Sandbox Scientist
I wrote
Sandbox Scientists to celebrate the playful explorations
of young kids and to turn adults on to the amazing scientific
skills of the children in their lives. I had been teaching
science to kids of all ages for many years, but I realized
that the younger the child, the less they were interested
in direct teaching and the more they were bent on simply
messing about.
Was
there science in their play? Through my eyes as an adult
scientist I examined their play. I presented them with kits
of materials, such as a rock exploration kit or a water
drop kit.
Almost immediately when they were presented a kit, the kids
would start to play. I took notes and made more kits. I
watched my son and his friends at home, I watched kids at
the child development center, and I watched them in a kindergarten/first/second
multi-grade classroom.
The more I watched the more amazed I was. The science explorations
of little kids put adults to shame. They are open, spontaneous,
and fun. They are real science.
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Sandbox Scientist
Real Science Activities for Little Kids
is
a guide to setting up and watching a developmentally appropriate
science program in your home, day care center, or school.
Try some of these kits and see what happens.
Make
some Gloop!
Disassembly
Line
Earthworms
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