Science research » Child Science

Creative Ways To Get Your Child Interested In Science

admin — Thu, 17 Jun 2010 17:02:52 +0000

Not all kids like all subjects, but it seems that science is the hardest for ordinary kids to get interested in. This could be because that a lot of parents themselves are not interested in science and kids seem to pick up on that. Teachers try everything that they can think of to make their subjects interesting and most of the time it works. Teachers who have passion for their subject are a lot more effective in getting kids interested in a subject than teachers who just sit and lecture a student.

As a parent you might be wondering how you can get your child interested in science. The first step is to become active and interested in what your child is doing. This is probably the most important thing you can do to get your child interested in anything. By showing your child that you are interested in what they are doing makes you child feel like they are doing something worthwhile. Because they are feeling important they will approach science with a new zest for learning.

Here are a few tips to help get your child interested in science.

Tip one:
Do not wait for school to start before trying to teach your child about science. Start teaching them stuff at a young age. The great thing about science is that you can gear it towards any age. For example when you are taking a walk in the spring you can talk with your child about why flowers are starting to grow this time of year.

Tip two:
Take advantage of your child’s natural curiosity. Kids love to ask questions, they always want to know how something works, why something does that, how something is made, and anything else that they can think to ask. Rather than telling them the answers simply ask questions of your own. Ask them what they think the answer is and how they came up with that answer.

Tip three:
Do hands-on projects with them to help them learn how to think critically and figure out how things work. For example you can bake cookies with children and teach them about how mixing the ingredients together turn the separate ingredients into something else entirely. You can also teach them about temperatures when the cookies are in the oven. No matter the age you can find some type of hands-on thing to do to relate to science. The key is to engage in conversation with your child and have them think things through.

Tip four:
Help your child get involved in more science related activities at school. Encourage them to participate in the Science Fair and help them with their project. Or if they are involved in Scouts take advantage of their Scouting projects and turn them into a fun science lesson. Your children do not realize just how much science actually affects our every day lives.

Tip five:
Encourage your child to investigate and experiment. The main part of science is investigating what you think and trying to see if it will work. For example if your child wants to play in the snow and build a snowman/snow chair let them try it out. Give them the tools they can use or ask them what they might need and provide it for them. If their idea does not work you can suggest the build the platform first and then put a snowman’s head on the back of the platform. But let them try their ideas without discouraging them.

Science does not have to be boring; by taking the time to answer your child’s question or by having them answer their own question you are teaching them about science. Buying them that butterfly habitat is also teaching them about science. And the best news is it is all fun and interesting for them.

By: Chuck Lunsford

Science Project – The Rush For the Perfect Project

admin — Mon, 17 May 2010 02:15:38 +0000

Right now you may feel hurried because of the beginning of the year and your child now came home with the science project assignment due in just a few short weeks.

Everyone wants to do a unique project that no one has ever done or seen before because they feel it will give them an edge on the competition and ultimately a perfect score or grade of an A.

Some important things to remember when dealing with this is simplicity, ease of tasks and believable end product.

The old adage, keep it simple, is really true in this scenario. You do not have to complete an elaborate or complex project for it to be successful. There does not have to be 20 different steps in the science demonstration. What it does need to do is be believable and understood by the student.

The student needs a science project in which they understand what they are trying to prove and when they get the answer they understand why this happened. Do not fall into the trap of making things so complicated. If your child does not understand the project they will have a hard time convincing the judges and the teacher the theories behind the experiment.

Important things to remember:
Pick a project that is simple and does not require something that you must do. The student should be the one completing the project. They can have a little of your help but ultimately they need to do the project Do not make it beyond their level. Make it a challenge for them but not too complex they do not even understand it. Do something they can easily demonstrate at the fair. Let them have the success. The whole point of doing a science project is for kids to learn and discover how things work and why. Support their efforts and do not stress. If you stress about the project it will not be any fun for your child.

Look for a science project that can be completed in a day or a couple of hours. You can even do one that is an overnight project. These keep the child interested and they can have more time to work on a colorful poster and display.

One big thing is do not wait until the last minute to try to prepare the science project. If the idea is a flop you will be scrambling to find a new idea in a rush.

