Does Science For Kids Begin And End In The School Science Lab?

Science for kids is sometimes a bit of a frustration, or in some cases an enigma! When I taught science to high school students the question that was often put to me was "Yea, but what relevance is this going to be to me later in life?" I suppose that is a fair question, as I asked the same of studying Shakespeare when I was at school.

Now, with some years of "real life" under the belt, I can look back and realize the lessons that even dear old Mr. Shakespeare taught me. Romance, what mistakes not to make and thinking with your head and not your heart (OK maybe a little bit of heart) being just some of the few that that great man taught even the most skeptic scholar, and this without me even knowing it!

But I digress... this is not about Romeo and Juliet, but science. How relevant is science to every day life? Is it good enough to learn it in the classroom in order to pass the exam and leave it at that? Realistically, if a student's aim is to become an accountant, what relevance does the process of photosynthesis have to his or her existence?

I would like to suggest that it is very relevant. To the boy who is to train to be a motor mechanic, understanding forces, viscosity of liquids at different temperatures and indeed combustion of volatile materials is very relevant. To the girl whose aim it is is to be a landscaper, an understanding of photosynthesis, nutrient uptake of plants and plant pathogens will surely assist her in her business.

Yes, and even the future accountant can make use of science knowledge, even if it is to brighten his office with pot plants, which will give off the life giving oxygen that keeps him alert during those long hours at the desk when the financial year end comes around!

I have given a glimpse of the futures of some imaginary kids, but what about the now? What about science for kids who are in school now? Without intending to insult the reader's intelligence, is it not obvious that what happens in their lives now affects the attitudes later in life? Applying this to the topic on hand, what happens with their science education now will affect their attitudes to science later in life. Will it be a relevant topic or something that will not even enter their minds once they are qualified in their respective fields of expertise?

Having shown that science is relevant in a person's career, never mind their day to day life, is it not important, even essential, that science for kids becomes an integral part of their lives? This means beyond the classroom and the science fair project. The kids of today need to be taught and made aware of science in their lives. How it affects them and how it can be utilized to improve their existence, starting now.

The classroom lessons and activities must activate the minds of the students. How is this done? - hands on activities. Let them feel, touch, smell, hear and see science - yes even if it may make a mess in the laboratory. Instead of reading about the ecosystem of a pond, let them experience it hands on. Let them get wet and dirty. Let them catch some of the organisms and keep them in specimen bottles, at the same time as being aware of not disturbing the fine balance of the natural ecosystem.

Yes, educators, science for kids takes effort. To those in management positions at schools, it will take planning and funds - but if your heart is for education you will heed my words.

Having said this, the responsibility of making science for kids relevant and exciting lies not solely with the schools. Parents need to play their part too. On more than one occasion has my family's supper table been cleared of dishes as impromptu experiments take place after our meal. Using objects found in the house - from glasses of water filled with food coloring and paper towels to demonstrate diffusion and water uptake in plants, to a magnet, a couple of sewing needles and a wine bottle cork to make a compass - my prodigy has learned, and not forgotten, the finer details of some aspects of biology, physics, chemistry and earth sciences.

These lessons have no prior planning but arise from the questions asked by the kids after an observation that day. The observations are either made while playing in the garden, or in the house, or while reading about something that the young mind needs something tangible to fully understand it. Training kids in the art of observation, relevant questioning and simple hypothesis formation is the first step in the scientific process and in making science a part of their lives.

Let me end this article with a call to teachers and parents of our generation to make science for kids more than some words and pictures in a textbook.

Science must be life because life itself is in fact science!

Real life science!

[http://www.scientistsinthehouse.com]

Camps That Grow The Science In You

If science is your child's much loved subject in the school, then it would be very worthy if you enroll him or her in any of the best science camp during summer vacation. By this way they can learn lots of many interesting things and work on entertaining science projects as the summer months take form. Is there a better way to take pleasure in a summer vacation than to spend it doing what you love the most? By the school year out of their way, your son or daughter will be capable to focus on the fun and challenges that are awaiting him or her at a science camp well designed with science oriented folks in mind. This would also give your children a chance to meet and work together with other young people who also have the same science on the brain.

