What we’re using for science right now.
We used to do science with me scouring the web for things to feed H.o.p. And he has his Brain Pop that give nice primers on subjects. H.o.p., amazingly enough, has recently discovered that he likes tests. At least the way mom does them. If you look up the lessons they have that are supposed to be on a second grade level only one comes up but he loves and has been playing all these flashes for months. They have little 10 question tests you can take and he likes taking those because he gets them 90 to 100 percent right each time. And that makes him feel good. But we only recently started doing those.
We tried the Singapore Science book last year but H.o.p. didn’t like it and it didn’t last too long. For one thing, he hated the illustrations, just as he has hated the illustrations in all the Singapore books, and if H.o.p. doesn’t like the illustrations this means he really really doesn’t like them and can’t stand to look at them.
It was also boring.
This year I ended up ordering the R.E.A.L. Science Life book. It’s pretty much what I thought it would be. Everything that is in it is information readily available on the web but I wanted something finally that had a sort of plan to it and that we could at least flick through and say oh we’ve done that or use it as a jumping off point for more information. So, I can’t say that I’m disappointed in it.
But I don’t get some of the activities it supplies, just like I don’t get many activities people provide.
For instance, learning about blood. H.o.p. has learned some about blood from Brain Pop. He likes talking about leukocytes and how they defend his body against viruses. When he got over his cold/flu that we had for so long (and now we’re into the spring form of allergies) he didn’t just say he was glad to be over it, he thanked his immune system.
One of the activities his R.E.A.L. Science book gives for “lab fun” is to make a round cake, frost it with yellow frosting representing plasma, decorate with white jelly beans for the white blood cells, red M&Ms for the red blood cells and silver decorative cake balls for platelets. You’ re then supposed to put on a vampire cape and share your blood with friends.
“Yuck,” said H.o.p.
“Why should we do this?” I said to Marty.
“I can’t think of any reason,” he replied.
Another activity for learning about blood is to mix 1/2 cup light Karo syrup (representing plasma) together with 1/2 cup red hot candies (red blood cells), 5 dry large lima beans (white blood cells) and a tablespoon of lentils (platelets).
“Yuck,” said H.o.p.
“Why should we do this?” I said to Marty.
Instead we looked up pics of blood cells and a little movie of blood coursing through the body.
Now, I’m sure there are kids and parents who love that kind of thing or else such activities wouldn’t be so popular. But I just think, “Y’know, I don’t see how this is better than an illustration and photo. I don’t want to spend the afternoon making a cake equals sugar we really don’t need, much less decorate it with yucky tasting jelly beans and red M&Ms that will shoot H.o.p. through the roof. Maybe the karo syrup thing makes a bit more sense but I still don’t see why not look up pictures and illustrations instead of having to spend money on red hot candies which we’ll never eat etc. It feels like activities to make you feel like you’re doing something.
A more sensible lab activity is given which is to go visit the local blood donor center and find out about screening etc. and how they take blood, but that’s a little much for a second grader, or our second grader.
“Yuck,” said H.o.p.
It’s one thing to make borax and glue bouncing balls and another to make cakes and decorate them and say it’s learning about blood.
Today H.o.p. did an animation of a door opening in the dark and blinking eyes floating out of it and I figure it’s a more productive way of spending time than guided activities that purport to have to do with a subject but which I can’t see as having much to do with a subject at all.
Yes, yes, I know that the karo syrup activity will supposedly give an idea of a normal representation of white blood cells in relation to white in relation to lentils.
I will only do it if H.o.p. makes a little submarine and we toss it in the mix and pretend it’s Fantastic Voyage.
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