By: Lesa Bolt

Easy Science Fair Projects For the Third Grade

admin — Thu, 06 May 2010 07:42:44 +0000

During the third grade, your child’s science class will become more serious than before. In order to prepare their students for the kind of science they will be facing in higher grade levels, teachers tend to be stricter with their students. It is also in the third grade that some schools require their students to join the science fair, and this can be really overwhelming for a third grader. Joining the science fair is a big step that can really pressure your child when it comes to finding a good idea for a project. Luckily, there are many easy science fair projects for the third grade right under their noses!

Like all elementary science classes, third grade science is divided into three major science branches. These branches are life science, earth science, and physical science. From these branches you will find many ideas for easy science fair projects. Go through your child’s textbook and see what it is they have been studying during the semester. You can also ask your child to tell you what they learned under each branch of science. This can help instill a sense of independence and ownership over their project because they will feel like they have something to teach you! Who knows? They just might!

Encourage your child to choose a science topic they enjoyed studying. Usually when a child enjoys a subject it also means that they understand it well. This is the first step to finding easy science fair projects because when your child understands the scientific concept well, they will be able to come up with good examples or project ideas for the topic. You can also help your child along by making sure they really understand their lessons and the topic they chose. Ask them questions, and give suggestions. You will definitely find one that they really enjoy, and that is easy enough to do.

Once your child has chosen their branch of science and then narrowed it down to a specific topic, you can now begin creating your easy science fair projects. Remember that science fair projects do not have to be overly complicated and come with all the bells and whistles. Sometimes a simple project is what catches the judges’ attention and appreciation.

Some easy science fair projects for the third grade that are simple, but still impressive include plant grafting or studying an insect for life science. Earth science can include making an earthquake diorama, or the ever classic volcano, while physical science usually has to do with energy or matter in different states. You will find that most of these projects can be done from your kitchen, and with minimal extra materials than those you will find in your own home!

By: Ethan Jeremy

5 Tips For Choosing The Right Science Project For Your Child

admin — Fri, 09 Apr 2010 11:11:03 +0000

There are many different ways you can choose a science project for your child. The question is how do you even know how to choose a science project? What are things that you need to know that will help your child get the right science project? Here are 5 tips for choosing the right science project for your child.

Tip 1 for choosing the right science project for your child is to ask questions. Ask you child what they want to learn more about. Ask your child what they are interested in. Ask you child what they have been learning in school that they don’t understand and would like to know more about. This will help you get an idea of what your child’s interests. Knowing what your child’s interests are will help you get an idea what they would want to do for a science project.

Tip 2 for choosing the right science project for your child is finding out what they don’t understand. Find something that your child is interested in but does not understand certain aspects of. This will help you be able to find something that will intrigue your child. If your child has been turning the wheels in there head about something but just can’t find a solution to it, doing a science project on it would be a great thing. It will help your child be excited because they are so excited to find out about what they have been so curious about.

Tip 3 for choosing the right science project for your child is finding something that you both can do together. You want to find a science project that you can help your child on. You don’t want something that is too complicate that you are not going to be able to help your child with it. You want something that you can research and get the help you need in order to help your child do their science project. You being able to help your child will also help your child enjoy their science project more. Your child will enjoy it because they won’t be frustrated trying out different solutions to get things to work by themselves. They will feel like they have help and support. This will make all of the difference.

Tip 4 for choosing the right science project for your child is having all of the information you need. Only having partial information will not make it easy to do a science project. You want to make sure the science project you choose has enough information that you can discover new things.

Tip 5 for choosing the right science project for your child is being able to perform the science project. You want to make sure that your child can perform a science project on the subject your child chooses and that your child can show how it works. It needs to be age appropriate. Also, make sure that your child has enough time to do a science project and the experiments that are involved. For example, if your child is going to do a science project on plants and the different environment they grown in. You need to make sure that your child has enough time to grow all of the plants, and make sure that you have all of the different equipment that you and your child will need to provide different environments for the plants.

These are all tips for choosing the right science project for your child. Make sure that you take all of these tips into consideration when you are planning a science project. You want to make sure to choose the best science project you can for your child with the most information. So go out there and choosing the right science project for your child.

