Fun Ways to Teach Your Kids about Science

Depending on your experience, you may dread the subject of science or look at it as a boring necessity. But science encompasses so much that it need never be boring! If you want to foster a love for science in your children and discover its joys yourself, try teaching your kids science in fun ways. Here are some ideas.

Seize the moment

As mentioned above, science encompasses much. Take moments throughout the day – cooking, gardening, etc. – to point out scientific realities, which will awaken your child’s sense of the science around him. Also, by pointing out science as it happens, you will be teaching your child to develop keen observation for her environment, which is an important aspect of science.

Nature hikes

This is an excellent exercise any time of year, but is especially interesting when the seasons are turning. If possible, hike the same general area over the course of the year, noting changes in the landscape. Take along field guides for identification of local flora, fauna, rocks and minerals. Also take binoculars and a magnifying glass to get a closer look at birds, bugs, and plants. You might like to take along a camera, too, to enhance your studies.

Research

If you took pictures on your nature hike and want to know more about the images you captured, or if your child just has questions, explore the answers together. Use the internet, books, or media to find out more about subjects that interest your child. Plant a garden or even a single potted plant and encourage your child to keep notes about the plant’s growth habits, etc. Keep your findings in a special notebook that can be a source of pride for your child.

Science toys and kits

There are so many interesting kits and toys available these days with a science theme. There are baking soda and vinegar rockets, crystal growing kits, junior chemistry sets, and others. A simple set of magnets can teach children a lot about the science of magnetic poles and the earth’s magnetic forces.

Fun experiments

There are so many science experiments you can do at home with your child. Study weather by making a rain gauge or simulating cloud formation in a glass. Melt an ice cube and boil the water to show the three properties of matter (solid, liquid, gas). Mix baking soda and vinegar to study the reaction between an acid and a base. Check the children’s area of your library for books on science experiments you can do at home, or look online.

Stargazing

Surely our great astronauts spent hours looking up at the stars and moon. Learning constellations and the names of stars and planets will pique your child’s curiosity in the science of the sky and space. You can invest in a small telescope or even binoculars to study the surface and terrain of the moon.

Another benefit of all these activities is that they encourage parental involvement and participation. As you exhibit a love of learning, your children will follow suit.

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