Science camps are offered for children of all ages-starting from primary school age and up to college age. There is even some existing for kids as small as young as four who already show enthusiasm towards the regulation of science. As many think science camp is not like a customary summer camps. Most of them are day camps which mean that children attend the class throughout the weekday hours and then go home. In that manner it is much similar to the set up of a regular school day, but with much more fun! There are also camps offering overnight camps also.

It is very important to do your research in order to find out which science camp will be the best suited for your child. Some camps of this type are about science in general and they teach a common overview of a number of the various sciences while others will focus on more specified areas, such as fresh water biology classes where children will learn the importance of water and how to conserve it for future use. Or else there are camps that teach geology where kids can understand many interesting facts about formation of rocks and how earthquakes are occurring etc.

Some areas host a science camp with the aim of dedicating to science fiction lovers. If your son or daughter is keenly interested in archeology it will be worth your while to look forward into this type of science summer camp, which guarantees to keep the kids entertained over the summer. The main positive part of these science-oriented camps is that kids learn a lot while they are having fun. The two when integrated together means that everybody wins, the science, the instructor and the parents. Overall a science camp is an outstanding way to learn about your beloved subject. It is also a means to meet others who divide your interests and interact with one another. The next science club that will start up at your child's school may be started by a student who enjoyed the camp very much that he or she sought to share it with others all through the school year.

Ron Victor is a expert author for outdoor adventure program and team building activities. He has written many articles in various topics such as OE science institute California [http://www.paliinstitute.com/OE.html], outdoor education, Outdoor education activities. For more information visit: http://www.paliinstitute.com

Contact me at ron.seocopywriter@gmail.com

Basic Technology We Cannot Live Without

There are all sorts of technology out there that many of us use today. We love to have our cell phones, cars and computers on hand at all time. For some, this type of technology is looked at as a luxury that is rarely afforded. Of course there is technology that is very basic that most people cannot live without. If you think that you do not have any luxury, you may think twice when you look over these methods of simple and basic technology.

Television is something that everyone has in their homes. In some cases there is more than one television in the home. This is a very basis part of technology that many people do make a point to have. From there, people have other basics such as the DVD player or even the cable box. You can easily get what you need when it comes to entertainment for as little as $100. Just take a look around and see what you can find, you may be a little bit surprised by what you see.

The computer is another part of technology that is vital to our well being. Not only do we need computers for work and school, but computers are needed within the medical and major progression work fields. In order for the economy to progress and grow, we need to employ the use of computers. Now computers today cost as little as $200 if you can find the right deal. Operating systems are becoming more advanced and a lot faster so that we can get our work done even faster.

There is a lot of technology within the educational niche as well. In order for students to progress and grow within their career field they will need to utilize some of the best technology out there. A lot of this technology does include the need of the basic calculator, computer and the internet to progress. The universities and community colleges will also use basic technology and technique in order to make sure that students do make it through the course and graduate.

Even the cell phone can be considered to be a basic form of technology that we use today. Millions of people have cell phones in their pockets and they use these instead of the land-line at home. You can even use your cell phone to get on the internet to check and send emails and get in touch with friends.

Basic technology comes in all forms and people have their own personal choices. Some people have a constant need for a computer or a cell phone, while others are just looking to get ahead with their studies. Whatever the reason may be, you have the choice of your own basic forms of technology. Whatever will help to make your life just a little bit easier can be looked at as basic technology. Take a step back and think about the technology that you use today. You will see that you use at least a 1 or 2 of the above forms of technology!

Do not get lagging behind with the outdated devices you are used to. Enter the world of technology on [http://www.finesttech.com]. Find out all about the advanced trends in phone, computer and car designs and making with the click of a button.

How Technology Improves Our Lives

Many people do not realize just how much technology that they use each and every day. We are a world that is literally run off of the technology that we have created over the past 100 years. As the years have gone by, technology that progressed and we have been able to live our lives a whole lot easier. Here are a few ways that you can take a look at technology and truly see how it can improve your life.

