{"id":916,"date":"2013-06-05T14:54:11","date_gmt":"2013-06-05T14:54:11","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/inspiredtoeducate.net\/inspiredtoeducate\/?p=916"},"modified":"2013-06-05T16:57:35","modified_gmt":"2013-06-05T16:57:35","slug":"growing-young-scientists","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/inspiredtoeducate.net\/inspiredtoeducate\/growing-young-scientists\/","title":{"rendered":"Growing Young Scientists"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<!-- Facebook Like Button v1.9.6 BEGIN [http:\/\/blog.bottomlessinc.com] -->\n<iframe src=\"http:\/\/www.facebook.com\/plugins\/like.php?href=http%3A%2F%2Finspiredtoeducate.net%2Finspiredtoeducate%2Fgrowing-young-scientists%2F&amp;layout=standard&amp;show_faces=false&amp;width=450&amp;action=like&amp;colorscheme=light\" scrolling=\"no\" frameborder=\"0\" allowTransparency=\"true\" style=\"border:none; overflow:hidden; width:450px; height: 30px; align: left; margin: 2px 0px 2px 0px\"><\/iframe>\n<!-- Facebook Like Button END -->\n<p>Michael and I have two beautiful little boys, ages 2 and 4. With a software engineer for a dad, and a biologist for a mom they are destined to be total geeks. Right now hey are rambunctious little bear cubs, but there are things that we can do as parents to nurture their curiosity and help them to develop their scientific minds. There are lots of resources and tips found online, but these are the things that we do regularly.<\/p>\n<p><strong>1) Get outside.<\/strong><\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_920\" style=\"width: 235px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"http:\/\/inspiredtoeducate.net\/inspiredtoeducate\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/06\/IMG_1442.jpg\"><img aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-920\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-920\" title=\"IMG_1442\" src=\"http:\/\/inspiredtoeducate.net\/inspiredtoeducate\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/06\/IMG_1442-225x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"http:\/\/inspiredtoeducate.net\/inspiredtoeducate\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/06\/IMG_1442-225x300.jpg 225w, http:\/\/inspiredtoeducate.net\/inspiredtoeducate\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/06\/IMG_1442-768x1024.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 225px) 100vw, 225px\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-920\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Old Faithful<\/p><\/div>\n<div id=\"attachment_917\" style=\"width: 235px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"http:\/\/inspiredtoeducate.net\/inspiredtoeducate\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/06\/IMG_2147.jpg\"><img aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-917\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\" wp-image-917  \" title=\"IMG_2147\" src=\"http:\/\/inspiredtoeducate.net\/inspiredtoeducate\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/06\/IMG_2147-225x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"http:\/\/inspiredtoeducate.net\/inspiredtoeducate\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/06\/IMG_2147-225x300.jpg 225w, http:\/\/inspiredtoeducate.net\/inspiredtoeducate\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/06\/IMG_2147-768x1024.jpg 768w, http:\/\/inspiredtoeducate.net\/inspiredtoeducate\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/06\/IMG_2147.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 225px) 100vw, 225px\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-917\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Backyard Plants<\/p><\/div>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">Allow your children to explore the world around them. This can mean traveling to really awesome locations like Yellowstone to observe the majesty of Old Faithful or it can be as simple as just checking out what&#8217;s growing in your backyard, or watching the birds in a feeder on you back patio. The more children are exposed to the miracles of nature, the more they will want to explore on their own. Trust me, they will ask questions that you never dreamed to ask. Encourage them to make observations and comparisons about what they see.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><strong>2) Experiment at home.<\/strong><\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_924\" style=\"width: 310px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"http:\/\/inspiredtoeducate.net\/inspiredtoeducate\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/06\/IMG_2154.jpg\"><img aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-924\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-924\" title=\"IMG_2154\" src=\"http:\/\/inspiredtoeducate.net\/inspiredtoeducate\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/06\/IMG_2154-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" srcset=\"http:\/\/inspiredtoeducate.net\/inspiredtoeducate\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/06\/IMG_2154-300x225.jpg 300w, http:\/\/inspiredtoeducate.net\/inspiredtoeducate\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/06\/IMG_2154-1024x768.jpg 1024w, http:\/\/inspiredtoeducate.net\/inspiredtoeducate\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/06\/IMG_2154.jpg 1600w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-924\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">One of my favorite easy experiments for kids.<\/p><\/div>\n<p>There are all sorts of experiments that you can do with kids at home. You can find a good list <a href=\"http:\/\/www.momto2poshlildivas.com\/search\/label\/Mad%20Science%20Theme\">here<\/a> or explore on your own (Pinterest is great for this!!!). The experiment in the picture above uses milk, food coloring and dish soap to demonstrate surface tension. Other home experiments can be done to explore density, temperature, textures, basic physics, etc. You can help your kids to start making their own hypotheses and predictions.<\/p>\n<p><strong>3) Cook with your kids.<\/strong><\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_926\" style=\"width: 235px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"http:\/\/inspiredtoeducate.net\/inspiredtoeducate\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/06\/IMG_2157.jpg\"><img aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-926\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-926 alignleft\" title=\"IMG_2157\" src=\"http:\/\/inspiredtoeducate.net\/inspiredtoeducate\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/06\/IMG_2157-225x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"http:\/\/inspiredtoeducate.net\/inspiredtoeducate\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/06\/IMG_2157-225x300.jpg 225w, http:\/\/inspiredtoeducate.net\/inspiredtoeducate\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/06\/IMG_2157-768x1024.jpg 768w, http:\/\/inspiredtoeducate.net\/inspiredtoeducate\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/06\/IMG_2157.