Third Grade Science: Getting them Involved
The new demands set on a third grader can make it a challenge to get them involved in their third grade science. So many new topics are introduced that children often get confused or begin misunderstanding what it is that needs to be learned. Many times children see science as difficult and don't want much to do with it because of their fear of failure.
A good way to get your child involved in their third grade science class is to show them that what they are studying is easy. Prove this to them by demonstrating and doing science experiments that explain the different concepts they are studying. Try finding the simplest experiments. Often the simplest demonstration leads to the most understanding. If your child can see that what they are studying is actually quite simple, they will begin to get involved.
First they will start by helping you do your projects. If you have a child who is really disinterested, you will have to find some experiments or projects that you know will look cool to your child. Once they find it cool, show them how they can do it themselves, slowly explaining the concepts. Children enjoy doing things they understand and are good at, so you have to show your child that they can be good at science. This can require a lot of patience on your end, but the benefits come once you see your child's grades and once they become independent science learners.
Earth Science Parties
A child who is interested and involved in science class will become even more interested and involved if their friends enjoy it too. Having a party in which the activities or games revolve around science lessons is a lot less geeky than it sounds. All you need is a little imagination!
If they haven't already done it in an earlier grade, get your child and their friends together and host a party in your backyard. If you want to focus on earth science, try getting them to make a garden sundial. You don't want to make the one that stands on a column. Rather, you want to make the type that requires a stick, some large rocks, acrylic paint, and relatively large garden space. This type of sundial will be on the ground and the children will be able to walk in and out of the clock, which many of them find pretty cool. This is a great project because it teaches your child about time, about shadows, and what kinds of rocks can be painted on.
Another good idea is to have a camp‐out in your garden. You don't have to build a camp fire (your city probably has laws against that,) but you can have flashlights and tents and heat your marshmallows over the grill! When night falls, set up a telescope and take the opportunity to teach the kids about the stars and the solar system. In certain parts of the world (certain parts of the US included) you can see the Aurora Borealis during some months of the year, and you may even catch an eclipse if you're lucky!
If you want to go all out, get another parent to team up with you and take the children to a real camp site. They're sure to have a lot of fun during the day, exploring terrain, using a homemade compass for navigation, collecting rocks, and learning about plants in the woods. Some camp sites even have lakes where you can go fishing, which means you can integrate life science into your trip too!
Next Article: Third Grade Historical Experiments
