Science Smart
Science Smart: Inquisitive Campers
June 13, 2011 in 5-8 Beginning Readers, 9-12 Tween, Literacy Tips, Science Smart, Tip of the Week
Tis the season for airing out the tent and sleeping bags and planning long nights under starry skies. Perhaps there is a debate with the children as the bags are packed about whether or not to leave the phone with internet capabilities anywhere on earth at home or to bring it along. If the decision is made to bring it along consider the following app called LeafSnap which allows you to take a picture of a leaf which it will then identify using technology akin to facial recognition.
Deciding to leave the phone home? Try teaching kids leaf identification the old fashioned way and check-out a book on it from the local library. Though identification may seem like a simple thing it opens the doors to all kinds of questions; “What do leaves do? Why are they green? Why are they shaped like that?” All of which cultivate a child’s inquisitive mind and foster a sense of scientific questioning that will carry over into their school work and for-fun explorations.
-Lauren McMullan, BYU Student, School of Education
Older posts
Science Smart: Spring Science
March 21, 2011 in 5-8 Beginning Readers, 9-12 Tween, Literacy Tips, Science Smart, Tip of the Week
Spring has officially arrived, so why not use the new season as an opportunity to teach your children? Plant seed starters to grow indoors until it is warm enough to transplant them outside. Explain how a seed grows into a plant and how it …
Science Smart: Go on an Indoor Safari
February 28, 2011 in 5-8 Beginning Readers, 9-12 Tween, Literacy Tips, Science Smart, Tip of the Week, World Smart
Whether you’re stuck inside on a cold winter day or the sun is out and shining, you can take your child on an adventurous safari. Before the safari visit the Animals section of National Geographic for Kids. Print out pictures of five or six animals from around the world …
Science Smart: Scientists in the Field
January 19, 2011 in Beginning Readers 5-8, Book Lists, Science Smart, Tween 9-12
These books are from the ‘Scientists in the Field’ collection, which produces nonfiction books about what real scientists do.
Project Seahorse by Pamela S. Turner, Houghton Mifflin Co., 2010, Ages 6-12
Learn about an organization working to help educate and preserve the seahorse, …
Science Smart: Easy Astronomy
December 6, 2010 in 5-8 Beginning Readers, 9-12 Tween, Literacy Tips, Science Smart, Tip of the Week
You don’t need a telescope to teach a child about the night sky. There are many ways to explore the stars with the naked eye. On a clear night visit the backyard and show your child the constellations. Explain how the …
Science Smart = Nature Smart
August 2, 2010 in 0-4 Baby/Toddler, 5-8 Beginning Readers, 9-12 Tween, Literacy Tips, Science Smart, Tip of the Week, World Smart
What child doesn’t love watching a butterfly flit through the air? Or nourishing a little seed into a flower? Children have an innate curiosity about the world around them, and there are many ways to foster their colorful imaginations through interactions with nature. Give your child a small shovel and …
Parents’ Choice
September 29, 2009 in 0-4 Baby/Toddler, 5-8 Beginning Readers, 9-12 Tween, Art Smart, Create Smart, Drama Smart, Featured Websites, For Adults, Literacy, Literacy Tips, Music Smart, Play Smart, Read Smart, Science Smart, Study Smart, Tech Smart, World Smart, Write Smart
Parents’ Choice offers caregivers “reliable unbiased information about tools to help their children learn, to explore new challenges, to discuss ideas and to pursue dreams.”
This first-rate website lists and reviews the Parents’ Choice Award-winning children’s books, audios, DVDs, television programs, …
“Books to Go” Booklist
March 18, 2009 in 13+ Teen, 5-8 Beginning Readers, 9-12 Tween, Book Lists, Literacy, Literacy Tips, Science Smart, Study Smart, Tip of the Week, Tips of the Week, World Smart
These books are organized so that the content can be read in segments of a few seconds to a few minutes. Great reading for travel time!
Every Minute on Earth by Steve and Matthew Murrie. Scholastic Reference, 2007. …
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