Many people look for the technology that will help make life just a little bit easier. This is the type of technology such as cell phones, vehicles, computers that we use each and every day. Most of use cannot go a day without talking or texting someone on our phones. Others need to use the computer on a daily basis in order to get work done or advance within their school field. The modern car today is not just for driving; now there are vehicles that are called "mobile devices" rather than cars. All of this type of technology combined helps to make life go by a bit faster and easier.

Once you have the entertainment technology, you need to look towards the medicinal technology. Years ago there was no treatment for some of the most basic sicknesses that we encounter today. Surgeries are done a lot more quickly with the help of technology and equipment that makes the process faster. The technology that is developed over the next few years is designed to save lives and keep the health rate up. We are finding faster ways to create treatments for new illnesses and ways to keep people alive during tough surgeries. Most people do not realize just how much technology within medicine has advanced until they actually need help.

The gaming world is something that some are incredibly familiar with. There are all sorts of gaming consoles that you can purchase and play today. Nintendo has come back with some excellent technology within the Nintendo Wii. This is an interactive gaming console that seems to truly be in a league all on its own. Of course the PS3 has been released and people were all over that technology as well. This is a niche that is made up of smaller niches. Each person uses a different piece of gaming technology and will not use anything else. Now, gaming technology is being applied to your cell phones so that you can now make calls, send texts, check emails and play some of the latest games around.

Within the next two years we are going to see a lot more advancements within the world of technology. The way that we get around through life is much different than it ever was 10 years ago. Make sure that you keep your eyes peeled for any new technology within these main technological facets. You may be surprised by what you will find in the years to come.

For the latest news in the advancement of technology visit [http://www.finesttech.com] - the number one website giving you information on computers, phones, cars and science plus so much more.

Educational DS Games - Which One is Right For Your Child?

There are many educational games for the Nintendo DS. From subject-specific games to all-in-one generalized teachers, from IQ-testing to barely-educational, Nintendo's catalog of educational DS games is a sprawling list. How does a parent make heads or tails of such a wide variety? How can a parent choose a learning game to fit a child's needs?

Well, we're here to help.

First thing's first with educational DS games:
Who's it for?

Some educational DS games are made for the younger crowd, 2nd grade and under. Some are aimed at the middle-school set. Yet more, usually created for the high schoolers or even university-level crowd, can hardly be called games in the traditional sense.

Decide which of your talented, happy children will be the beneficiary of your educational DS game purchase. If he's a young buck, you'll need to move towards the more colorful, easy learning games. These games often have famous characters like Spongebob or Mickey Mouse plastered all over the boxes - a sure-fire way to help the younger crowd engage with the educational game.

The middle crowd is often the most difficult for which to buy a learning game. They're smart - there's no tricking them with cartoon characters. Assuredly, they've played video games before, so the bare fact of being handed a Nintendo DS won't be enough for them to be satisfied with playing some dorky educational DS game. Unless you're blessed with a child who "takes" to learning like every parent dreams, the trick with the upper-grade school level and middle-school kids is to find a game that's entertaining enough for the child to look past the fact that he's learning.

Finally, with the older crowd - there's no trick. They'll likely get their own educational DS games, or know to ask you for a specific game, making the whole search much easier for you. With them, it's often unnecessary to mask the learning in the form of "edutainment," so "game"-makers focus on packing in as much learning material as possible. There are, of course, exceptions.

Educational DS games Part Deux - what do you want to teach?

There are ESL-teachers, basic arithmetic learners, vocab-busters, and IQ-testers, amongst many, many others.

What are you trying to do? Reinforce a skill? Teach the basics of a subject in which they're falling behind? Instill a life-long love of learning and educational gaming?

Much of what you end up buying will be dependent on what your intent is. Some games are fairly limited in scope - they promise to teach the rudiments of spelling, perhaps. Some will "stick to what they know," and do it well; for instance, there are a number of game makers who sell an entire line of educational DS games that teach one subject, and one subject only. Some games go even further, teaching a specific subject to a specific grade or age-level. And finally, there are the more generalized games, which usually offer a greater and wider variety of games, and are geared to last longer than a typical DS game's entertainment life.

Educational DS games Part Three - how much are you willing to work?
Here's the hard-look-in-the-mirror part.

