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Archive for the ‘K-12 Education’ Category
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Monday, May 25th, 2009How to Choose the Right Type of Science Fair Project
Sunday, May 24th, 2009Science fair projects can be the most memorable part of your science class, giving you an opportunity to show your abilities and creativity. Many students find that getting started is one of the hardest parts of the project. Before you can plan your project, and even before you pick a topic, you must first understand the different types of science fair projects. Take the time to choose the right type of science fair project, so that your time and effort are not wasted doing the wrong things.
There are three basic types of science fair projects: models, demonstrations, or investigations. When picking among them, there are two things to consider. First, it’s important to check with your teacher to find out what type of project is required. Second, if you get to choose which type of project to do, pick the kind you find most interesting.
The Model Building Method
The model building method is the kind of project which, as the name implies, enables you to construct a model, to scale whenever possible, to illustrate a specific scientific principle. This can often be a real working machine, such as a simple crystal radio set, or a straightforward model, such as one of the solar system. A common model is that of an erupting volcano, where vinegar and baking soda react to create ‘lava’ flowing down the sides of a ‘mountain’. Even though models can be fun, and even exciting, they are usually appropriate only for elementary school, because they do not involve any experimentation or scientific exploration. Some students do create unusual or dramatic models, which can be used demonstrate new ideas.
The Demonstration
The demonstration or descriptive method of research is again fairly self-explanatory. Here, you might display a collection of objects or interesting artifacts (for example, your rock collection) connected with a topic (geology) and describe them in detail on your display board, or in your report or speech. As an alternative, you could use a visual project display board to describe the research you performed. These kinds of projects are simply an illustration or explanation of known scientific principles.
The Scientific Experiment (Investigation)
It is with the third of the possible methods that you can provide what most science fairs for older students are looking for - proper scientific experiments using scientific methods to construct and test a hypothesis and draw conclusions from it. If you are interested in a science career, or would like to move on the regional or national science fair, then you should be looking into this area. And the choice of science fair project topics is limitless. Biology, chemistry and physics projects are common, but if your interest lies elsewhere, consider geology, environment, meteorology, or even sports science. Develop a hypothesis around your interest, and then find a method of testing it. There are many different books and web sites from which you can obtain ideas, but remember, the more individual and unique your project, the better your chances of winning.
Remember, it is important to keep your teacher informed about your progress, and confirm that you know the rules and requirements for your science fair. Then, no matter which type of project you choose to do, you can enjoy the experience, confident that you have chosen well!
Backyard Science Fun
Sunday, May 10th, 2009Your yard and neighborhood provide many wonderful opportunities for kids to both play and learn. In addition to swimming and other outdoor sports, your child can also use your backyard for science projects. If you are interested in helping them achieve this, you may want to familiarize yourself with some popular backyard activities, especially those that have a focus on nature and science.
Exploring the outdoors is not only a fun activity, but it can also provide many educational science experiments.Whether you live in a rural, suburban, or even urban area, there are a surprisingly large number of different plants and animals to be found in you yard.Kids naturally enjoy nature, and you can encourage them with your help. This is particularly true with toddlers and elementary school aged children. Your kids may need your help, so pick things you are also interested in.
One way for children to learn science is by examining the local plants. If you look closely, most backyards have many different kinds of plants and flowers. Although many animals and insects live in your lawn, don’t neglect the other, uncut areas of your yard.
There are many different animal habitats to be found in your yard and your neighborhood. Try to identify as many different kinds as you can. Be patient and quietly observe them for awhile. What do they eat? Can you find where they live? Bird watching is a popular hobby, and even amateur bird watchers often contribute to real science projects. Don’t be surprised if you child decides they would like a new pet bird.
Your backyard is also likely full of many different insects. Children may find observing bugs even more interesting than studying the plants and flowers. It is not only fun to see what kinds of bugs live in your backyard, but it is also exciting to learn about how they survive.
Encourage your child to study the impact of the weather on the environment for the plants and animals in your yard. Backyard conditions change as the weather changes. Study your backyard after a heavy rain, and have your child look for all the changes they can find. Your child can learn a lot by studying the effects of the weather on the animals and plants in your yard.
Providing your child with some basic scientific supplies can reinforce their learning experience. A possible list includes books and nature guides, a magnifying glass, various containers, a butterfly net, etc. If your child is planning on capturing a few insects, a small cage or breathable container may be just what they need. You can buy these supplies at many stores, such as toy stores, department stores, or sometimes even dollar stores. Or search online to find what you need.
