The National Geographic science experiment set with magical activities is a unique and exciting educational toy that combines the wonders of science with the fun of magic tricks. This set is designed to engage children in hands-on learning experiences and cultivate their curiosity about the natural world. The set includes a variety of experiments that allow children to learn about various scientific principles while also creating magical effects. From making objects disappear to creating colorful explosions, the experiments in this set are sure to captivate young minds. One of the main highlights of this set is its inclusion of elements from the field of chemistry. Children can conduct experiments to learn about chemical reactions, including creating a volcano that erupts with colorful lava and making a liquid change color right before their eyes.
Salem Outfit Ideas - What to Wear In October
Salem Massachusetts owns Halloween like how the North Pole owns Christmas. And because of that, the whole month of October is one big long Halloween celebration in Salem. So many people plan a visit to Salem in October to be part of the fun, and the magic. So how do you decide what to wear in October in Salem? We have a few suggested Salem outfit ideas to get you started.
Exploring the Wharf, Cemetery, Willows, Pioneer Village, and Winter Island
Salem has some areas that are "off the path" that are absolutely worth exploring! For this, you will want to make sure you have a jacket, shoes that are easy to walk in, and a super cozy hat. The Winter Island Hat is a super soft pompom hat that will keep you warm whether you're on the water, or in the woodsy areas. Perfect Salem outfit idea.
Visiting Museums and Shops Downtown
When you're walking around downtown and popping in and out of shops and museums (definitely check out the Peabody Essex Museum) you will want to have a light jacket, a small bag that you don't have to think about, and a cozy scarf. The McIntire Scarf is an oversized cowl scarf that is no fuss, and will be the perfect accessory.
Going out for Social Hour
In Salem there are tons of awesome places to grab a drink or bite in the late afternoon / early evening. Many of these options include outdoor options, so you'll want to be cozy. But since you probably want to travel light, the Anderson Ear Warmer is your perfect companion. It will keep you toasty, but if you find yourself warm inside, you can put it in a small bag for safe keeping. Pair it with a chunky knit and some fall boots, and you're good to go.
Taking a Cruise Around Salem
Salem is right on the water, and it's the perfect opportunity to see the area by sea! Escape the crowd of the city and get on a boat! It will be a little chilly, so you'll want to bundle up! Pair a sweater with some warm pants, and top it off with the Essex Scarf. Looking for some recommendations from locals? This post is for you!
Share Share Link Close share Copy linkChildren can conduct experiments to learn about chemical reactions, including creating a volcano that erupts with colorful lava and making a liquid change color right before their eyes. These experiments not only teach children how chemical reactions work but also introduce them to the concept of cause and effect. Another exciting aspect of this science experiment set is its focus on the wonders of light and optics.
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Curator’s Eye: Salem witchcraft inspired dress by Alexander McQueen
ON JULY 19, 1692, ELIZABETH JACKSON HOWE was hanged in Salem, Massachusetts, a victim of the witchcraft hysteria that divided neighbors and sent nineteen innocent people, mainly women, to their deaths. More than three centuries later, the fashion designer Lee Alexander McQueen and his creative director Sarah Burton visited Salem. It happened that McQueen’s mother had traced their family tree to Howe, and McQueen was looking for information. The result was his intensely personal Autumn–Winter 2007 ready-to-wear collection, “In memory of Elizabeth Howe, Salem, 1692.”
Dress from “In memory of Elizabeth Howe, Salem, 1692” collection by Lee Alexander McQueen (1969–2010). Velvet and satin, 2007/2008. WALTER SILVER PHOTO, © PEABODY ESSEX MUSEUM, 2012.
Drawing on pagan symbolism, McQueen designed a starburst in hand-sewn, iridescent gunmetal-gray bugle beads radiating down the neckline and across the chest and shoulders of this form-fitting velvet dress. “It was a very personal collection for Lee,” Burton wrote in the catalogue that accompanied McQueen’s posthumous exhibition Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in 2011, “but then Lee always used to say that his work was autobiographical.”
