Living Without School: Teaching the Fun of Science.

Saturday, April 29, 2006

Teaching the Fun of Science.

This is the title of a book by Janice VanCleave. It is a great book and one a few of us are enjoying right now.

The book is described as being for grades 4-8, but I think the activities are fun for younger children and can also be extended into research for older ones.

To my shame, I purchased the book four ( yes, four) years ago - from Border's in Adelaide - but only picked it up this month for our Science foucs. I should have picked it up sooner!

I need to use more of the resources we own - you know, the ones that sit on the shelf, pining to be used but that are often ignored.

Teaching the Fun of Science has dozens of activity pages, with ready-to-use reproducible activities and projects. None of these require elaborate pre-preparation or purchasing of many materials.

There are teaching tips, vocabulary, standards for different grades, extension activities for each mini topic.

The mini topics are grouped in sections - PHYSICAL SCIENCE, LIFE SCIENCE, EARTH AND SPACE SCIENCES.

A few of us are picking and choosing our way through the Life Science section.

Last week, we designed our own classification system. This week, we made models of cells, using zip lock bags ( cell membranes), lemon jelly ( Jello - cytoplasm) and peanut M and Ms (for the nuclei).

Yummy and fun - oh and learning too! Two of the kids wrote definitons and drew diagrams in their notebooks.

3 comments:

Theresa said...: Sounds like a big hit! We have the same problem with tons of resources sitting on shelves. Maybe some day we will get around to using them!; 11:07 pm
Rebecca said...: Thanks for the book recommendation Leonie. Sounds like just the right read for my two boys (6 and 9). We planned to do some science this summer when things aren't as hectic around here.; 11:29 pm
Leonie said...: Theresa, I sold a lot of my resources last year - yet there are still keepers that we haven't used!

Becky, this book is definitely a fun one and very easy to use. This week we are going to try to isolate some chlorophyll. :-); 9:53 am

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Prayer of Consecration of St. Maximilian Kolbe

O Immaculata, Queen of Heaven and earth, refuge of sinners and our most loving Mother, God has willed to entrust the entire order of mercy to thee. I, N___, a repentant sinner, cast myself at thy feet humbly imploring thee to take me with all that I am and have, wholly to thyself as thy possession and property. Please make of me, of all my powers of soul and body, of my whole life, death and eternity, whatever most pleases thee. If it pleases thee, use all that I am and have without reserve, wholly to accomplish what was said of thee: "She will crush your head," and, "Thou alone have destroyed all heresies in the whole world."

Let me be a fit instrument in thine Immaculate and merciful hands for introducing and increasing the maximum in all the many strayed and indifferent souls, and thus help extend as far as possible the blessed Kingdom of the most Sacred Heart of Jesus. For wherever thou enters, one obtains the grace of conversion and growth in holiness, since it is through thy hands that all graces come to us from the most Sacred Heart of Jesus.

V. Allow me to praise thee O Sacred Virgin.
R. Give me strength against thy enemies.

Prayer of St Bonaventure

Pierce, O most Sweet Lord Jesus, my inmost soul with the most joyous and healthful wound of Thy love, with true, serene, and most holy apostolic charity, that my soul may ever languish and melt with love and longing for Thee, that it may yearn for Thee and faint for Thy courts, and long to be dissolved and to be with Thee.Grant that my soul may hunger after Thee, the bread of angels, the refreshment of holy souls, our daily and supersubstantial bread, having all sweetness and savor and every delight of taste; let my heart ever hunger after and feed upon Thee, upon whom the angels desire to look, and may my inmost soul be filled with the sweetness of Thy savor; may it ever thirst after Thee, the fountain of life, the fountain of wisdom and knowledge, the fountain of eternal light, the torrent of pleasure, the richness of the house of God.May it ever compass Thee, seek Thee, find Thee, run to Thee, attain Thee, meditate upon Thee, speak of Thee, and do all things to the praise and glory of Thy name, with humility and discretion, with love and delight, with ease and affection, and with perseverance unto the end.May Thou alone be ever my hope, my entire assurance, my riches, my delight, my pleasure, my joy, my rest and tranquility, my peace, my sweetness, my fragrance, my sweet savor, my food, my refreshment, my refuge, my help, my wisdom, my portion, my possession and my treasure, in whom may my mind and my heart be fixed and firmly rooted immovably henceforth and for ever. Amen.