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Teachers!
If your
kids are ZOOM fans, this question might sound familiar. As
you help your kids find materials to do the activities they've
just seen on TV, you may be wondering, "Is there anything
I can do to encourage my kids to keep learning?" Yes!
Whether you are at home or in a classroom, camp, or afterschool
setting, you can make the most of ZOOM's science and math
activities. And, you don't have to be a scientist or science
teacher. You only have to share your kids' enthusiasm for
and curiosity about the way things work and the world around
them.
Starting
with any ZOOMsci activity, you can create a learning experience
where kids get to do the things that scientists do -- observe,
ask questions, make predictions, test ideas, collect data,
change one variable, and share results.
1.
Preparation
2. Warm Up
3. Try It Out
4. Change One Variable
5. Share Results
6. Send it to ZOOM!
7. Keep ZOOMing
1.
Preparation
Get ready
by reviewing the activity. Every ZOOMsci activity includes:
·
an idea sent in by a kid
· a materials list
· instructions
· results sent in by kids who have tried the activity
· a form to send results to ZOOM
Look over
the materials and think about how many kids you'll be working
with. ZOOM activities generally use household items, but it
may take you some time to collect enough materials for a large
group. Print out the activity and try it yourself -- that
way you'll know what to expect when the kids try it.
Tip: When
printing ZOOMsci activities, look at the bottom of the page
for a link to the "text-only version." This gives
you a clean, graphic-free page that prints quickly.
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2.
Warm Up
Before
you start the activity, ask your kids what they know about
the topic being investigated. Then have them explore the materials
to get a sense of how they work.
For
example, if you're making a film canister rocket that's powered
by baking soda and vinegar, ask kids what they know about
rockets. Then talk about what happens when baking soda and
vinegar are mixed together. Have kids explore the materials
by putting a teaspoon of baking soda into a plastic bag, adding
some vinegar, and sealing the bag. Ask them to describe what
they observed and why they think it happened.
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3. Try
It Out
Get your
kids in the ZOOM mindset by introducing the activity sent
in by their peers.
Talk to
your kids about the activity. Ask them what they think will
happen. (This is making a prediction.)
Ask:
How would you design your rocket? What do you think will happen
once the baking soda and vinegar "fuel" is added?
How would you test it?
Hand out
the materials and let the kids do the activity. You can guide
them by providing printouts of the activity or by talking
them through it. Ask them what they notice. (This is observation.)
Why do they think it's working (or not!)? Have them write
down their observations. (This is collecting data.)
As you
watch, ask the kids questions that will help them explain
why they are doing what they're doing, and why they think
certain things are happening. If they are having difficulty,
ask them questions to help them notice things about their
experiment and to help them think of new ways to solve the
problem. Let your kids know that it's okay if their results
are different from their predictions. They'll often learn
more from wrong turns than from a perfect result.
Ask:
How high did your rocket go? How long did it take for your
rocket to launch? Why do you think your rocket works? If it's
not working, what could you do differently? How do your results
compare to your prediction?
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4.
Change One Variable
Now have
the kids experiment by changing one thing and testing that
change. The thing they change is called a variable. The key
is to change only one variable at a time. That way they can
tell which variable affects the test. Before kids test the
effects of changing the variable, they should predict what
they think will happen and why. Then they can test it and
write down the results. (Note: You may need extra materials
so kids can test different variables.)
Some variables
for film canister rocket:
· amount of vinegar
· amount of baking soda
· amount of toilet paper
· the size or shape of the nose cone
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5.
Share Results
After kids
complete their tests, bring them together to share results.
Encourage them to talk about what they observed, what surprised
them, and why they think they were successful or had difficulty.
Help them draw conclusions from the data they collected. Communicating
clearly about process and results is a key skill for budding
scientists. Finish by talking about some real-world applications
of their activity.
Ask:
How did changing the amount of baking soda affect the launch?
What other changes did you test? What did you think would
happen and what actually happened? Did you notice any patterns
in your data? What new questions do you have? How could you
find out more about these questions?
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6. Send
it to ZOOM!
ZOOM wants
to hear from your kids about their experiences and their new
ideas. Kids can email ZOOM via Send
it to ZOOM forms. They can also write to: ZOOM, Box 350,
Boston, MA 02134.
Kids who
write and send it via snail mail will receive a copy of ZOOMerang™,
a booklet of do-at-home activities. Kids who email can download
a ZOOMerang.
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7. Keep
ZOOMing
If kids
liked the activity, look in the ZOOMsci section of the site
for related ZOOMsci activities to try. The chart below shows
sample activities with ideas of variables that can be changed,
questions you can ask to help your kids analyze their results,
and related ZOOMsci activities to build on your kids' interest.
Remember the chart below includes only six ZOOMsci activities;
the ZOOMsci home page has more than 100 to choose from!
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