The Fun of Centrifugal Force

I took the kids to California Lane Park again today. This is the best park to play at when it is 118 degrees outside. The kids run and jump and play and never get hot; until they step on the pavement, in which they get 3rd degree burns. It so so refreshing to see them have so much fun with only water and buckets. That is about the cheapest fun I can find! We even had a lesson on centrifugal force. Cooper discovered this phenomenon the last time we played with water and buckets. Natalie thought that it was magic. We had a discussion about what centrifugal force was and then I demonstrated it for her with her bucket of water. She then tried it and was hooked. She kept swinging the bucket around and around and around. This was all fun and games until Luke tried to get in on the action and threw his bucket at Natalie's face. That was the end of her fun and the beginning of his time-out.

After I decided that it was time to conclude the festivities, Cooper and Natalie wanted to run a lap around the loop that circles the soccer field. It must be at least 1/5 th of a mile. They both ran the whole time---in their sandals! I gave them a treat, because that was just impressive!