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10 Ways to Jazz Up Your Science #4

10/11/2009 10:47 pm

If you are teaching by reading science textbooks or having your child read the information in a workbook and skipping the experiments then your child may find science very boring.

This year my son requested a textbook for his 9th grade Biology class. This is a child who is a hands-on, roll up your sleeves and let’s gets into it kind of person. We have always used a hands-on method for science, keeping a lab notebook that was illustrated and scientific method sheets rounded off our curriculum. Use your imagination and you will understand what I’m up against this year.

The reason I didn’t like science as a child was the lack of activity in our science classes. I don’t recall doing any experiments until I reached high school. I felt a lot like my son, vocabulary that was extensive and concepts over my head. The amazing thing? When I read his text book I understand the lessons, the illustrations are beautiful and well explained and the questions are not extremely difficult. But, to him it is torture. We are a part of a co-op and so, the activities and the hands-on activities are demonstrated there. Yet, looking in a microscope is definitely not his idea of interesting.

I am supplementing his curriculum with television documentaries, old videos left over from my older children’s homeschool days, and online websites. Still, I don’t think Biology class will be listed among his favorites.

With hands on experiment or activity come a better understanding and a greater chance for the retention of knowledge. Just observing has its limitations, just experimentation has its limits and the scientific method in and of itself has its limits.  Yet, I usually use a scientific method sheet when conducting experiments. These are easy to use and the child at least has an idea of the concept learned. (Click on the homeschool link on this website and find the downloadable scientific method sheets.)

Not everything is observable but with a mixture of reading about the topic and doing an activity or experiment, you will have a wonderful combination. There are too many great experiment books to mention. I have many reviews in my book, Teaching Science and Having Fun!

Have you had a year when nothing seems to go right? Or a method that does not work for you? Please share your comments with me!
Posted By Felice at 6 Comments
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Re: 10 Ways to Jazz Up Your Science #4
User: Cariann McCready
Date: 10/12/2009 12:21 am
Views: 10
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We don't do a ton of "science" yet as the boys are young... We have however done a few unit studies that are science based and done as many hands on activities as we can for those units... Our volcanoes unit included several experimental volcanoes.. Currently we are playing with bottle rockets in the backyard and seeing if more air pressure versus amount of water changes the distance traveled.. The boys are loving the hands on science activities...

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Re: 10 Ways to Jazz Up Your Science #4
User: Felice
Date: 10/12/2009 10:08 am
Views: 11
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Cariann,

You are very wise to keep it to investigative activities at this point. My son loves that type of learning and now I need to figure out a way to make Biology more investigative. We have taken pond samples and used those specimens for under the microscope work, but it is tedious.

He enjoys physics, chemistry and archaeology for all of the Indian Jones types of reasons! As I explained to him, not all learning can be "explosive fun"... For the most part he has yet to find a topic he is just not interested in...until, now. :-)

 

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Re: 10 Ways to Jazz Up Your Science #4
User: Penney Douglas
Date: 10/21/2009 1:48 am
Views: 6
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My oldest son is finishing up Apologia Biology.  It's not his favorite branch of Science.  He's excited to start on Chemistry and then study Physics.  He is older, 18, but I am letting him lead.  He has studied these subjects in the past, but he wants to go into more depth now.  So I guess it will be more of a college curriculum for him.  We just ordered Apologia Chemistry, and it gave him the incentive to finish the Biology.  He doesn't want to do experiments.  He prefers to read about them.  I did get the Chemistry CD-rom though, so hopefully he will see experiments performed on that.

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Re: 10 Ways to Jazz Up Your Science #4
User: Felice
Date: 11/7/2009 12:14 pm
Views: 3
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Hi Penny,

My son feels your son's pain about Biology. The beginning...microscope work does not interest many. My little ones love it, but my highschooler who needs the credit does not! You are wise to let him lead, in that way he will be sure to retain much more. Force-feeding allows for recall for an exam and immediate purging after!

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Re: 10 Ways to Jazz Up Your Science #4
User: Sheryl Trammell
Date: 10/21/2009 10:33 am
Views: 6
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Thanks for your tips on Jazzing up Science. I sure need it! Science has always been one of the back burner subjects for me. I focus on Math and Language and even get some good living history books in but just don't seem to make time for Science. My 9 year old daughter, however, loves to do science experiments. I'm going to give her a "Science Notebook" and print out the scientific method sheet you mentioned and have her start documenting. This is not as much as I would like to do but it is more than I have been requiring. Thanks for the advice!

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Re: 10 Ways to Jazz Up Your Science #4
User: Felice
Date: 11/7/2009 12:16 pm
Views: 3
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You are so welcome, Sheryl! My kids have science notebooks (converted art books) from years past and enjoy looking through them from time to time. It makes a great keep sake long after the topic is completed.

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