Science News for Kids

We have been using Science News for Kids often. Elizabeth has been taking articles from the site and summarizing them. This has been great for both Language Arts and Science. 

Each of the articles in Science News for Kids has a printer friendly version. You can choose to have it with or without photos. You can edit out sections if you only want certain parts of the article. It has a vocabulary list at the end of the articles and they are written to kids without “dumbing them down” too much. 

We have been running off the articles, highlighting the key words and then Elizabeth has been writing her own summaries from the highlighted article. Next we have edited her work and then typed up her good copy. Not only is this a great skill for Language Arts but the articles have some really interesting topics for Science. 

So far, Elizabeth has completed summarizing articles on Placebos and Ground Up Bug Brains as Medicine. She is currently summarizing an article on how Global Warming is effecting Clown Fish and one on how Groundwater Extraction is Causing Earthquakes. 

There are a wide variety of interesting topics to choose from! I hope you will check out Science News for Kids!

Blessings, Natalie

Da Vinci Catapult Kit

Today Elizabeth built this kit as part of her study of the Middle Ages. The kit was a Da Vinci Medieval design from the 15th Century and was from Pathfinders Design and Technology . 

The kit was easy to use and had clear instructions. I really felt that it helped Elizabeth to understand what went into building everything from wood. Pathfinders have many different Da Vinci kits including a Trebuchet, a Siege Tower and The Da Vinci Aerial Screw. 

We are going to order a few more of these, as Elizabeth really enjoyed making the Catapult. Pathfinders suggests that the catapult will shoot clay about 15 feet. This kit did not disappoint!! 

 On this page they have some ideas for extending the educational value of the kits and there is also a resource tab with science worksheets and links to go along with the kits on the main website.

Stay tuned for the Hydraulics kits that Elizabeth is going to build in the future!

Blessings, Natalie