It’s mid-January, and like most Moms I’m breathing a sigh of relief that kids are back in school. After spending two wonderful weeks at home with all the children under one roof 24/7, it’s nice to have some breathing room. During those days and weeks jam-packed with family activities, I was amazed yet again at how often science entered our family time, even with my preschoolers. Granted, I do tend to lean towards the geeky side, but I’m still stunned everytime I hear a middle or high school student exclaim, “I HATE science/math!!” So, here are some ideas to introduce a lifetime of loving science to your children. “Love?” you exclaim doubtfully. Ok, well at least a tolerance, ha ha!!
1. Check your attitude: Ouch. Now, before you roll your eyes and say, “Easy for you,” let me explain. I hate (and yes, I mean HATE) garden peas and peaches, but my children eat them. When I was in school, P.E. was the bane of my existence! Yet, my oldest child thinks it’s the greatest thing on earth. Am I super Mom? Heck no. I just did my best to let them form their own opinions. Sure, I still have a slight facial tic when my oldest mentions something fabulous he did in P.E., but I simply encourage his enthusiasm even though I don’t share it. If science was your idea of you-know-where on earth as a student, try not to tell your child about it, at least not until they’re in college. Do your best to offer opportunities and neutrality (if you can’t muster enthusiasm) and see what happens!
2. Find science opportunites in everyday life: Now, this one is far easier than number 1! Obviously, cooking is a great time to introduce measuring and temperature concepts. Keep the hand sanitizer nearby and let Johnny and Suzie measure out ingredients, scoop out dough, stir and blend, and, of course, quality control (taste sampling). Explain concepts as you go—What’s a meniscus? How does water change the consistency? Why do we add salt to water before it boils? One of my favorite principles in Chemistry is limiting reagents. I use that ALL the time in cooking, and I assure you my kids will understand it before they ever enter a Chemistry class. (if you don’t know, a limiting reagent is the item that “limits” how far a reaction will go…if your recipe calls for 1 cup sugar and 1 cup flour and you have 100 cups of sugar and 2 cups of flour, the flour is your limiting reagent. You can make only 2 batches of your recipe before you are limited by the flour.) Other household chores present science opportunites. My goal is that one day my kids will “enjoy” the experimentation involved with yardwork and laundry without realizing they are doing chores!!
3. Surround your kids with science books and TV/movie opportunites: I was surprised when my oldest child started reading how many science books are available, even for early readers. I get most of mine at yard sales and thrift stores, but your local library should have a great selection as well. It’s just as easy for them to learn about reading with books on weather and nature as it is to read about My Little Pony’s Adventure to Candy Castle. While I’m not a huge advocate for TV watching, I am a realist. Especially when you have kids of different ages. Sometimes, you and the kidlets need some downtime. After a twelve year hiatus, we recently got TV again in our home. I’m pleasantly surprised at the shows offered on PBS. One of my preschoolers now knows more about dinosaurs than I ever did and he’s learning great things on scientific procedure from Sid the Science Kid. And once your kids are older, the sci-fi genre of movies offers an endless supply of science adventures and intrigue. My point is this: if your kids are going to watch TV/movies anyway, let it be a chance to learn some decent science and math principles!
Enjoy! Have fun creating a lifetime of loving science in your home…or at least tolerate it while you watch your children grow and learn:-)
Cecilia
PS: So this is great, but you have a middle-schooler with a science project due next week?!?! Go to 24 Hour Science Projects to get you started on your scientific journey!!
Kids think science projects should be fun. Teachers think they should be educational. Parents just want them to be done fast and easy. Since students, teachers and parents are all involved in the process of getting ready for the science fair, most of the time, science projects have to be all of the above!
As a result, finding the perfect science fair project can be difficult. Here are five steps to choosing a science project that will make everybody happy.
1. Know what kind of science project is required. There are five kinds of projects, and many a student has had their project idea rejected because of a science technicality. Make sure you know if the science teacher requires an experimental (investigatory) project, a demonstration of a science principle, a report on a subject in science, a collection of items, or a scientific model. Most science fairs require an experiment, which has an hypothesis, tests the hypothesis following the scientific method, and arrives at a conclusion.
