Sahil Gupta

Raising media-savvy kids is more important than ever in today’s information-overloaded world. Knowing just how a newspaper article differs from, say, a story in a book or a piece in a magazine will help equip your middle-schooler with the skills to think critically about the overwhelming number of ideas he or she is exposed to […]

Do you know that you can extract DNA from any living thing from the comfort of your family’s own kitchen? DNA is the genetic coding that determines that a human embryo will become a man, a bird embryo will become a robin, etc. Show your child how a quick whirl of spinach in the blender

Your teen may think he’s too grown up for cut-and-paste arts and crafts, but he’ll be delighted to create something useful and trendy. Lip balm made out of beeswax is one of the simplest do-it-yourself activities, and it’s fun to make! If you have a farmer’s market near by, make him shop there for the

Your child may have learnt in science class that birds can fly due to their hollow, lightweight bones, but it’s hard to understand how hollow bones can be strong enough to support a bird’s muscles. In this science activity, you and your child will see just how strong a hollow structure can be by testing

Experiment with the wonders of pressure and condensation by crushing a soda can with nothing but air and water! What You Need:❑ Empty soda can with tab removed❑ Ice water❑ Pan❑ Mixing bowl❑ Tongs❑ StoveCaution! Experiment involves heat and boiling water, adult supervision required.What You Do: Rinse the soda can; then place a couple tablespoonfuls

What do you do with those old, unwanted or scratched CDs? Rather than tossing them or letting dust pile up, your child can actually put them to good use. Make your teen collect as many as he can get from family and friends, and turn them into a hanging, decorative curtain.What You Need:❑ Ruler❑ Old

Using up that last bit of your powder compact is no longer something to despair. Your teen can clean it out and reconstruct it into a stylish greeting card that holds a message for a very special someone! Not only is this project as “green” as can be but also it puts a whole new

This activity is designed to serve as an introduction to polymer chemistry. Does it sound fancy? Have no fear – you’ll be using the material found inside of a baby’s diaper!What You Need:❑ Absorbent diaper❑ 1 gallon zip-closing plastic bag❑ Small plastic cups❑ Food colouring❑ Plastic tablespoon measure❑ Scissors❑ Safety goggles (optional)Caution: the powdered chemical

When is a vase just a vase and when is it art? Can it ever be both? In ancient Greece, vases were not only utilitarian but they were also visual masterpieces. Decorating a vase in the style of the ancient Greek artists isn’t difficult at all; all you need are a few basic materials and

Birthdays, holidays, graduations, interviews-the list of momentous occasions that gifts go along with is huge. After the party and presents, there’s just one more thing your child needs to address: thank-you notes. A healthy show of gratitude is a good way to put a smile on someone’s face, and there’s something extra special about handwritten

Mary Cassatt is an American impressionist painter who focused her work on the relationships between mothers and children. Not only is her work touching and inspiring, but also her life was as well. She overcame many obstacles in order to pursue a career as an artist-including the misconception that women’s jobs were strictly inside the

Yearbooks are great mementos, but they’re expensive and can’t be carried around in your wallet or back pocket. If you’re looking for a fun and easy way to remember your friends, a themed photo shoot is the way to go. Invite everyone over for a fancy dress get-together full of food, fun and some good-natured

Do you want to get your bookworm interested in science? Try encouraging your teen to learn how to write science fiction! This genre of literature is not only great for thinking about the larger issues behind scientific progress, like technology and humanity, but also it makes great material for creative writing. What You Need:❑ Book

Encourage your child to get involved in the community and sharpen his writing skills by penning an editorial for the local paper. He’ll get to play reporter for a day as he writes persuasively about a local issue that concerns or interests him. This is a fun way to introduce your child to professional writing

Love is in the air, and there’s no time like Valentine’s Day for your high schooler to learn about the most romantic poetic form: the sonnet! Invented by the 13th century Italians and popularized by English poets in the 16th century, the sonnet provided William Shakespeare the structure for his most enduring poetic achievements, dealing