By: Chuck Lunsford

Choosing The Right Science Project For Your Child

admin — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 05:40:41 +0000

Choosing the right science project for your child does not have to be a guessing game. There are a few simple ways to evaluate a project to see if the level of difficulty is something that your child can handle. No matter the project the processes of asking a question, collecting data, and coming to a conclusion are the same. The more that your child is able to practice solving problems through using this type of scientific process, the faster they will be able to develop their learning speed. A child who can learn how to thing critically can not only find ways to succeed in science but in all of the other subjects that he or she is studying and will study throughout life.

As you begin choosing the right science project for your child keep the following three components of a good project in mind:

• The question – What are you trying to find out?

• The experiment – How will you go about testing your theories of what the result may be?

• The result – Reporting on how you came to your conclusion.

As you discuss potential science project options with your child make sure that your child is able to answer how he or she will address the above components. If the project is so complex that the child has no idea how he might test his theories, then perhaps a more basic experiment is needed. If a child can come to conclusions on his own of how he can conduct the experiments and carry-out the project, you should have relatively few complications.

Have a timeline

It is important to teach your child to plan ahead and start working on a project early so that you are not rushing to finish anything the night before the project is due. You want to also give yourself enough time to repeat an experiment if something does not go according to plan.

Choose a project with personal application

Kids tend to get more excited about projects that they believe have a personal application rather than projects that have nothing to do with their interest. Explaining everyday occurrences like how the washing machine works or why a light comes on when you flip a switch keep a child thinking constantly as they will learn to see science happening all around them.

Performing the experiment

Generally there are two processes involved with performing an experiment. These processes are investigation and laboratory experimentation. In an investigation you gather data by observing natural occurrences. By observing something you are simply recording what you see happening. When you experiment on something in a ‘laboratory’ type of a setting, you are altering your object and noting the results. For example, you may want to study the effects that different type of water and additives have on fresh flowers. You may add food coloring to one vase, sugar to another, etc. and record the results of your changes.

Writing a report

Science projects requiring lengthy reports or explanations are best suited for older children or children who have had practice writing papers. Writing a report is often a child’s most difficult task when it comes to turning in a science project. Although as a parent you should be able to help your child with the report, if your child is unable to do most of the reporting by himself, perhaps a less complicated project is appropriate.

Get some help Online

Many times it is difficult to find a quality science project that fits the abilities and interest of your child and that will actually work every time it is tried. If you are looking for dependable science project ideas just search online. Many websites offer a wide variety of science project ideas for children of all ages and abilities. Their easy-to-follow instructions can guide your child through every part of the project including the end report and even the displaying of a finished product.

By: Chuck Lunsford

4 Great Reasons Science Projects Make Your Child Smarter

admin — Sun, 21 Feb 2010 19:09:47 +0000

There are many educational things you can do with your child to make them smarter. You can make them read books, or make them study more, or you can have them do a science project. You might be thinking that there is no way your child would do a science project. Doing science projects can be fun and educational all at the same time. Here are 4 great reasons science projects make your child smarter.

The first great reason science projects make your child smarter is it helps them to get hands on experience with what they have to learn about. Having hands on experience for a lot of children will help them grasp the concept and actually understand what they are learning about. Science projects make your child smarter because they will be able to retain the information they are learning from the science project easier.

The second great reason science projects make your child smarter is because it helps them understand how things work. For instance something like how a light bulb turns on. Not everyone knows what the process is to make a light bulb work. By doing a science project on it your child will be able to understand the concept behind it and what has to take place before a light bulb can turn on. This will make your child smarter because it will make them think more in depth about the simplest things they do when doing it.

The third great reason science projects make your child smarter is because your child won’t mind learning. When there is fun involved in learning it makes a child more willing to learn. Science projects can be fun filled you just need to make sure to go about it the right way. Interact with your child and ask questions and have discussions. All of these things will make your child smarter from doing science projects.