2. Find out what interests the student. What does your child do in her spare time? Does he ride horses, is she a soccer player? Is music a passion, or do you have a budding engineer on your hands? If a student is already interested in a subject, learning more about it will come naturally.
3. Determine the budget for time – and money. If your science fair is next week, you need to choose a fast and easy science project that can be done without ordering supplies from Outer Botswana. If you can’t afford special chemicals or science equipment, then you’ll need to focus on projects that can use materials easily found in your home.
4. Use all available resources for the science project search. Head to the library and look at the books on science projects. You can also use the internet. Go to your search engine and type “science project on vitamin C” or “science experiment on insulation”. Note, however, that many books and websites have demonstration projects instead of experiments. So, again, be careful that you find the right type of project.
5. Make a list of possible projects, and work together to choose the best one!
6. Our BEST hint:, and get a free copy of “The Non-Scientist Parent’s Guide to Science Fair Projects“. You’ll learn more about how to choose that perfect science project! Or, for five fast and easy science fair experiments that can be finished by this time tomorrow, visit 24 Hour Science Projects.
Examples of science fair projects will help you get started with this year’s science fair. Here are some ideas to help you as you prepare. There are five types of science projects, and we’ve included an example of each.
1. What condition is most favorable for decomposing an apple? Place three identical apples in zip lock bags. Add soil to one, water to another, and let the third simply be exposed to air. Watch the decomposition over three weeks. This project is an observation or demonstration, as the results cannot be measured. 2. What products in the home are made from recycled material? Gather items made from reclaimed materials and arrange them into an attractive display. This is a collection. 3. What kinds of birds live in Hawaii? Use books and the internet to research the answer to this question. Type up your findings and present them in a paper. This is a research project or a science report. 4. What temperature water is best for activating yeast? Fill three small bottles with water, one with hot, one warm and one cold. Add sugar and yeast to each bottle, and quickly place a balloon over the bottle mouth. Measure the tallest balloon to see which temperature activated the yeast. This is an experiment, or an investigative project. It follows the scientific method. 5. Make a model of DNA. Use craft beads and chenille wire to make a model of Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA), the building block of life! This is a model.
You can use any of these example science fair projects, as long as they conform to the guidelines of your fair. But don’t stop at these. Let them give you ideas of your own!
For more great science projects, get our free parent’s guide to science fair projects at http://www.elementary-science-projects.com. We give you more information on the five types of science projects, science fair vocabulary, and even more great examples of science fair projects. ————————————————— Source: Great Examples of Science Fair Projects
Science Projects. Elementary School teachers almost always require students to do at least one science project before they finish the fifth grade. Elementary science projects are easy to find, but finding the right project for your child can be a challenge. Here are five hints to help you find the best project for your grade school child.
1. Find out what type of project your science teacher requires. There are many types of projects, and most elementary schools give a range of choices. Does your teacher want an experiment, a demonstration, a collection, a report, or a model? Knowing what kind of project you need will narrow down your choices considerably.
2. Make a list of things that interest your child. What subjects catch your child’s eye on television or in books – space, animals, buildings, computers, explosions? Does your child need instant gratification? Consider a chemistry experiment with dramatic results, such as “Which Fruit has the Most Vitamin C?” Is your child concerned about the environment? Find out which toilet tissue is most biodegradable, or which type of insulation works best.
3. Set your budget for money – and time. If you don’t have a lot of money to invest, and if your time is limited, there is no need to look at anything that requires special metals to be imported from the Far East. Decide on how much cash you’re willing to spend, and create a generous time line for getting supplies. Keep in mind that you have to actually do the project after the supplies arrive.
4. Keep in mind that this is a science project for elementary school. Don’t choose a project with complicated instructions. You want your child to do the project with your help – and not the other way around.
5. Provide four or five science project choices. Ever notice how it takes longer to decide on an ice cream flavor when there are 31 flavors? Give your elementary school child a limited list of science project choices, and you’ll both be happier.
Now, get a free guide to science projects- including how to find experiments with step by step instructions – at http://elementary-science-projects.com/ Easy and fast, they’ll help you submit an outstanding – and maybe winning – science project for elementary school.
Article source: http://ezinearticles.com/?Science-Projects-in-Elementary-School&id=2395602
For step by step instructions on the projects above, visit 24 Hour Science Projects for the best science projects for elementary school.