McQueen attended Central Saint Martins in London and apprenticed on Savile Row prior to opening his own house in 1993. Savage Beauty opened just a year after his untimely death in 2010 and remains one of the best-attended exhibitions in the Met’s history.
Petra Slinkard
Nancy B. Putnam Curator of Fashion and Textiles
Echoes from Salem: Witchy Fashions of the 17th Century
Whether you know it or not, you’re familiar with 17th century fashion. Our modern ideas of witch clothing trickled down to us from the 17th century, most notably from our fascination with the Salem witch trials of 1692. You see the 17th century all over the place this time of year! For example:
This little darling is a fairly classic, modern witch: pointed hat, “renaissance” dress, and criss-cross “corset” lacing. This polyester masterpiece bears little resemblance to anything we might normally consider historical, but the pieces are there; you just have to look!
The Dress
Our little purple witch is wearing a dress with a faux-stomacher front covered with silver rick-rack. In the 17th century, stomachers were an important part of a lady’s wardrobe. They held jacket-like bodices together and were often heavily decorated, especially with embroidery and gilt threads:
“Portrait of a Bride” by Johannes Cornelisz Verspronck, 1640
“Woman of the Stuyvesant Family” by an unknown artist, late 17th century (1670-1700)
The color black is also very 17th century. Black was the color of wealth, modesty, and respectable mourning, so it’s a bit surprising that the somber color was attached to witches. Most “witches” accused in the Salem trials and elsewhere were often of the lower classes and would not have been able to afford expensive black cloth. They would have worn something more along the lines of this:
“Woman Warming her Hands over a Brazier” by Maestro della Tela Jeans, late 17th century
“Peasant Interior” by the Le Nain Brothers, 1642
The criss-crossing rick-rack mimics the lacing pattern of a pair of stays. Here is a pair of 1660s stays with sleeves that shows the criss-cross front lacing modern costume manufacturers have come to consider standard:
Stays and Busk, circa 1660
These wouldn’t have been outerwear for wealthier women, but would have been under the bodice. A lower class woman would not have had such fancy stays. Instead, she would have worn a reed or leather pair of stays over a chemise and skirt.
The Apron
Another 17th century aspect of the modern purple witch dress is the apron. Aprons were universal in 16th, 17th, and 18th century fashion. Everyone wore them, even if they were wealthy and never cooked a meal in their life!
“Citizen’s Daughter” by Wenceslaus Hollar, circa 1643
It’s especially fitting that the girl wearing the purple witch outfit has an apron on because it was standard practice in the 1600s for a child under 6 to wear an apron constantly to protect their skirts.
The Hat
Nothing says “witch” like a tall, cone-shaped hat! It’s been a Halloween witches’ staple since the 19th century, especially during the Edwardian era when costume balls and Halloween parties became popular.
Antique Postcard Design
Girl Dressed in a Witch Costume, circa 1880-1905
The photo of the young lady above shows how the traditional Halloween witch morphed from a variety of influences. Her dress is very 18th century (complete with quilted petticoat and fichu), while she herself is very Victorian. In addition, there’s that ever-present pointed hat! The hat style is undeniably 17th century. The tall, conical shape is derived from the capotain: a felted hat popular with both men and women since Elizabethan times.
“Head of a Man with a Pointed Hat” by Adriaen Brouwer, circa 1630
These hats were worn by every level of society from rich to poor. These big, funny-shaped hats seem really comical to our modern eyes, but they were considered a common essential for protecting your face from the sun and, for women especially, a sign of modesty. One of the best examples of the conical capotain is in this spectacular painting by John Michael Wright:
“Portrait of Mrs. Salisbury and her Grandchildren Edward and Elizabeth” by John Michael Wright, 1675
Detail of the Fabulous Hat
This is a later 17th century painting from 1675, but the style of the hat is a few decades earlier, around 1650-1660. The woman in the painting is not a witch; she’s just an upper class grandmother posing with her rambunctious and brightly-dressed grandchildren on a cool autumn day. But there’s no denying that it is the perfect historical example of what we’ve come to consider the ultimate symbol of Halloween magic!
