Summer Science
Family June 16th, 2008They aren’t teaching much Science in the elementary schools around here, despite the fact that these are some of the best in the state.
They do have the occasional Science demonstration in order to teach kids that science is “fun.” I’m afraid that what they are really teaching the kids is that Science is Magic.
Science is not Magic.
Science is a process, and without it our children won’t know anything about the world around them.
So, this summer I’m going to try and fit in some Science lessons–ten weeks worth, actually.
They will be aimed at my 6-year-old, but hopefully the 3-year-old will benefit from some of it.
I intend to do this every summer, and figure out a way to reinforce it during the school year.
But that’s getting ahead of myself!
For now here’s the basic 10-Week Science Curriculum outline:
1 - Into to Science Concepts: scientific method, magnification, variables, change
2 - Meteorology: weather patterns, clouds, water cycle
3 - Physics A: electro-magnetic, light, sound
4 - Astronomy A: stars
5 - Physics B: mechanical, forces, gravity, robotics
6 - Astronomy B: Earth and Solar system
7- Geology: plate tectonics & volcanoes, rock types, how fossils are made
8 - Botany: life cycle, types, parts
9 - Zoology 1: Invertebrates: worms, bugs, butterflies, octopuses
10 - Zoology 2: Vertebrates: baby animals, development & growth, phyla, primates
It hasn’t been all flushed out yet, and the order may seem a bit weird but that’s because of outside scheduling concerns (physics is my weak point, so I have to make sure that the family member who can explain it all is in town those two weeks, and it’s interrupted by our own vacations, summer activities, etc.) And of course I’m spending a bit more time on astronomy and zoology because my kids like them. **see note below!
I will be using all the concepts we learn in the first week and have them apply it to the topics in the remaining nine weeks.
And I will try to update everybody with how it went, what materials I used, and what experiments we did! **see note below!
August 8th, 2008 at 8:47 am
Ahhh…the best laid plans…
So, my family had emergencies and illnesses this summer, so only the first unit got done.
I will post the lesson plans/materials & book lists for each lesson, but no comments on how it worked because, I don’t know yet.
I also edited the post to reorder the lessons, since I won’t be working around schedules.
FYI, the original order looked like this: (but the new order flows better)
1 - Into to Science Concepts: scientific method, magnification, variables, change
2 - Meteorology: weather patterns, clouds, water cycle
3 - Geology: plate tectonics & volcanoes, rock types, how fossils are made
4 - Astronomy 1: Earth and Solar system
5 - Physics 1: mechanical, forces, gravity, robotics
6 - Physics 2: electro-magnetic, light, sound
7 - Botany: life cycle, types, parts
8 - Astronomy 2: stars
9 - Zoology 1: Invertebrates: worms, bugs, butterflies, octopuses
10 - Zoology 2: Vertebrates: baby animals, development & growth, phyla, primates