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 225px) 100vw, 225px\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-926\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Measuring Tools<\/p><\/div>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">Cooking is one of the best ways to teach kids how to follow a list of instructions. With my college students I am amazed at how many of them cannot follow a simple protocol. Working in a science lab is just like cooking in a kitchen, the only difference is that you don&#8217;t eat what you make. Cooking is also great for teaching kids how to measure and count.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><strong>4) Let your kids get dirty.<\/strong><\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_927\" style=\"width: 310px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"http:\/\/inspiredtoeducate.net\/inspiredtoeducate\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/06\/IMG_2152.jpg\"><img aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-927\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-927\" title=\"IMG_2152\" src=\"http:\/\/inspiredtoeducate.net\/inspiredtoeducate\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/06\/IMG_2152-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" srcset=\"http:\/\/inspiredtoeducate.net\/inspiredtoeducate\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/06\/IMG_2152-300x225.jpg 300w, http:\/\/inspiredtoeducate.net\/inspiredtoeducate\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/06\/IMG_2152-1024x768.jpg 1024w, http:\/\/inspiredtoeducate.net\/inspiredtoeducate\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/06\/IMG_2152.jpg 1600w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-927\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">The sand table. A.K.A the thorn in my side.<\/p><\/div>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">This year our boys got two sand and water tables. They love them. I have grown to hate them because the sand and water create messes of epic proportions. They are wonderful, however for teaching the boys about fluid dynamics. They learn how to build and dig. They feel the movement, not just observe it<strong>.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">There are sooo many things we can do with our kids that I haven&#8217;t listed here. What sort of activities do you like to do with your kids to encourage them to become scientists in their own right?<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><strong>Related Posts<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a title=\"Benefits of Teaching Kids To Code That No One Is Talking About\" href=\"http:\/\/inspiredtoeducate.net\/inspiredtoeducate\/?p=623\">Benefits of Teaching Kids To Code That No One Is Talking About<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a title=\"Reflections on STEM education in US: Have we lost our focus as a nation?\" href=\"http:\/\/inspiredtoeducate.net\/inspiredtoeducate\/?p=588\">Reflections on STEM education in US: Have we lost our focus as a nation?<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a title=\"Critical review of Seth Godin\u2019s essay on \u201cArt and Science and Making Things\u201d\" href=\"http:\/\/inspiredtoeducate.net\/inspiredtoeducate\/?p=479\">Critical review of Seth Godin\u2019s essay on \u201cArt and Science and Making Things\u201d<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a title=\"5 fun learning experiences with Legos\" href=\"http:\/\/inspiredtoeducate.net\/inspiredtoeducate\/?p=305\">5 fun learning experiences with Legos<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a title=\"How to use Minecraft in teaching\" href=\"http:\/\/inspiredtoeducate.net\/inspiredtoeducate\/?p=566\">How to use Minecraft in teaching<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Related Book:\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/www.inventtolearn.com\/\" target=\"_blank\">http:\/\/www.inventtolearn.com\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n<!-- Facebook Like Button v1.9.6 BEGIN [http:\/\/blog.bottomlessinc.com] -->\n<iframe src=\"http:\/\/www.facebook.com\/plugins\/like.php?href=http%3A%2F%2Finspiredtoeducate.net%2Finspiredtoeducate%2Fgrowing-young-scientists%2F&amp;layout=standard&amp;show_faces=false&amp;width=450&amp;action=like&amp;colorscheme=light\" scrolling=\"no\" frameborder=\"0\" allowTransparency=\"true\" style=\"border:none; overflow:hidden; width:450px; height: 30px; align: left; margin: 2px 0px 2px 0px\"><\/iframe>\n<!-- Facebook Like Button END -->\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Michael and I have two beautiful little boys, ages 2 and 4. With a software engineer for a dad, and a biologist for a mom they are destined to be total geeks. Right now hey are rambunctious little bear cubs, but there are things that we can do as parents [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[1],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/inspiredtoeducate.net\/inspiredtoeducate\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/916"}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/inspiredtoeducate.net\/inspiredtoeducate\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/inspiredtoeducate.net\/inspiredtoeducate\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/inspiredtoeducate.net\/inspiredtoeducate\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/inspiredtoeducate.net\/inspiredtoeducate\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=916"}],"version-history":[{"count":11,"href":"http:\/\/inspiredtoeducate.net\/inspiredtoeducate\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/916\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":931,"href":"http:\/\/inspiredtoeducate.net\/inspiredtoeducate\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/916\/revisions\/931"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/inspiredtoeducate.net\/inspiredtoeducate\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=916"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/inspiredtoeducate.net\/inspiredtoeducate\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=916"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/inspiredtoeducate.net\/inspiredtoeducate\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=916"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}