Are your kids moaning and groaning when you pull out the science books? The solution is to make science fun with these 5 easy tips!
5 Easy Tips to Make Science Fun for Your Kids
1. Explore Your Backyard
When was the last time you headed outside for science? I don’t know about you, but I tend to grab a book before we head out the door. But the best way to introduce kids to science in the real world is through nature.
Explore your backyard! You’ll find quite a few science experiments hiding there from observing birds to studying the various plants. One of my sons spent a summer studying the ants in our yard.
Make a butterfly feeder and keep a journal about the different types of butterflies it attracts. Study the trees in your yard and discuss how plant stems work to bring nutrients and water to the top of the trees. Stems are a lot more impressive when you’re staring up at a 2 story-tall tree!
And check out these Top Outdoor Science Activities for more fun ideas to do science with your kids outside in your yard.
2. Nature Study
Why do we see stars at night? What creates the weather? Why do the seasons change? Every parent has heard these questions! So use nature study to answer these questions and interest your kids in science.
Use a curriculum such as Exploring Nature with Children to guide your nature study. Head out on long nature hikes every week. Check out the natural world as you travel around town. You can see birds, trees, and rocks as you run errands.
If you’re studying clouds, point out the different types of clouds in the sky. If you’re studying birds, point to the various birds. And if you’re studying chemistry, point out how plants use the chemical reaction called photosynthesis to turn sunlight into food
Nature study brings science to life.
3. Follow Rabbit Trails
Kids’ questions are endless! The moment you think you’ve answered all the questions, another dozen pop up.
So use your children’s curiosity and follow the rabbit trails. If you’re studying the sun and the kids ask why the sky is blue, research the answer together. Google the question, check out books, and do a science experiment.
Follow your children’s interests and explore science topics your curriculum doesn’t cover. There’s no better way to make science fun than to follow your children’s own interests in science.
4. Use Hands-on Activities
Reading about science day-in and day-out, never actually doing a science experiment or seeing a science demonstration is dull. You must add hands-on activities!
Go on a bug hunt after reading about bugs. Create a volcano using vinegar and baking soda. Explore why camels feet don’t sink in the sand using salt, a canning jar lid, and a dime.
Reading may give the kids knowledge, but hands-on activities bring understanding and delight to your homeschool.
5. Read Biographies
Read biographies as part of your science studies. Look for fascinating biography about famous scientists such as Isaac Newton, Albert Einstein, and Marie Curie.
Kids are fascinated by how people lived, worked, and studied in the past.
Reading about the childhoods and lives and famous scientists brings home the fact that people discovered all these fascinating facts about science.
And your child could be the next famous scientist themselves!
Making science fun is important to develop a sense of wonder, curiosity, and fascination with the world. Use biographies, nature study, hands-on activities, and rabbit trails in your homeschool. Your kids will fall in love with science and beg for more!
How do you make science fun for your kids?
sunil says
what you have said is true. The best way to teach kids not only about science , any topic is by exploring the nature around us. Nature is the ultimate resource for answers to all our quest.
good article
Penelope Smith says
This is some really good information about how to get kids excited about science. I liked that you pointed out that it would be smart to try doing hands-on learning. Having mini science fairs could be a good thing to try out.
Emma Smith says
I liked the 3rd point most. “Follow Rabbit Trails”.. Must needed strategies as my niece questions are end less. Sometimes i feel difficulty to answer her question. Thanks for this tip. 🙂
Emma Smith says
I liked the 3rd point most. “Follow Rabbit Trails”.. Must needed strategies as my niece questions are end less. Sometimes i feel difficulty to answer her question. Thanks for this tip. 🙂
Sam Gibson says
My oldest daughter is turning eight in 2 weeks. She’s hoping to get some fun science toys for her birthday. I love how you mentioned that learning about science without any hands-on activities can be boring and cause kids to lose interest. Because of this, I’m hoping to find a fun thing like slime that she can play and experiment while learning at the same time.