effects of nostalgia. Vintage Toycore is rooted in both the tangible collection of vintage toys and the intangible experience associated with them, such as visual style, media portrayals, packaging, marketing, and the broader sociocultural context in which these toys existed.

Vintage Toycore refers not only to the physical collection and appreciation of toys produced in earlier decades but also to an aesthetic that romanticizes their cultural and emotional value. The “core” suffix, borrowed from internet culture and visual classification systems (such as cottagecore or vaporwave), signifies that the focus is less on the object itself and more on the feelings, visuals, and atmosphere that those objects evoke. It is not merely a collecting hobby but also a subcultural aesthetic that permeates visual art, photography, fashion, interior design, and digital culture.

The aesthetic typically includes, but is not limited to, toys such as:

Plastic and tin wind-up toys

1950s–1980s dolls (e.g., Barbie, Chatty Cathy)

Action figures from the 1970s–1990s (e.g., G.I. Joe, Star Wars figures)

Wooden toys and puzzles

Vintage plush animals (e.g., Steiff, early Gund toys)

Fisher-Price Little People, Speak & Spell, and educational toys

80s and 90s battery-operated and electronic toys (e.g., Tamagotchi, Game Boy, Polly Pocket)

Board games and card games with retro design

Original packaging and promotional materials

The foundation of Vintage Toycore is inseparable from the post-World War II consumer boom and the golden age of industrial toy production. The late 1940s to the 1980s saw a transformation in toy manufacturing, driven by mass production, the rise of plastics, television advertising, and the globalization of children’s media.

1940s–1950s: The post-war era introduced affordable mass-market toys. Companies like Hasbro, Mattel, and Fisher-Price emerged or rose to prominence. Toys such as tin robots, wood-and-metal trains, and early plastic dolls became staples of childhood.

1960s–1970s: This period brought increased sophistication in toy design and marketing. Action figures such as G.I. Joe (1964) and Barbie’s continued evolution mirrored shifts in gender roles and social expectations. Educational toys and science-themed kits were also popular amid the Space Race.

1980s–1990s: Often viewed as a peak in toy culture, this era introduced highly merchandised toy lines tied to TV shows and films, such as Transformers, My Little Pony, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, and He-Man. The rise of Japanese imports like Tamagotchi and early video games contributed to the broadening of what could be considered a "toy." Bright colors, molded plastics, and techno-optimism defined this era's toy design.

These decades now serve as the primary reservoir of inspiration and material for Vintage Toycore, which values the visual language and emotional resonance of these eras' toys.

The aesthetic of Vintage Toycore is defined by specific visual, auditory, and tactile markers, often evoking a synesthetic response that blends sight, memory, and emotion.

Vintage Toycore frequently uses:

Muted pastels and saturated primaries (especially in 1950s and 60s designs)

Neon and synthetic hues (typical of 1980s and early 90s toys)

Off-white plastic yellowing from age

Patterns reminiscent of early box art and branding

Plastic is a dominant medium—both shiny and matte—used in molded toys and packaging.

Tinplate and wood, more common in earlier toys, represent craftsmanship and durability.

Flocked materials, rubber, and early synthetic fibers are also common, especially in plush toys.

Typography often includes bubble letters, blocky sans-serifs, or hand-drawn fonts used in toy packaging and early advertisements. Box illustrations from pre-digital printing are prized for their charm and distinct style, often featuring optimistic, smiling cartoon children.

One of the defining features of Vintage Toycore is its strong relationship with nostalgia. The psychological term "reminiscence bump" explains why individuals remember and are emotionally attached to media from their early years. Vintage Toycore capitalizes on this effect by evoking feelings of safety, joy, innocence, and familiarity.

The aesthetic also intersects with concepts in developmental psychology, particularly object permanence, transitional objects, and the role of toys in early identity formation. For adults who embrace Vintage Toycore, the toys often serve as symbolic anchors to an idealized or emotionally resonant past.

