Science for Kids

Science studies in grade school should cover items that students encounter at home.  Many of these lessons can be homeschooled when children are ages 1 to 5.  Children are initially interested in bugs, ants, ladybugs, lightning bugs, etc.  They also need to know that bees, wasps and yellow jackets sting, ants, flies and mosquitos can bite.  They need to know that they should not eat grass, weeds, flowers or berries.  But if you have a garden, they should know what is grown and have a chance to eat carrots, tomatoes and whatever else you grow.

Children are curious about tools we use at home like sweepers, dishwashers, clothes washers, clothes dryers, microwaves, ovens, cook tops and lighting.  They need to know what is dangerous like saws, drills, lawnmowers and chemicals like Clorox, cleaners, weed killer and fertilizer.

A neat display of how electricity works by turning a crank can be a home-made generator with a crank on one end and a light bulb on the other.  The generator in the middle is magnets wrapped in copper wire, so an unplugged electric motor will serve as a generator. Turn the shaft and the light goes on.  The easy way is to show them this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1QTy_wYv9-I

Children may want to know how the furnace and air conditioner work.  It’s a fan blowing over a heat source or a cooling coil that goes into a duct and blows hot or cold air into a room.  Put a bowl of ice next to a fan.

Norb Leahy, Dunwoody GA Tea Party Leader