Educational DS games are often a hard sell. Put a word like "learning" or "mathematics" in the title, and you kid's gut instinct will likely be to either cringe or smile and let it sit at the back of the closet, unplayed, forgotten.

The truth is, for ages 5-15 or so, you might have to show them how an educational DS game can be bearable. Even: fun. So, what kind of game can you stand to play? What kind of game will your kid put up with? Think about it: if you don't enjoy adding columns of numbers, your kid likely won't, either.

So: can you afford to sit down and play a few rounds of "math" with your child? Can you bear it? A child will play a game as dry-sounding as "Vocab for 5th graders" if you're there to make it fun. If you don't have the time or patience to invest, you're best finding a game that trends towards edutainment, or a generalized learning game.

And finally: how to choose an educational DS game for your kid
Take part one - your child's age. Take part two - what they'd need to learn. Then, part three - your level of investment. Finally, take a look at on-line reviews, see what other parents have to say.

For busy parents with kids of all ages, the best type of educational DS game is one of the generalized IQ-testers and learners. The "think" games, the "Brain" games; the ones that track a kid's IQ (or branded-equivalent) seem to last longest with children of all ages - the competitive nature inherent in an IQ-tracking game seems to stimulate and drive children, teens, and young adults to keep playing.

For parents with enough time to guide and cajole their kids into playing an educational DS game, games aimed at particular age groups, teaching particular subjects, are often the best idea. The targeted learning approach, when coupled with a parent's coaxing, usually show stronger results within the subject the educational DS game teaches than the generalized games. However, note that these improvements are limited to the subject the software teaches in the case of these specified teaching games, whereas with the generalized software, smaller improvements are generally seen across the board.

William is a parent and a New York straphanger. His kid is already on the way to becoming a gamer who sometimes needs a little "gentle encouragement" to play any of his educational DS games [http://thinksmartgames.com/where-to-buy.php]. William misses the days of Sonic and Mario when they'd only go from left-to-right, rather than 360 degrees.

Education Jobs

With education jobs picking up coast to coast, more and more people are checking out opportunities of jobs in education. Nowadays, it is possible to move from one state to the other in the US of you are in education employment as the college of education collects opportunities in K-12 jobs for all the 50 states. There are many states in the US that do not centralize job advertisements.

Widespread education work opportunities coast to coast

Education work can be very mentally fulfilling if you love to teach and also stay close to academics throughout your life. Education careers have also ratcheted up in popularity among average Americans after more federal funding is finding its way into quality education from the ground up. It is easy to find education employment anywhere in the US as well as abroad if you are equipped with the right qualifications and experience.

Every federal state in the US is continuously upgrading and fine tuning their teacher certification and license rules as well as requirements. The certification and license rules also vary from state to state as candidates check out opportunities for education jobs.

You can easily check the individual certification requirements of states online to identify education work options all around. There are several websites about interstate agreements that can be great resources for education jobs as well.

Every agreement is within the state jurisdiction and outlines particular type of education certification for teachers, administrators, career, technical and service personnel in education related employment. When there is an acceptance, the receiving state will issue authorization to allow the certificate holder to teach and also provide educational services in the receiving state. The educator can also teach and practice after the time limit.

Workable solutions underway for more affordable alternatives

A lot of gainful work is up and running these days to remove the debt burden of graduating students and they are putting up more opportunities to get things right. Education careers are not a one size fits all as you can seek employment in various capacities these days.

You could be a superintendent or work even in administrative capacities in schools and colleges. There are opportunities for work with software manufacturers who deliver state of the art tool and technologies for education.

To provide broad access to quality education for all Americans, workable solutions are underway to create options for affordable alternatives. The need of the hour is to make employment opportunities in education more widespread than ever before.

Students are also enabled to make well informed decisions and the get quality secondary education upfront. Taxpayers are also offered several incentives for supporting education and the creation of more education jobs in future.

Silas Reed, Writer for EducationCrossing, writes articles that inform and teach about different education job profiles. Please visit http://www.educationcrossing.com and sign up for a FREE trial to gain access to ALL of the many exclusive job listings we offer in the education profession.