There is no denying that science, in its vast scope and depth, is one of the most interesting subjects to learn at school. Studying science in a classroom or a science lab has its perks, but in this age of remote learning, it can be quite difficult to grasp the essence of science from just learning at home. Teachers and parents alike may be trying to find ways to help students connect with science from being at home. In this scenario, we seek to throw some light on how to make your child’s online science learning interesting and keep them engaged:
Science Experiments
In any field of study, having practical knowledge trumps over theoretical knowledge any day. Even though theory helps us get familiar with the topic, it is only through experiments that we can fully understand concepts and gain practical know-how of the same. For the same reason, one of the easiest ways to help students connect with science is to have them take part in simple and fun science experiments. Getting students involved in easy and fun at-home science experiments can help them understand the science behind stuff all the while being a fun activity to keep them engaged. One example of a science experiment that they can easily do is: making volcano with baking soda, vinegar and food colouring
Connect with Nature
Students will be keen to learn that nature and its many phenomena are all based on science. The process of seed growing into a plant, the Sun rising and setting, the Moon’s trajectory, evolution, how gravity works, the atmosphere, and everything else can be used to illuminate the science behind the concept. Seeing the science behind these daily phenomena will help students understand the world better all the while generating an interest in the subject as well.
Measures
Another method to boost children’s interest in science during online science learning is to bring in math to the foray. Basic mathematics such as counting, measuring, as well as how to tell the time, latitude and longitude and where we are, different units of measurement with the help of household items, etc. can be a great way of bringing in arithmancy to science. For example, if you are baking a cake, it would be a great opportunity to get your child involved in the process, explaining the importance of measuring flour, milk, eggs, what happens if one ingredient is wrongly measured, how the final cake comes around, etc.
Practical Lessons
What students learn - gravity, sound, germination, chemical reactions, etc. - can be taken as reference for giving practical examples. Dropping a ball from the first floor, how sound echoes in an empty room vs a furnished room, how a plant grows from a seed, what happens when you mix oil and water or baking soda and vinegar - all these and more can be practical examples of the lessons they learn in school. By doing so, students would be able to visualise what they read in their textbooks and learn interesting ways of understanding concepts with ease.
Other Resources
Last but not least, one other way of inducing interest in online science learning is through other sources of information such as TV shows, books, films, apps, YouTube videos and the like. There is no dearth of information surrounding science in this digital age. You can find plenty of resources on any subject in the world. Having an additional source of information through visual media would be a great way to help students find and learn things with interest.
These are just a few of the methods on how to make your child’s online science learning interesting at home. With a little involvement from your side, your child can gain a lifelong interest in science and develop scientific temper, the most valuable asset of today.