Science and nature guide books may be useful for you and your child. Many books and guides have a specific focus on insects, birds, plants, or flowers.The pictures and information found in these resources can help you identify the animals and plants living in your yard. You can find a large choice of science and nature books at local book stores, or at online retailers.
When examining the plants, bugs, and flowers in your backyard, you and your child may want to document what you see. This can easily be done with a notebook or a camera. Have your child record their exploration and findings by taking pictures.Save the pictures - they could be useful for other projects. You can turn the photos into memories by using them in a scrapbook or collage project.
It doesn’t matter whether the backyard exploration in planned or spontaneous, your child is sure to find something interesting. Teaching kids science in your own backyard is just one of the many adventures that you and your child can share outdoors. And it just may be the start of a life-long interest in science.
What is the Chinese Calendar?
Thursday, May 7th, 2009Many people do not understand exactly what Chinese calendars really are, but to be honest, it is very close to the Western calendar, it has just been in place for longer. 2600 B.C is when the first Chinese calendar was introduced and it is the biggest chronological calendar on the books to date. Emperor Huang Ti was the person that discovered the cycle of the zodiac which the Chinese Lunar calendar centers itself around, basically, the moon cycle is what this particular calendar goes by.
There are a surprising number of similarities between the Chinese and Western, Gregorian calendars. However the differences are more important. The Western calendar focuses on months more than years. However, with the Lunar calendar, one year in every twelve has the name of a particular animal. This is due to a legend wherein Buddha summoned all the animals of the world to bid him farewell before he left earth. Only twelve showed up. As a reward for their kindness, Buddha named a year after each animal, in order of appearance.
As you can clearly see, there is a strong link between the Animal zodiac and the calendar. Not only do the animals factor into the naming of the years, but they are also important to the people who were born in one of their years. The Chinese believe that the animal under which you were born is very important. Each animal lends certain personality traits and influences.
A huge portion of the overall population of the world are Chinese. That leaves many people following the Chinese calendar and celebrating the Chinese New Year. However, Chinese people do not follow the calendar entirely. They use the Gregorian calendar as well. The Lunar calendar is used only for planning the festivals celebrated by the Chinese, such as the new year.
Because the Chinese calendar also operates around the phases of the moon and the longitude of the sun, modern science has had an effect on it. It does so every year in fact. It is ever changing, which is extremely intriguing in and of itself.
Let us consider the phases of the moon first. They are extremely important. Under the Chinese calendar, the coming of the new moon means that a new month is starting. Conversely, the sun’s longitude helps to determine important periods of time - the Principal Terms.
In closing, as mentioned, each year corresponds to an animal. 2009 is the year of the Ox. The year of the Ox occurs every twelve years. The same can be said for the Dog, Rat, Snake, et cetera.
Help Kids Explore the Kingdoms of Life
Saturday, April 25th, 2009Information is accumulating at an astounding rate. Children who are in school now must not only learn facts, but they must learn how to learn. Above all, they should be taught in a way that inspires them to want to continue learning for the rest of their lives.
Knowledge of biology and the complexities of life is expanding as fast as any other field of human inquiry. What today’s adults learned about biology is already out of date and even quaint in comparison to what our children should learn and understand.
Today’s teachers can face the challenge of teaching biology for elementary and middle school kids in the 21st century with new tools and guidance from experts who know the details of biology and also the techniques that make teaching effective. An important new book from Priscilla Spears, Kingdoms of Life Connected, lives up fully to its subtitle, A Teacher’s Guide to the Tree of Life.
Kingdoms of Life Connected helps teachers to help their students. The book was written with a Montessori approach to learning in mind, so this is an excellent hands-on resource both for Montessori teachers and classrooms and for homeschool science materials. This refreshing and detailed new book introduces students to the diversity and connections of life, and provides inspiration for further study and exploration. This book gives teachers valuable background information to use as they lead their students in productive exploration of the newest thoughts in biology.
Biological classification has undergone many changes in the recent past, and more changes are coming rapidly. This book anticipates changes yet to come by giving students a new view of the biological kingdoms using a phylogenetic or family tree approach.
In addition to its information rich text and easy-to-read style, this book also provides extensive listings of additional books and internet resources in each chapter to help both teachers and students with further exploration of the important biological world. Whether you are an experienced biology teacher or someone new to this exciting topic, you will find Kingdoms of Life Connected to be a valuable resource and an inspiration.