What do your kids want to be when they grow up? Grayson has wanted to be a scientist since he was was six years old... 'Round about the time he realized that astronauts (which were his former career choice) stood a significant risk of being blown up in transit. I hear phrases like "DNA replicator", "genetic engineering", and "gene splicer" more times a day than most genetic scientists. He is quite convinced that if he only had a test tube, a DNA extractor, a hamster and a chinchilla, he could produce a whole new breed of adorable household pet overnight. He is forever asking what would happen if he combined one household chemical with another. Just the other day, he concocted a new "miracle cleaner" that was sure to take all the smudges and rust off metal of any kind. I was scared to use it... The ingredients I knew of for sure were some goop we had concocted earlier in the day, dish soap, salt, and spit (it seems he heard someone speak of spit shining). I am afraid to think what else might have made its way into that test tube!
All of this rambling does have a point, believe it or not. The point is that kitchen science is one of the best boredom busters we have found! We did buy a couple of science kits (on sale this week at Hobby Lobby for those of you who have access to one), just because my boys really liked the test tubes, pipette, and such that came with them. You certainly don't need those things! All you really need are things you have in your kitchen anyway, a good
website of experiments, and a space where the kids can be allowed to pour (and usually spill) ingredients to their hearts' content! We use baking trays or broiler pans to catch spills, and depending on the experiment will sometimes take them outside... Especially the stinky ones! If you are brave enough to give them a little freedom with their experimentation, one experiment can easily become three or four! For example, a baking soda volcano's eruptions can be compared using different types of vinegar - we have used white, balsamic, red wine, and apple cider-, pickle juice, or even lemon juice. Whatever you do, just make sure to have a notebook or video camera handy to record hypotheses and observations!
Whatever experiments you make, whatever goop you concoct, and whatever messes you are left to clean up afterwards... Happy boredom busting!
I LOVE what you do with your kids. The BA and I did experiments from time to time in the old days. She's way to cool for that now :-(
ReplyDeleteAww, that's sad. I'll be saying that just a few short years from now! Grayson is already begging for a cell phone (why?!)and has fits of "coolness" that are really frustrating!
ReplyDeleteWe love our experiments around here, too! I have a book called Science Crafts for Kids that my mom sent down. It has such lovely ideas as growing a mold garden, which we haven't yet tried, but will be doing soon. I also have another one Science Experiments in 10 Minutes or Less that is well suited to younger kids. But so far, their favorite "experiment" is just getting a bunch of glasses with water and a drop of food coloring and mixing spoonfuls to see what happens with the colors.
ReplyDeleteNow we're moving on to bodies, I have little doubt we'll be hearing about gene splicing and such soon. Dorian already has an idea that he could maybe replace his intestines to be normal!
Oh, cool! We're going to be studying human anatomy this year, too! We're going to be using the Apologia Human Anatomy book, which has lots of cool experiments... I'll have to send you the instructions to the best ones!
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