You are having dinner and your child excitedly describes how his teacher took a bucket of water and stirred it without spilling a drop. His son of him is talking about centrifugal force! Your son is talking to you! His son is in awe of this great experience he had! Good lessons provide good opportunities for children to talk! Children who can express themselves verbally to reinforce what they are learning can increase their comprehension and memory. Current research indicates that providing children with exciting experiences in addition to the traditional “lecture and listen” method can electrify their imaginations, providing memorable experiences and opportunities for conversation! As parents we already understand the importance of ‘learning by doing’, having given our children hands-on experiences preparing them to walk and talk, play or learn to behave.
Making careful decisions about what we teach our children has benefits well beyond childhood. Parents want the best for their children, and with the rise of technology-based industries today, our children’s understanding and experience must evolve as well. Fostering and supporting our children’s interest in the field of science can help balance their learning and curiosity. Activities that can provide a foundation, further enhance what children are learning every day, and build their confidence.
In grades 2, 3, and 4 children are expected to demonstrate an understanding of magnetism, gravity, and light. Using one of several science kits available, such as ScienceWiz’s ElectroWiz Magnetism, Newton’s Wizard, and WaveWiz Light provides a great opportunity for parents to enhance their child’s understanding of basic science principles.
What’s in your child’s future? Maybe you’ll be involved in discovering or perfecting a cleaner fuel source that will propel us toward a more sustainable future! Thames & Kosmos Fuel Cell Car Science Experiment Kit is a unique science toy. Your child will learn how to build an eco-friendly car and learn how it uses the power of water to propel itself across the ground! Children can read and participate in the activities included in the ScienceWiz Energy Wiz Science Kit. This kit teaches children about potential energy (energy that is stored waiting to be used) and kinetic energy (energy used while an object is in motion). Explore these concepts by building a sun racer to test the differences between potential and kinetic energy. Elenco’s Deluxe Solar Education Kit provides hands-on science instruction that helps kids learn how to build solar models and generate clean energy to power a radio or calculator.
Encouraging children to investigate and challenge themselves is always a difficult task. Lure your son in with a top-secret investigation. The Mystery Detective Forensic Science Kit is a surefire way to make this a fun and exciting way to think outside the box. Kids can solve various mysteries by examining DNA fingerprints, analyzing motives and other clues to narrow down suspects and solve a mystery. Kids who might also enjoy the mechanics of developing technology to investigate and solve crimes would benefit from the Go Detective science kit. Among 65 activities, kids can make ink, learn Morse code, and analyze evidence using a microscope. Spotting tiny clues is made easier with one of several magnifying and binocular options – a great way to top off one of these unique science kits!
Electronics is a subject that permeates all areas of our lives. Elenco’s Snap Circuits series starts with 100 building circuits (Junior) up to Snap Circuits 300 and Snap Circuits 500 Pro. These unique science toys are great tools that can help kids and adults alike unravel the world of electronics by introducing some basic knowledge. Modules containing resistors, capacitors, and transistors help simplify connections to integrate circuits and produce different effects. However, if your child is ready for a more tangible electronic experience, try Elenco’s Build Your Own Phone or Talking Clock construction kit, both great ideas for further engaging kids in science.
Try a unique science toy that can help launch any aspiring astronaut or astronomer. Light up your child’s imagination with a Solar Powered System. This dynamic science toy lights up and moves to demonstrate how the solar system works. Great for the classroom, teachers can create their own planetarium. Another fantastic science kit is the Solar System 3D Mobile Building Kit. Assemble the plastic planets, use the included paint to color your system and connect it to the mobile – a great activity for home or classroom. All of these science kits include instructions and facts about our solar system.
For a deeper understanding of the universe, try the Usborne Book of Astronomy and Space, a great introduction to the wonders of space. Exploring the Night Sky by Terence Dickinson is a great book to help your children learn about the universe and also includes an introduction to stargazing. To encourage the stargazer in his family, Mastermind also offers several durable telescopes with which to view the night sky.
If your child is curious and enthusiastic but not inspired by science, maybe you can win him over with some unusual science kits and toys! Consider the chemistry Oobleck Gooey. Already used as a teaching resource around the world, your child can conduct experiments with slime and start a slime snot contest. Does your child’s interest in animals demand her full attention? The Fun With Your Dog Science Kit could tempt her curiosity by testing a dog’s hearing, determining a dog’s personality, or creating dog bone biscuits. Bring fun science into the bath with the Scientific Explorer Spa Science Kit! Kids can mix fragrances, make foaming baths, and create scented potions. Determine how smells affect family members and friends differently – the ultimate test of the senses!
Science is a subject that permeates every area of our lives and making it fun and interesting is what it takes to promote excitement and learning.
