|
Even a walk around the yard can provide many opportunities to introduce
children to scientific concepts and processes by helping them to gain the
scientific habit of observing what's around them. What You Need
- A magnifying glass
- Science journal
What to Do
·
Take a walk outside with your child—around the
yard, to the end of the block, in the park—anywhere that's convenient.
Invite her to bring along her science journal and show her how to use a
magnifying glass. As you walk, stop and—depending on the season—ask her to
use the lens to examine things such as the following:
- dirt
- leaves (from the same tree, one on the ground and
one on the tree)
- a flower
- snowflakes
- icicles
- bugs
- a mud puddle
- a rock
·
Ask her to talk about what she observes. Ask,
for example:
- What's on each side of this leaf?
- How is this leaf on the ground different from the
one on the tree?
- Are all the petals on this flower the same size
and color?
- Are these snowflakes exactly alike? How are they
different?
- How many legs does this bug have?
- How many colors can you see in this mud puddle?
·
Other questions you might ask as she observes
and examines things along the way include the following:
- Is it smooth or rough?
- Is it hard or soft?
- Is it dry or wet?
- Is it alive? How do you know?
- What shape is it?
·
Give your child two different kinds of rocks
or flowers and ask her to tell you how they are alike and different.
·
Make sure she records her observations,
reactions, findings and opinions in her science journal. Drawing pictures
and taking photos are good ways to record observations, and you can help her
to write appropriate captions. Encourage her to share her journal with
others and to talk about her experiences.
|
