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Ideas for Elementary
Teaching Science

Inexpensive microscope substitute

One of the most expensive pieces of science equipment to purchase for home studies is a microscope. A good microscope is really a necessity for middle and high school studies, but there's a cheaper alternative for the earlier grades. You can purchase an "illuminated pocket microscope" for anywhere from $10-$30, depending on the light source and magnification level. It's definitely limited in what it will do, and it's no substitute for a real microscope at…
Cheryl Taylor
May 18, 2014
BiologyPlants

Seed Germination Lab

Children are fascinated by the fact that a seed can grow into a plant. You've probably already planted seeds with your child in order to watch them grow into plants. Here's a slightly different way to show your child the actual process of germination that allows them to actually see the plant emerge from the seed. Materials: seeds, paper towel, plastic sandwich bag, magnifying glass Procedure: 1. Fold a paper towel so that it fits…
Cheryl Taylor
May 11, 2014
PhysicsWaves

Slinky Waves

Have an old slinky collecting dust in the kids' toy box? Pull it out and teach a quick lesson on the two types of waves. 1. Loosely stretch the slinky across the floor or long table with you holding one end and your child holding the other. 2. Create a transverse wave by shaking one end of the slinky horizontally across the floor or table. Continue shaking back and forth to set up a series…
Cheryl Taylor
May 5, 2014
BiologyCells and Microbiology

Growing Bacteria at Home

First, a warning . . . if you grow bacteria at home there is always a possibility you could grow large amounts of harmful bacteria that could make someone in your household sick. Always use proper safety precautions when growing bacteria! Some safety hints are included below, but always, always use common sense when handling any bacteria culture. When bacteria cultures are grown in the lab the bacteria is grown in shallow containers (Petri dishes)…
Cheryl Taylor
April 27, 2014
Teaching Science

Where to get science supplies?

It's a constant struggle for homeschool parents to include science labs in their curriculum because of the supplies and equipment required. That's why I try to include only labs and activities that can be completed with household materials. But, there will be times when you want to include some basic science materials in your home studies. So, where do you buy science stuff? I buy from a number of vendors, usually basing my decision on…
Cheryl Taylor
April 21, 2014
ChemistryEarth MaterialsGeologyWater and Solutions

Growing Crystals with Common Chemicals

Crystal growing is a fun activity for kids and it is relevant to several areas of science, such as chemistry, as well as mineral formation in geology. Schools often use commercial chemicals to grow crystals in the classroom, and these chemicals can be difficult, if not impossible, to purchase as an individual. Here are a few household chemicals that can be used to grow crystals at home: Aluminum potassium sulfate (alum) can be purchased in…
Cheryl Taylor
April 14, 2014
ChemistryInteractions of Matter

Cooking Up a Chemical Change

Chemical change can be a hard concept for children to understand. It's much easier to explain a physical change. Water freezes into ice. The ice is still water and can be melted back into liquid water. Tear a piece of paper in half, and you still have the same paper. Both are physical changes. But how do you demonstrate chemical change? The easiest example of a chemical change is burning a piece of paper. The…
Cheryl Taylor
April 11, 2014
BiologyEcology - Ecosystems

Backyard Ecology

No matter whether you live in the country or the city, your child can observe nature close to home. Help your child be a nature detective to discover the ecosystem existing right in their own backyard. First, help your child identify what types of plants and animals they are realistically likely to see. If you have land in the country they're likely to observe large mammals such as deer and racoons. If you have a…
Cheryl Taylor
April 7, 2014
EnergyPhysics

Outdoor Activity Explains Energy and Work

Energy is defined as the "ability to do work." Energy and work are really different forms of the same thing, but to a child, they are very different. Try this simple outdoor summer activity to demonstrate the relationship between gravitational potential energy and work. First, children need to understand gravitational potential energy. Explain to your child that a ball on the floor has no potential energy because it won't move by itself. But, a ball…
Cheryl Taylor
April 7, 2014
ChemistryProperties of Matter

Periodic Table Basics

If your child has already learned about the parts of an atom (proton, neutron, and electron) they can understand the basics of the periodic table. From a basic periodic table, a young student can find: 1) the abbreviation for the element's name, 2) how many protons an atom of the element has, 3) how many neutrons an average atom of the element has, 4) the number of electrons a neutral atom of the element has.…
Cheryl Taylor
April 4, 2014