The Shoes
Lastly, we come to the other wicked essential everyone loves to wear. The young girl in the purple witch costume is wearing simple Mary Jane flats, but for the adults, there is an iconic witch accessory with pointy toes and exaggerated heels…”Witch Shoes!”
As soon as they’re mentioned, everyone knows exactly what you mean. Just do a search on Google or Etsy and you’ll discover thousands of options that vary widely, but generally boil down to black, pointed or square toed, buckled or laced, and…well…witchy! Some of the styles are Edwardian in shape with straps and lacing. More traditional witches’ shoes, however, are 17th and early 18th century-inspired.
English Leather Shoe, circa 1640-50
Women’s Silk Shoes, circa 1700
Now I say “inspired” because over the centuries, the iconic buckle shoe had gone through many changes, each time re-emerging more cartoonish each time:
17th Century:
Men’s Leather Shoes, circa 1660
19th Century:
Men’s Theatrical Shoes, circa 1870-1900
20th Century:
English Underground Platform Shoes, circa 1974
21st Century:
Spider Buckle Witch shoes by Pleaser, circa 2012
So to Conclude:
The caricaturization, combination and evolution of the past is what defines our current ideas of Halloween, from witches and vampires to butterflies and hamburgers. Fashion itself is always evolving, so it makes sense that our “dress-up” fashions would follow suit. Being completely over-the-top is half the fun of dressing up in costume! You don’t want to be just a hippie. You want to be a technicolor, tye-dye-wearing, afro-topped, peace-sign-covered tower of disco glory…even if it’s not quite what you remember wearing back in the day. And you know what? That’s totally groovy.
Happy Halloween!
Children can learn about the properties of light by conducting experiments such as creating a rainbow with a prism and making objects appear to disappear using optical illusions. By exploring the science behind these magical effects, children can gain a deeper understanding of how light works and how it interacts with objects. In addition to chemistry and optics, the set also includes experiments that introduce children to other scientific concepts such as magnetism and electricity. By conducting these experiments, children can learn about the basic principles behind these phenomena and gain a deeper understanding of how they affect the world around them. Overall, the National Geographic science experiment set with magical activities is a fantastic educational resource that combines the mystery of magic with the wonders of science. By engaging in hands-on experiments, children can develop a love for learning and a curiosity about the natural world. Whether it's making objects disappear or creating colorful explosions, the experiments in this set are sure to spark the imagination and ignite a passion for science in young minds..
Reviews for "Unlock the Magic of Science with National Geographic's Experiment Set"
1. John - 2 stars - I was really disappointed with the National Geographic science experiment set with magical activities. The set promised to provide hours of educational fun, but it fell short in many ways. The experiments were poorly explained and didn't work as expected. The materials included were also of low quality, and some of them even broke after just a few uses. I would not recommend this set to anyone looking for a reliable and educational science kit.
2. Emma - 1 star - I regret purchasing the National Geographic science experiment set with magical activities. The activities were not only dull and uninteresting but also poorly designed. The instructions provided were confusing and hard to follow, making the whole experiment process frustrating. Additionally, the set included cheap and flimsy materials that did not hold up well during the experiments. Overall, it was a waste of money, and I would advise others to consider alternative science experiment sets.
3. Sarah - 2 stars - The National Geographic science experiment set with magical activities was a huge letdown. The experiments lacked depth and didn't offer much educational value. The supposed "magical" activities were gimmicky and didn't provide any real learning opportunities. The set also lacked clear instructions, making it difficult to fully understand and execute the experiments. I would not recommend this set to anyone looking for a comprehensive and engaging science kit.