An elementary school science teacher has decided to do away with textbooks and teach hands on science with experiments to her fourth and fifth grade students. Leigh Ann Anderson at Barnhart Elementary School in St. Charles, MD believes that in order to learn science, you have to do it. So she has decided to put, “the lab before the blab.” This is something that many homeschool science teachers already do. Here are some ways to put this theory in action.
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Do an experiment and follow it up with a video
Suppose you are teaching children about basic electronic conductivity. Give them batteries, some foil and a small light bulb. Now have them design their own circuit where they use the bits of foil to make wires, attach them to the battery and then try and light up the bulb. If they fail the first time, tell them what they are doing wrong and ask them to try again. Once they get the hang of how to complete the circuit using the metal foil, ask them to substitute the foil with other metal items around the classroom. Once they understand how the circuit can be changed using different materials you can show them a video to explain what scientific principle they have been applying.
Give a problem and let them come up with the solution
Want to teach the children about force and motion? Here is a simple problem to give them. Put a small rubber duck on the floor and say it needs to be moved using a plastic catapult. Now they have to figure out how to work the catapult to move the toy. They will find out how much force is needed to move the toy to a predetermined distance. Start with half a meter and let them build up the motion to over a meter. This will teach them how to vary the force applied on the catapult. The children will learn a lot without even realizing the principles they have picked up. Now you can tell them about the theory behind their work.
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