Get Your Children Hooked On Science
Children are naturally inquisitive and will readily explore the world around them if given the opportunity. Whether playing with magnets or watching vinegar react with baking soda to blow up a balloon, kids love the idea of science.
An engineer at Hewlett-Packard Co., in Liberty Lake, has written a booklet she hopes will encourage a child’s interest in science.
“Science Is Fun,” by Margie Luce, offers more than 20 science projects for kids. They are simple, inexpensive and perfect for the waning days of summer.
The booklet is free through funding by Hewlett-Packard, Success By 6, United Way of Spokane County, United Lithographers and KHQ-TV.
Using common kitchen gadgets and ingredients, the experiments demonstrate concepts such as gravity, centrifugal force, buoyancy, inertia. They call for spoons, balloons, combs, jugs, straws, eggs, food coloring and other readily available household items. Each project lists the scientific principles involved for further exploration.
The Stress Balls (Page 17) are my children’s favorite. Fill a balloon with baking soda and add water a little bit at a time. The project demonstrates compressibility and, more importantly, creates something “squishy and cool,” according to my 5-year-old.
For a copy of “Science Is Fun,” write to: Science Department, c/o Hewlett-Packard, 24001 E. Mission, Liberty Lake, WA 99019-9599.
Science on the Internet
Whether they’re curious about sound waves or static electricity, kids can find answers to their questions on the Internet.
Those without home computers can access the Internet at the Spokane Public Library. The downtown library offers free-use computers to residents of Spokane or Spokane County. Reservations are suggested. For more information, call 626-5336.
Another option is to check with your child’s school this fall for access to Internet computers.
Three of my favorite Web sites combine impressive graphics with kid-friendly science information, making the study of science interactive and enjoyable.
Mad Scientist Network
(http://medinfo.wustl.edu/~ysp/MSN/)
Created by Washington University Medical School, this award-winning Web site dubs itself “a collective crania of scientists answering questions on all areas of science.”
Two menu choices are particularly engaging. “Ask a Scientist” is an archive of thousands of questions kids have asked via e-mail, along with answers written by scientists.
“The Edible/Inedible Experiments” is a collection of science projects using household supplies. Kids can learn about magnetic fields by making a compass, static charge with a bowl of Rice Krispies, or surface tension by powering an aluminum foil boat across a pan of water. Each project concludes with an explanation of how and why it works.
The Web site also provides links to useful references in areas such as astronomy, earth sciences, chemistry, physics and mathematics.
Dr. Bob’s Interesting Science Stuff
(http://www.ny.frontiercomm.net/~bjenkin/science.htm)
Don’t let the name fool you. Sophisticated graphics and animation make this impressive Web site worth a visit.
The site is “devoted to the wonders of science and technology, where you can learn and ask questions.” Families will enjoy pictures, diagrams and projects explaining sound waves, properties of light, optical illusions and more.
Simply Science for Kids
(www.waterw.com/~science/kids.html)
This Web site gives the best answer I’ve found to the perennial preschool question, “Why is the sky blue?” The site offers loads of answers to kids’ common questions about science and provides experiments accompanied by clear scientific explanations.
, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: Drawing of a magnet
MEMO: The Family Track is a weekly column of notes and information for families. Send items to Lynn Gibson, Features Department, P.O. Box 2160, Spokane, WA 99210-1615, or fax (509) 459-5098.