The fourth great reason sciences projects make your child smarter are because they make your child think on a different level. Instead of just having your child think inside the box it helps them to think outside the box. Instead of just helping your child to know the facts and expect them to remember it. Science projects will help your child to be smarter because it will help them want to figure out new ways of doing things instead of just one way. For instance you can create energy to make electrical things work with out using wire. You can use water. There are many things like this that have more than one way they can be run. Through science projects your child can figure these things out.

By: Chuck Lunsford

Getting Your Kids To Love Science

admin — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 22:16:19 +0000

It seems that kids love to do anything and everything, but schoolwork and science is just another extension of schoolwork, or is it? What kids might not realize is that science is all around us in our world. While kids may not realize it science includes outer space, growing flowers or vegetables, animals, and even dinosaurs. So pretty much any thing you do with your kids whether it is going to the park for the day, going to the zoo or going to the animal shelter you can turn it into a science lesson, most of the time without them even realizing what you are doing.

Because kids are naturally curious it is easy to get them to love science because science will give them the answers to the numerous questions they have. One of the keys to getting your children interested is to get them to enjoy reading, while a lot of science can be hands-on you still have to do research and you also have to be able to read the directions. Kids who do not like to read will not have much fun researching information or worse they might not read the directions for the science projects that they want to do.

One of the keys to getting your kids to love science is to start early. Do not wait for school to start before trying to teach your child about science. Start teaching them stuff at a young age. The great thing about science is that you can gear it towards any age. For example when you are taking a walk in the spring you can talk with your child about why flowers are starting to grow this time of year. Or in the winter when your preschooler asks why their snowman melted you can explain to them about what snow is and why it melts.

Another important thing is to take advantage of your child’s natural curiosity. Kids love to ask questions, they always want to know how something works, why something does that, how something is made, and anything else that they can think of to ask. Rather than telling them the answers you can ask them what they think the answer is. Getting the right answer is not as important as letting them think the process through. Giving them this opportunity will make them feel good about themselves, which can lead to a love of science.

Part of getting your kids to love science is to become actively involved in what they are doing. This lets you spend quality time with your kids something both of you love to do. Simply set aside a weekend and do hands-on projects with your kids. For example you can bake cookies with children and teach them about how mixing the ingredients together turn the separate ingredients into something else entirely. You can also teach them about temperatures when the cookies are in the oven. Another great science project for kids is planting a garden, include them in all the steps and let them help you tend it. During the different stages of tending the garden talk to your child about what you are doing and why you are doing it. Or if they are old enough ask them about the processes, this can even work with preschoolers.

Getting your child to love science can be fun for the both of you. And who knows you might find that in getting your child involved in projects you love science too. Just remember to keep the projects at an age appropriate level, but also make the projects challenging so your child does not grow bored.

By: Chuck Lunsford

Science Project Ideas

admin — Sun, 24 Jan 2010 20:41:08 +0000

Science Project Ideas are sometimes hard to come by. When your child comes home from school usually in January or February and says, hey Mom and Dad my teacher sent home this note that we have a science project due in three weeks. Here are the details of what we need to do and here is a project board.

You suddenly feel overwhelmed. You were just getting back on track from the Holidays and are dealing with beginning of the year issues like tax preparation and finalizing out end of year work issues. Now you have to help your child find a science project that is interesting enough, creative and unusual, but yet unique enough so that it will not be like the other students science projects at school.

Also children have a tendency to rely on their parents to help prepare much of the project. No matter how much we try we have to help in some capacity.

Here is a science project idea that is simple and easy and that you child can do himself or herself. Depending on the age of your child you will need to supervise them because it uses matches which will need to be lit and batteries.

This science project will also be a great demonstration at a science fair where students need to present their idea and information about why it works.

For this science project idea you will need only three things.

A glass

Matches

2 AA Batteries

You are going to tell everyone that water will burn.

Fill the glass with water.

Drop the batteries in the water and leave them in the water for 30-40 minutes.

Remove the batteries.

Now light a match and hold over the water. The water should ignite and burn inside the glass.

Why does the water light and burn? Did the batteries leak or what energy is been put into the water?

Make sure your child researches those questions above to find the answers. I know you probably want the answers but we provide science project ideas. The kids still need to research why something works the way it does. That is why we make them do a science project so they can research and learn.

By: Lesa Bolt