Ideas to Get Ohio Elementary Students Excited About Science

There are many opportunities in Ohio for students to discover scientific principles outside of a classroom setting. By showing students how science is all around them, it can become more than just a subject that they have to study, and something that they can become excited about discovering.

The key to getting students excited about science is tying the scientific lessons into something that they are already excited about...amusement parks. Ohio is home to some of the most popular amusement parks in the world, and is also one of the states with the most roller coasters. Every school in Ohio is within a 3 hour drive an amusement park and an opportunity to get students excited about science.

The roller coasters and rides at amusement parks offer opportunities for students to experience Newton's Laws of Motion, affects of gravity, and principles of physics that they are studied. Many Ohio amusement parks, like Cedar Point in Sandusky, Ohio, host "Physics Days" where they invite schools to visit and conduct physics "experiments" on their rides. As part of these special field trip days, the amusement parks offer worksheets, and activities for students to complete as the visit the park. The activities are designed to coordinate with both elementary and middle school science curriculum. Science teachers can call the park and request a complete information package about the science education programs, as well as discount admission pricing that will be available to your school group.

The state of Ohio has a unique opportunity to expose students to environmental sciences by being bordered in the north by one of the five Great Lakes. A field trip to Lake Erie not only allows students a chance to appreciate the importance and value of this lake to their state, but can also provide firsthand experience to learn more about erosion, weather, effects of pollution, and marine studies.

The COSI museum in Toledo and the Great Lakes Science Center in Cleveland are two of the premier science education centers in Ohio. These science centers are popular field trip destinations for both elementary and middle schools in Ohio. The hands-on displays allow students to discover real-world demonstrations of common scientific principles. The activities at these science centers also encourage the application of the scientific method by engaging students to develop their own hypothesis and conclusion as they conduct their own mini science "experiments".

The science centers also offer special programs, classroom literature, and live demonstrations that can help science teachers focus the student's experience to specific science curriculum topics such as motion, energy, chemistry, and light and sound. A list of available school science programs can be obtained by contacting the field trip / group sales coordinators at the science centers. When talking with the coordinators, be sure to also ask about any discounts or financial assistance that may be available to your Ohio school.

In Columbus, Ohio, the world famous Columbus Zoo offers mobile programs that bring science enrichment programs directly to Ohio schools - no field trip required. Developed by zoo director / TV personality Jack Hanna, these mobile programs are presented by zookeepers and biologists. They bring live animals and displays to schools to educate students about the animal kingdom, biology and earth sciences. These science assemblies are very popular and dates are limited. School should plan on scheduling a zoo enrichment program before the start of the school year to avoid missing out.

There are several science entertainers and school assembly presenters who present entertaining and educational science assemblies in Ohio schools. Getting Excited About Science is Ohio's premier school assembly about science topics. It is available for booking through Midwest School Shows - a school assembly booking agency that specializes in Ohio schools.

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Cool Science Experiments - The Way to Get Your Kids Excited About Science

I love seeing kids excited about Science. Reading about Science, exploring the world outside, seeing a science video are ways in which children enjoy and become motivated about Science. And, through the years, that is what we have successfully done. However, recently it has been confirmed in my own mind, that a real and extremely valid way for kids to love Science and be keen to know more, is to provide them with time to play around with really cool Science experiments.

As a homeschooling family we have questioned, "What have been the things that we look back on with fond and treasured memories in Science?" It is either the hands-on nature walks and finding animals, or the fun in setting up and doing an experiment with great results. Many of the experiments my children have enjoyed have been totally unrelated to any science text we may have been following at the time. Most of the successful 'science' messes have sprung up from their own interest and trying to solve a question which they have posed themselves. (Like fixing a cheap toy and making it far better than it ever was.) So, how do we encourage our children to play around with Science?

Ask them Questions

Firstly, ask your children questions without giving away the answer. If you are working through a text which has science experiments, present the question to them and do not read or let them read what sorts of results they should be getting from performing the experiment. Ask them questions during the experiment and after it - what do you think would happen if we changed x,y or z? Ask them questions about life - about their physical environment or why things happen? Ask them the curious questions before they ask you. And then let them think and ponder about it. It does not mean that you should never give answers, but at the same time, do not rush in - give them time first. When answering, relate the answer to their current experience. And remember, it is okay to admit you do not know the answer - that can become an ideal time to discuss how to research and find answers we are looking for.

* Let them Experiment

Let them play with all sorts of things around the home and experiment. Using a book or Science course will give you ideas about exciting science experiments. There are also a ton of books at the library that will interest your children or even using an online Science Curriculum which is full of really cool science experiments. I have found experiment instructions on video to be an excellent tool also. We all love watching as others use all sorts of common household materials, (and some that you need to buy), and this inspires me as well as my children. In fact, some recent experiments we have see online have been the recent catalyst for a whole heap of hovercraft experiments which in turn has motivated my other children to fiddle with a toy gun changing it from a gun using air pressure to one using spring mechanics.

* Be prepared, Grow a collection of Science Tools and Encourage Mess

If you want your children to experiment, you will need to accept and even encourage mess. Set up some boxes where you keep all sorts of odds and ends which will come in handy for science experiments.

* You will need materials like rubber bands, straws, pipe cleaners, paper clips, balloons, popsicle sticks.

* You will also need tools and materials to bind items together like sticky tape, masking tape, hot glue gun, super glue, rope or string, stapler and staples, hole punch, scissors.

* Then you will also need to collect some clean junk - bottle tops, soda bottles, clean cans, bottle lids, icecream containers and cardboard boxes of all sizes.

Perhaps you can create a Science Corner - filled with experiment books and all the materials, and a table to work on.

* Allow for mistakes

Every Science experiment does not need to work perfectly and make sure your children know that. When an experiment does not work the way they had hoped, ask them, "What did you learn from that?" "What might you do differently next time?" "Why do you think that happened?"

* Be Curious alongside of them, but do not take over

When your children are in the middle of a project or have completed it, they love to have a fan club. As they become more independent, they may not need you to set up an experiment or help them do it, but they really want to share their enthusiasm with an interested party - like their family and parents! So, let them inspire you - cheer them on as they set up an experiment - ask them questions so they can verbalize what is happening and why - problem solve with them - search out answers together, BUT do not take over. As parents we have the tendency to ruin the child-led learning experience and make it a full-blown lesson. We want to run with their idea because we can see how it will make a wonderful 'unit study' and so we plan, get books, blah, blah, blah, and run off with all of our great ideas, but meanwhile our children have turned the corner, lost interest and moved on. It does not matter! Even if their interest in that topic may have been short lived, another experiment at a later date will most likely, help to reinforce the science concept.

So, do what you need to do to excite your children about Science. Be curious, ask questions, encourage messes, grow a collection of Science Tools and find materials to help you. Enjoy the learning experience together.

Written by Marianne V from http://www.design-your-homeschool.com/index.html

Looking for Science Experiment ideas? You can find some easy and totally 'cool' science experiments as well as links to science experiments on video, plus two free Science Experiment Ebooks (A Science Experiment Guide usually valued at $25, and a Science Activity Manual and Video Guide valued at $30) at the link above.

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