Yet another Rochester winter is upon us, and, as is typical for this time of year, Mother Nature will likely keep us all pinned indoors with snowy temperatures unfit for even the White Witch of Narnia and her Turkish Delight. So what exactly are you supposed to do with your stir crazy, Pop Tart-fueled little people? Well, until someone actually does invent that long-fabled instrument to bottle their massive amounts of excess energy, we felt it might be a good idea to offer some help. After all, SpongeBob can only babysit for so long.

Enter science, that thing that conveniently surrounds us every day with its wonder (and just so happens to rock pretty hard). From the boiling water on the stove to the condensation on the inside of the windows, science lessons-in-waiting are everywhere. Engaging your kids in educational play can begin a life-long love of learning, nurture their natural curiosity, and they likely won't even realize they're learning while having fun.

Ralph Waldo Emerson, who talked about science not realizing its debt to imagination, could very well have been talking about kids. Fewer things are more remarkable than watching the sparks of insight and intelligence that come from young knowledge-craving minds as they discover and explore. And you never know - one of your little ones might grow up to be the patent holder on that energy-bottling machine. Wouldn't that be great?

Rochester is lucky to have the Rochester Museum & Science Center, devoted to initiating kids into the mind-blowing power of science. And there are plenty of events and demonstrations going on this winter to keep your kids busy (for a full schedule or more information visit rmsc.org or call 271-4320). Or you can try your hand with experiments at home by checking out a few of the many science sites on the web. Of course, any search engine can pull up dozens more. Happy learning!

Steve Spangler Science: Making Science Fun!

(stevespanglerscience.com/experiments/)

Spangler is best known to all the Internerds as the dude who took to YouTube to expose the end result of Mentos meeting Diet Coke (hint: big explosion). He's also science's equivalent of what would happen if annoying, watermelon-smashing comedian Gallagher had a love child with Weird Al Yankovic, but cooler. He makes projectiles out of potatoes, explodes soda, sets things on fire, and creates massive mounds of foam, all in the name of education and learning. Simply put, the man knows science, he knows fun, and he combines the two into some seriously great learning materials.

The experiments section of his webpage is divided into various categories to find fun, easy, and interesting experiments using items usually on hand in most homes. All come with detailed directions, explanations, and some with instructional videos.

So what can you do here? For starters, find out if that Taco Bell sauce you crave really can remove the tarnish off a penny. Make scientific art with Sharpie pens and rubbing alcohol. Did you know you could fold eggs? Yep, and they also fit into bottles. Make gooey quicksand, and - perfect for a snowy Rochester day - snow ice cream (just watch out for the yellow kind). Some experiments are even specifically geared toward toddlers for early learning. Whether conducted casually or with the entire Scientific Method, each experiment brings the wow factor. Go here first. You won't be disappointed.

Howard Hughes Medical Institute

(hhmi.org/coolscience)

This site has a whole section dedicated to "Cool Science for Curious Kids," where inquisitive minds can learn the answers to some of life's most perplexing cundondrum. Apparently snakes are like lizards and monkeys are like moose, somehow? Yep. The site has interactive sound effects, and older kids may enjoy the section on how to pursue a career in science.

Science News for Kids

(sciencenewsforkids.org)

Who hasn't wondered what would be the best body type to have if one was a fish that climbed waterfalls? Not you? Well, I bet your kids would love to find out, so go here for the answer. While you're there, play a few games like Slime Volleyball or try some brain-teaser puzzles.

Yucky Discovery

(yucky.discovery.com/flash)

If your kid is in that stage where everything sticky, gooey, horrific, and smelly equates to The Best Thing Ever, then this site will be a big hit. The site is run by the folks at the Discovery Channel and features gross and cool body facts, yucky games, and even a whole section dedicated to roaches. No idea why roach anatomy beat out all other forms of life, but then again you can't survive a nuclear attack. Roaches can. They win.

Net Frog

(frog.edschool.virginia.edu/Frog2)

Virtually dissect a frog without all the formaldehyde stench and guts. Be forewarned that the site isn't animated, and instead uses real footage of dead frogs reincarnated on the web for your learning pleasure.

American Museum of Natural History

(amnh.org/nationalcenter/infection/)

The American Museum of Natural History has a great page dedicated to scientific learning for kids. All the games on the page are designed for optimal fun, yet kids learn incredible things while playing. Real microscope pictures and narratives from scientists supplement the story materials, making for a fun time on the site. A favorite game is the Mixed-Up Microbe Mystery.

KidWings

(kidwings.com/index.htm)

In what might be simultaneously the most disgusting, yet most incredible thing ever, this site offers kids the chance to dissect an owl pellet. Yes, that's right. Owl puke. Post-dissection certificates of completion may be printed as well. Not sure what the title offered on the certificate is. You'll have to let me know.

Other notable mentions: Yahoo Science for Kids (kids.yahoo.com/science) and NASA (nasa.gov/audience/forkids/kidsclub/flash/index.html) both have incredible science-based resources and activities.