We’re back with “Favorite Things Friday,” and I just can’t omit one of my favorite things to teach…SCIENCE!! Though some may not agree with me on this, I think learning about science is incredible! Yes, I am the nerdy one who loves to teach anything science-y. I am aware that many parents cringe at the mere thought of teaching science, but it doesn’t have to be that way! Science can be fun, exciting, and even (dare I say), enjoyable! That’s right! I just put “science” and “enjoyable” in the same sentence and I meant it. The key to having fun with science is making it relevant and real.
Learning about the “old dead guys”, (you know, Sir Isaac Newton, Galileo, Van Leeuwenhoek, etc)…please excuse the slight irreverence…can be super boring for kids (and grownups) when there is nothing tangible to grab onto. BUT, learning about science you can see and touch, well, that’s a different story! And once the interest is peaked, THEN we can add back in the “who?, what?, why?, and how?” questions. Basically, once kids have real life experience to relate to the science in their books, they relate and learn so much better. But please hear me on this…let them have the tangible, touchable experience first!! They are so much more likely to enjoy the academic part if they have already grabbed onto the hands-on part.
Is it really that easy, you may ask? YES! Start showing your kids how much fun science can be by adding in things they can touch, see, do, experience, and feel. You will find that they not only stop complaining about science, but you might even begin to look forward to it, too! Total win. That’s finding the joy in teaching science right there!
I’ve got tons of ideas for you to get you started. The old “grow a bean in a plastic zipper bag” demonstration for seed growth? They’ll love it! Dissolving salt into water, watching it “disappear”, then boiling the water until only the salt is left again? They’ll be amazed to learn that’s how a solution works! Making a dry leaf smoke (and even catch on fire!) by using a magnifying glass and the sun’s energy? They’ll be hooked on light and heat for sure. And don’t forget the gross Petri dish experiment!! We recently did this and used 4 surfaces…index finger, thumb, bottom of shoe, and door handle. They were grossed out and enthralled at the same time to learn about bacteria. See? Science can be really fun!!
By the way, after seeing and experiencing these types of easy activities, you can grab some great books to learn as much as they’d like about the subjects. I like to follow up with sketching what they saw, and/or coloring packets to really drive the knowledge deeper. I’ve included some links to some amazing resources I love and use. They are for all different age categories from preschool appropriate all the way up to high school course compatible coloring. (Don’t think coloring is for high schoolers? Please read my article entitled “A Case For Coloring” to see why it’s so important!)
Seed Growth
- coloring book
- Up in the Garden, Down in the Dirt, by Kate Messner
- Planting A Rainbow, by Lois Ehlert
- The Tiny Seed, by Eric Carle
Beginning Chemistry
- Periodic Table of Elements Coloring Book
- My First Book About Chemistry, by Patricia J. Wynne
- DK Eyewitness: Chemistry
Physics
General Science
- Great Inventors and Inventions (Dover Coloring book)
- The Berenstain Bears’ Big Book of Science and Nature
- Energy: Physical Science for Kids, by Andi Diehn
Biology
- Biology Coloring Book
- Biology Activity Book for younger kids
- Human Anatomy Activity Book (grades 4-7)
No matter how you slice it, science has a way of “growing” on you (no petri dish pun intended!). I hope you are inspired to dive in and start exploring this fascinating subject with your kids, regardless of their age or grade level. Joy abounds where science lives…you won’t have to look far to find it! I’ll be back soon with more. Until then, have a blessed day!