Making Science Rock

Our curriculum coordinator (and licensed science teacher) Holly, has compiled this list of helpful notes for doing science at home with your kids. All have been extensively tested with her own children (ages 2 & 11).

1. Almost anything can be vacuumed up (shop vacs without the filters work well for small objects) (I think I’m killing the battery on my vacuum. I have even sucked stuff up that I know will get stuck so I can bang the tube on the garbage can.)

2. Scientist have to keep their work area clean (Use this to inspire them to clean up after themselves)

3. Turn a shirt into a lab coat. Dress up is fun for all ages. They can put their name on it and even decorate it!

4. Take pictures and videos, SHARE the SCIENCE!!!!! Being able to communicate what you’ve done is critically important as a scientist. Help your scientist share it out. Use a box to make a poster! Draw pictures! Have the kiddos explain to friends and family what they did and how they did it. Older scientist can share out on social media. (Concerned about the science standards, communicating about science is a major part of the Next Generation Science Standards in schools.)

5. Breath! Your scientist is learning just by doing the activities and having fun. (SPICE has the research to back this up.)

6. Don’t give the solution: sit back and ask questions. “What do you think? How would you like to do it differently? I have no idea, where should we look for more information? What’s your guess? You think adding ______ would be better? Let’s try that. Tell me what you want me to do.

7. Have fun! These activities are supposed to be fun.

8. Remember SCIENCE ROCKS!