http://www.stevespangler.com Making Science Education Fun Wed, 27 Aug 2008 17:00:38 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 en © alyssa@stevespangler.com () alyssa@stevespangler.com() 1440 Making Science Education Fun alyssa@stevespangler.com No no http://www.stevespangler.com/stevespangler/plugins/podpress/images/powered_by_podpress.jpg http://www.stevespangler.com 144 144 http://www.stevespangler.com/archives/2005/10/26/scavenger-hunt-with-an-egg-carton-genius/ http://www.stevespangler.com/archives/2005/10/26/scavenger-hunt-with-an-egg-carton-genius/#comments Thu, 27 Oct 2005 04:58:00 +0000 Steve http://www.stevespangler.com/?p=161 http://www.stevespangler.com/archives/2005/10/26/scavenger-hunt-with-an-egg-carton-genius/feed/ http://www.stevespangler.com/archives/2005/09/12/the-%e2%80%9chow-to%e2%80%9d-on-science-centers/ http://www.stevespangler.com/archives/2005/09/12/the-%e2%80%9chow-to%e2%80%9d-on-science-centers/#comments Tue, 13 Sep 2005 05:56:02 +0000 Steve http://www.stevespangler.com/?p=142 http://www.stevespangler.com/archives/2005/09/12/the-%e2%80%9chow-to%e2%80%9d-on-science-centers/feed/ 00:01:01 A hot topic with new teachers, especially primary teachers right now is how to set up a Science Center. Kindergarten teacher extraordinaire Julie Gintzler from Maywood ... A hot topic with new teachers, especially primary teachers right now is how to set up a Science Center. Kindergarten teacher extraordinaire Julie Gintzler from Maywood Elementary in Indiana has 18 years in teaching. 18 years ago they didn't have centers, just a bucket of toys and a nap. Julie does Science Centers in two different ways. First, there are Subject Centers which focus on projects we have done already, the things the kids would like to revisit, and the living creatures we would like to experiment on. Julie also does Theme Centers, like a Snow Center that has instant snow in a tub, a center for books about snow, and a center where kids are making polar bear paws. Centers are a great way to expose children to various forms of thought to see these items in different settings. There is a difference between guided inquiry and self-directed inquiry. When we teach, kids we give them guided inquiry "rdquo; the steps to achieve a particular goal. Self-guiding is when a child can play and learn by making and doing. There are always times that guided instruction is necessary, but there is some wonderful learning that can take place when the teacher steps outside of that role and just becomes a facilitator providing the materials, answering the questions and posing other questions to the child to discover something outside of what they were thinking. Center time is a perfect time for them to be able to explore that. Start putting some of the materials out ahead of time to tempt children with a taste of what is to come. Give them time to freely explore the materials and get the play out of their system so that they can focus on the learning ahead. We call it "Play with a Purpose". And "Play with a Purpose" holds true at any age. Listen to my podcast on Science Centers (File size is 1.5 MB) (Show length 6 minutes 15 seconds) Educating,,Podcasts alyssa@stevespangler.com no No http://www.stevespangler.com/archives/2005/09/07/don-herbert-%e2%80%93-my-hero/ http://www.stevespangler.com/archives/2005/09/07/don-herbert-%e2%80%93-my-hero/#comments Thu, 08 Sep 2005 05:23:24 +0000 Steve http://www.stevespangler.com/?p=113 http://www.stevespangler.com/archives/2005/09/07/don-herbert-%e2%80%93-my-hero/feed/ 00:01:01 A popular guest on the Johnny Carson Show, Don Herbert was truly an inspiration to an entire generation of science enthusiasts. I remember watching him ... A popular guest on the Johnny Carson Show, Don Herbert was truly an inspiration to an entire generation of science enthusiasts. I remember watching him as a kid and being impressed by the fact that while he was amazing, he didn't have a laboratory or wear a lab coat. He just looked like a friendly guy who did amazingly cool science experiments in his garage... what a great neighbor! In contrast to television today, I was struck by the fact that he would allow an experiment to fail. Why didn't they edit it out? Because he believed that failure was so important for children to see. In 1991 I was approached by NBC television to host a 3frac12;-minute science spot in a program called News for Kids. Remember, this was pre "Bill Nye the Science Guy" or "Beakman". As we planned the look and feel of the segment, something inside told me to call Don Herbert and get his advice... so I did. Here's what Don Herbet said, "Don't' let them put you in a lab coat if you don't want to look like a doctor or research scientist... just be yourself... and "... never let the 'gee-whiz-factor' overtake what you are trying to teach". In my 14 years on TV, I can't let the "gee whiz" overtake what I am trying to teach. And television has changed my teaching greatly - to truly create an edutainment experience. Read more about Don Herbert and his place in television history, or visit the official Mr. Wizard Website and discover why he continues to influence a new generation of science teachers. Listen to my podcast on Don Herbert, my hero (File size is 1.3 MB) (Show length 5 minutes 20 seconds) Educating,,Podcasts alyssa@stevespangler.com no No http://www.stevespangler.com/archives/2005/08/26/home-schooling-%e2%80%93-make-science-come-alive/ http://www.stevespangler.com/archives/2005/08/26/home-schooling-%e2%80%93-make-science-come-alive/#comments Sat, 27 Aug 2005 05:26:28 +0000 Steve http://www.stevespangler.com/?p=120 http://www.stevespangler.com/archives/2005/08/26/home-schooling-%e2%80%93-make-science-come-alive/feed/ 00:01:01 One of the benefits of home schooling is you can take time to wonder, discover and explore. Science instruction can be a really difficult area, ... One of the benefits of home schooling is you can take time to wonder, discover and explore. Science instruction can be a really difficult area, however, because you may have limited resources such as chemicals and equipment. So why not go to the local school and talk to the administrators about the possibility of working with some teachers as they create these science experiences. Tell them you would like to talk about combining some of these experiences and participate in things other kids can do. For parents who don't feel comfortable teaching science, go into the community. Science museums are open to home schooling groups. Scientists in the field in your local area are more than happy to help out. All you have to do is ask. As someone who gets a lot of these requests, the best groups are organized clusters and where students have some background mdash; because we can create experiences that are as meaningful as possible. Be organized and understand you have information and resources available out there to ensure science is an important part of your child's daily learning experience. Listen to my podcast on making science come alive in home schooling (File size is 1.8 MB) (Show length 3 minutes 49 seconds) Educating,,Podcasts alyssa@stevespangler.com no No