Furthermore, the aesthetic is sometimes used in therapeutic or introspective contexts, such as memory work, inner child healing, or creative expression.

Vintage Toycore manifests in both physical and digital spaces. Key communities and expressions include:

Vintage Toycore thrives on platforms like Tumblr, Instagram, TikTok, and Pinterest, where users share curated photos of toy collections, aesthetic compositions, or nostalgic reflections. Hashtags like #vintagetoycore or #retrotuna categorize related content.

Vintage toys are frequently traded or displayed by collectors. Condition, packaging, rarity, and provenance are important. Some collectors focus on pristine, museum-quality toys, while others prioritize emotional or aesthetic value regardless of condition.

Photographers often stage vintage toys in elaborate dioramas or surreal scenes. Visual artists and illustrators incorporate toy motifs into pop-surrealist or retro-futurist compositions.

Some embrace Vintage Toycore through clothing styles inspired by 80s and 90s children's fashion, often mixing bright colors, playful patterns, and cartoon motifs. In interior design, the aesthetic appears in pastel-colored shelves, toy displays, and the use of retro furniture, evoking a child's playroom.

From a cultural studies perspective, Vintage Toycore sits at the intersection of consumer history, childhood studies, and design history. It reflects broader societal trends including:

The commodification of nostalgia in late capitalism

The infantilization of adult consumers and the rise of “kidult” culture

The aestheticization of memory and material culture

Eco-critical perspectives on plastic and permanence in consumer goods

Academic work on toys by scholars such as Gary Cross and Steven Mintz also contextualizes toys as windows into shifting cultural values around gender, technology, and the family.

Vintage Toycore overlaps with but is distinct from the following:

Kidcore: Focuses on bright, rainbow-colored designs and childlike motifs, often blending new and old. Less historically anchored.

Weirdcore/Dreamcore: May incorporate unsettling or surreal toy imagery but aims for liminality and disorientation rather than nostalgia.

Nostalgiacore: A broader term encompassing all nostalgia-themed aesthetics, including Vintage Toycore as a subset.

Cottagecore/Toylandcore: Occasionally overlaps in terms of vintage sensibility, but focuses more on natural or fairytale elements rather than mid-century consumer culture.

Some critics argue that Vintage Toycore, like other nostalgia-driven movements, risks sanitizing or idealizing the past. Issues include:

Cultural erasure: Emphasis on Western toy design can marginalize toys and childhood experiences from non-Western or marginalized communities.

Environmental critique: Many vintage toys are made from plastics and synthetic materials with long-lasting ecological impacts.

Consumerism: The aesthetic’s focus on collection and ownership can reinforce consumerist values under the guise of nostalgia.

Nonetheless, many within the community seek to balance appreciation with critical awareness, viewing the aesthetic as a way to re-contextualize past artifacts in more mindful and creative ways.

Vintage Toycore represents a deep and multifaceted engagement with the past—one that blends material culture, emotional memory, and artistic expression. It offers a lens through which to view not only the toys themselves but also the societies that created and cherished them. As both an aesthetic and cultural movement, it continues to evolve in conversation with technology, memory, and the timeless desire to revisit the magic of early play.

[bugeyedfreaks]

IT CAME IT IS HERE THE 20-YEAR-OLD PPG SOAP MAKING KIT FOR CHILDREN YAAAY 💖🥳🎉

I saw this being sold online, you all wanted me to buy it, so I did, and now you can all see what horrors you’ve wrought upon me.

The first thing that I noticed when I opened this package up is that it smelled terrible. I didn’t even have to open up the envelope you see in the picture: the actual shipping envelope smelled bad. It was definitely a soap smell gone very wrong. Needless to say, this wasn’t a good sign of what was to come.

… well, spoiler alert, it really doesn’t get any worse. In fact it’s a little underwhelming. 😆 But read on anyway because I do suffer a little while doing this, and I know if you all love at least one thing about me… it’s my suffering. 💖

I opened it up, and the first thing I looked at was the instruction manual that seems to be written in the perspective of the Professor. That’s kind of cute and on brand. I also chuckled because both of the soaps in this kit are named after Buttercup, the Powerpuff Girl who hates bathing the most. Whoever made this knew what they were doing and I love them for it. I hope putting this together made working at the Delta Education company a bit more fun for them.

