Help Children Observe Like Scientists

 Did you know that 35% of grandparents provide childcare three or more times a week or are raising their grandchildren? To help parents and young children get some vitamin D and exercise, experts are suggesting science walks. Children also expand their observation skills, vocabulary and walks relieve stress. It’s a great time to teach observation through the concepts of “living” and “non-living.”

Materials:

  A small drawing and writing notebook, paper, crayons, magazines, scissors and glue

What to do:

  After walking for a while, find a spot where you’ll see both plants and animals. Explain that living things move, grow, and reproduce themselves.  Together list and draw things children see that they think are alive.  Explain that plants and animals are both alive, but they move and grow and reproduce in different ways. .

  Pick up a rock and ask your children if it is living or not living.  Make sure they understand that a rock cannot be alive because it cannot move, grow by itself, or reproduce itself. Ask them to tell you something else that is not living like a swing set.

What else can you do?

  When you return home staple together several pieces of paper to make a book.   Find five or six pictures of living or non-living things in magazines and cut them out in large circle shapes.   Write a simple sentence on each page. “A robin is living. A rock is not living.”

After gluing each picture on the appropriate page, read the book together.  Young children love “reading” along, knowing what each page says because of the picture.

How will this help my child?

  Your children will begin to think like scientists as they question, observe, collect, and discuss with adults. Science discussion expands their vocabulary and helps them with reading. Cutting and gluing are good small motor activities to strengthen fingers. The best thing of all is the book you both have created.  Your little ones will be able to read it and explain concepts they have learned.
photo: http://www.pics4learning.com/details.php?img=toad03.jpg  

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For more fall activities to help your children succeed in school and have a life time of learning see the authors’ book Learning Through the Seasons in museums, bookstores, and in E-book form atSmashwords.com.
Listen to this activity online at the WNMU Podcasts