Magnetizing indoor play for a rainy day
Thursday, October 29, 2009
We've got a few indoor play ideas for you and your children to experiment with on this dreary October day. All you'll need are a few magnets and a couple other household items and your family can explore magnetic science.
1. Magnet Fishing Game
Make your own fish shapes and cut them out. Attach a paper clip to each fish. Next, make your magnetic fishing pole. You can use a wood dowel or large measuring sticks or anything that you can think of that can be used as a pole. Tie a magnet with string onto the end of your pole. Have fun fishing!
2. Magnetic Adventure
Go on a magnetic treasure hunt. Explore where you live and find out what attracts a magnet and what does not. Give your child a magnet and have them walk around indoors or outdoors and test objects to see whether they “stick” to the magnet. As you are exploring, play “I wonder why” and see what creative and inventive reasons come to mind.
3. Magnetic Magic
Make a magnetic maze. You and your child can simply draw several paths from straight to squiggly on a piece of paper. Draw the paths from one end of the paper to the other. Place a paperclip on the path. Can you guide it along the path, using a magnet underneath? Try it and find out!
4. Magnet To the Rescue
Drop a paper clip into a clear glass of water. Can you rescue the paper clip without wetting either your hand or the magnet? Ask your child this question before you start and brainstorm the possibilities!
Do you have other magnetic games your children like to play?
Labels: play at home
21st Century Skills
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
This recent article in Educational Leadership magazine has the Museum's Learning Experience team excited. The piece takes a look at creativity and critical thinking as being essential 21st century skills.
At the Museum, we so often hear visiting parents say "I'm not creative." This article suggests that we can all learn to be creative, and challenges many misconceptions -- such as the idea that creativity is only found in the arts.
Sir Ken Robinson, who is interviewed in the article, calls for the current education system to focus more on encouraging children to explore, experiment, and to find their own answer -- instead of adults giving the answer to them. These are all things that we encourage here at the Museum, and find to be so important in children's development.
It's an article that makes us cheer. Check it out and let us know what you think.
Labels: articles, creativity, critical thinking
Tuning in to children's words
Thursday, October 22, 2009
If you can get past the somewhat crusty tone with which Dr. Jane Brody accuses “mothers and nannies” of being too tuned in to their cell phones instead of their young children, this recent New York Times article explains why talking to children and introducing books from birth is so important. It also offers great practical advice for nurturing young children’s language development.
To be fair, it was kind of Dr. Brody to congratulate the communicative young mother who she refers to at the beginning of the article. Any parent knows a word of encouragement can go a long way!
Yes, Your Child Is Testing Newton's Law of Universal Gravitation
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
To us, it may simply look like building and knocking down blocks, but to a child 'construction play' is a skill-building lesson about gravity that requires questioning, experimentation, and problem solving. As we parents, grandparents, and caregivers create activities at home, or watch our children play in a museum, there are some concepts that help us understand and encourage this learning process. Ask our children to...Look, Look Again. Ask Questions. Predict. Investigate. Experiment. Try and Try Again.
Labels: family, Recommendations
Trash Bash opens 10/3!
Friday, October 2, 2009
Tomorrow, the Museum opens a new exhibit called Trash Bash. The exhibit encourages visitors to increase their knowledge, skills, attitudes, motivation and commitment toward sustaining a healthy environment. Children will use recycled and reused materials to create art, music and imaginative play activities.
It makes us wonder here at the Museum -- how much do we know about our trash?
Last month, the New York Times had an article about tracking where trash goes -- literally following paper cups, a can of beans -- to their "final" destinations. The article cites one woman's musings that perhaps the key to sustainable living is emphasizing reducing rather than recycling.
