Getting them Interested: Fourth Grade Physical Science
Physical science in the fourth grade begins integrating science with math. This can be terrible for children who don't like math, and even worse for parents who never liked it either! Sometimes, children are not even allowed to use calculators and have to show their solutions on paper. Obviously, it is hard to get children interested in a subject that is now combined with another subject that they do not like.
Remedy this by finding things about science that your child will like. For example, you have to calculate the speed or distance a car should travel. Give your child a fun scenario. Tell them that they are a professional race car driver and they need to figure out this problem in order to win the race. If you have to calculate the density of an object, tell your child that they are a pirate and they need to find out if this object floats so they know whether or not to put it on the ship or tow it.
Sparking your child's imagination can get them interested in physical science despite the math problems involved. If they can imagine a good story or scenario and see solving the problem as part of their goals, instead of just seeing numbers they have to solve, they are likely to become interested in finding the answer. Slowly, your child will master the concept and how the math problem works, and they will be able to do it on their own.
If your child sees you struggling with a science problem or upset about not being able to understand a concept, they are likely to become even more disinterested in science. Whenever you do science with your child, keep the mood light and fun. Making science studying a pleasant time for you and your child will keep them interested in the subject even if it means you have to have fun not understanding something together.
Getting them Involved: Physical Science
A lot of your child's enthusiasm for their physical science class and lessons will depend on how well you are able to get them interested in the topics. If you succeed in showing them that things that interest them actually have to do with physics, they may become more involved in class. This is because they will want to learn more about their interests through physics.
For example, I know a child who loves airplanes and wants to be a fighter pilot. This child may not realize it but understanding the laws of gravity and motion are essential to being able to fly a plane. What's more is that he will have to understand weather conditions, wind speed, and clouds which is part of earth science. Telling this child that the only way he can become a fighter pilot is to fully understand his science class is a great motivating factor. You will be surprised how involved a child can become when they have an end goal in mind. They may not become a fighter pilot in the end, but for now, you were able to get them through science class!
There are a lot of fun experiments that can be done with physical science in the fourth grade, and many of these are good ways of getting your child involved. You can even look up fun experiments like magic tricks that involve magnets or lenses and light to show your child how these concepts can be applied towards something really cool.
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