Science is one of those "easy" subjects for me. And sometimes I struggle with understanding why others find it hard. I have to remind myself that I find teaching certain things more problematic and it's just the same for others.
Part of my doing this five days of science was hopefully to show others that doing science needn't be a stressful thing. (just as I've had people show that me that teaching geography need not to be stressful) :)
I hope I've achieved that (at least a little bit).
So today I thought I'd talk abit about having an eye for science.
The other day I was out with my boy and he asked me what time it was. I (aghast) didn't have my cell phone with me so I looked up at the sky and said "oh, it's about 4 o'clock". He was "MOM, how do you do know that? You can't know that!". So I popped into a store and asked the clerk "Know what time it is"... oh "4:15".... This surprised the lad and he asked how I knew that.
I told him that if you live in a certain area long enough and get to know where the sun is in the sky you get to know about what time of day it is. That way you aren't surprised when it's 6 o'clock and time to be at home, or if you are out for a walk with your friends and your mom says "be home at ____ time, she'll expect you to be home because you can look at the sun and see what time it is.
That gave us opportunity to talk about earth rotation and constants in speed and a whack of other things, that just happened in a conversational tone and therefore the lad still remembers it (and dreads when I'll start asking him what time he thinks it is) right now it's just...so do you think it's closer to lunch or to supper?
Letting your children explore what they can do with a simple ice cube (or with an icicle if you live in colder climes)... you can learn about states of matter, density, changes of form, temperature and so much more.
It's really just a matter of keeping your eyes open.
Stopping to examine the geometric designs in a spiders web and then asking...why do you think this type of web works for that spider? Do you think all spiders make webs like that?
You see those bugs in the grass there? Do you think a crawling bug would go to this kind of web? Oh no? Well what kind of web do you think might work.. shall we see if we can find one?
You don't have to get close if bugs and critters give you the heebie-jeebies.. you really don't. But you can watch and learn along with your children and then get some books to support that learning.
Doing arts and crafts can be science as well. Just how do you think this glue works? Do you think we can make a homemade glue? What kind of things do you think this glue can stand up to? Heat? Water? Pressure? Different surfaces? Let's examine it and find out.. and perhaps we can create something neat while we are at it.
Watch and see, you'll be amazed at how science opportunities can leap right out at you if you just keep your eyes open.
Nicole @ Journey to Excellence ~ Missouri
Dusty @ To the Moon and Back ~ Babywearing
Kristi @ The Potter's Hand Academy ~ Spring Studies
Jennifer @ Royal Little Lambs ~ Essential Oils
Jen @ Happy Little Homemaker ~ Frugal Fitness
Meg @ Adventures with Jude ~ Homeschooling from the Kitchen
Lori @ At Home: where life happens ~ Favorite Books
Tauna @ Proverbial Homemaker ~ A Christ-Centered Home
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