Here are the instructions for people who like to read 20-year-old instructions of crafts for babbies:

After I looked through all of the instructions, I found some PPG stickers (not shown because I’m already pushing my photo limit for this post) as well as all of the ingredients for our experiments. Oooooh~.

I was actually a little bit disappointed, because I thought there would be more ingredients involved to make these things (you know, like an actual educational science kit would normally have), but this is all it came with. The shampoo base was just premade shampoo without the (apple!) scent in it. The green soap was just premade soap, cut into chunks that you would melt and pour into little heart shaped molds. The little glitter stickers in this picture weren’t PPG themed, and the “PPG trinkets” were straight up just erasers.

So, yeah, it was… underwhelming. From what I can gather from the other kits I saw being sold online, I suppose these were “educational” in the sense that they were used in educational settings. They were probably just little craft kits for kids in classrooms rather than kits that were going to teach them anything substantial (I think the other kits I saw were for making jewelry and door hangers… just fun projects for kids to have fun and learn how to put things together 🤷‍♀️).

Still, I purchased this kit, and I’d be damned if I didn’t actually get some shampoo and soap makin’ out of some of these ingredients. …and I say some because I had to find out whether I should even USE these products, given the warning on the front of the bag that said the contents warranted adult supervision. I mean, I’m an adult and I felt like I needed another adult.

There was absolutely no way that I was going to use the shampoo base, because I am pretty sure that it would make my hair fall out or disintegrate my scalp if I tried using it (or even if I touched it). It looked really slimy, and had a weird, translucent stringy texture to it, so I tossed it. I snipped open the apple scent packet because I was curious to find out if it still had a scent to it… and it was actually sort of pleasant! It had a bit of a chemical after-scent to it, but it wasn’t the worst thing I’ve ever smelled. Still, I don’t think I should be putting a 20-year-old scent anywhere near my body (I probably shouldn’t have even smelled it, come to think of it… my chemistry teachers would have been so ashamed of me) so I decided I would not be using it in the final product either.

I opened up the green soap, hoping that that would actually be okay or at least smell normal, and… I actually gagged. BLEEEEECH. That’s where the awful smell had been coming from. Immediately tossed it in the trash. It was AWFUL, and there’s absolutely no way, not even for the sake of comedy, that I would willingly put it in my microwave or even let it come in contact with my skin (although yet again, like an idiot, I smelled it… oh well, my idiocy has its limits, I guess). I looked online later and also found out that, apparently, glycerin soap can produce mold and ferment after 4-5 years… so yeah, it was probably a good call for me to trash it.

That means I now didn’t have any of the actual soap products I was going to use to make these! However, I had a trick up my sleeve (at least for the solid soap) and that trick was called… buying new soap to use. 🤣 I got some dye, grabbed some apple scent to add to the soap, and voila! BUTTERCUP SOAP!

Beautiful! 💚

They’re actually kind of cute, and I’m using them as little dish soaps right now (I’ll probably toss the erasers later though… I don’t think they’ll work after being in glycerin soap that long). The new apple smell I bought is, weirdly enough, not as great as the 20-year-old one, but it’s still something I totally think Buttercup wouldn’t mind using, even if bathtime was still torture for her. I also ended up making some blue soap themed for Bubbles (aka the original Soap). As for the shampoo, I basically just added the apple scent to some shampoo I already had and decorated the bottle that came with the kit accordingly.

…and that’s all she wrote! There it is! Soap and soap for your hair made with help from a kit no one else but me would, in their right mind, ever purchase! I hope you are all now fulfilled, free to live enriched lives knowing what mysteries were enclosed in the kit, and that I successfully made something with it for your enjoyment. It was all… for you! 💖🫵💖