Science Guide Books

[plum-cake]

Chenonceau:

QuiteKSMum:

Hi phtthp,

But one forummer, Chenonceau, had shared what she did with her kid when he was younger...and now her son, in upper Pri, had little problems with science. You might want to read her posts. Just my 2 cts...

I am not a hard science person... so I really knew very little about the scientific principles. I did like seeing things explode as much as he did. One of the most memorable experiments was the one where we put a bottle of red coloured hot water into a pail of cold water to see the underwater volcano explode. That was FUN!! DS wanted to do it again and again. Then I let him do it himself (made the water less hot). Remember to put marbles in the red water bottle to weigh it down. Otherwise, you push like crazy.

I now know that the explanation has to do with hot water (or air) rise and cold water (or air) sinks. But when he was 3, I didn't bother to explain anything. Firstly, I myself dunno. Secondly, he din care. It's just that when he learnt the concept in school, he already had some real life experience he could relate to it. This gave him a feeling of mastery and aptitude. From there, his interest grew.

Moral of the story: You can be a Science Idiot like me and still play with experiments. Just don't get too serious and hung up about explanations. Just play... and go dizzy when the thing explodes... giggle a lot and then get each other dirty. After that, go bathe.

Another time we made rubber eggs. Put hardboiled egg into vinegar and wait one day. Take out and throw at each other. It tends to bounce off but in the end it breaks and makes a mess. Nice. Can laugh and giggle a lot but after that must clean up.

From rubber eggs, we went onto curing an entire chicken skeleton in vinegar too. But not too long this time. Then, he used superglue and stuff to put back the skeleton... like a dinosaur bones exhibit. After a while, the thing started to rot. A lot of our Science endeavours do rot. It is a gross endeavour.

And oh... we bought all the Horrible Science books we could find.

Thanks for sharing...... love to try.

[Chenonceau]

plum-cake .... kekekekekeke... :rubhands: ... have some messy fun!!

[Brenda10]

janet_lee88:

Popular having discount for Marshall Cavendish books for P6.

With purchase of 3 and above, there is 25% discount.
One of the titles is the Science Revision Guide as well as the PSLE test papers. Pictures not avail in website. http://i53.tinypic.com/esqm85.jpg\">

Hi Janet

Thank you for sharing.

[janet88]

Hi Brenda,

No worries
There is this other Science book by MC...orange one with eagle on cover as well as some other titles...for eg the Synthesis & Transformation by Carolyn Lee as well. Since Popular only giving 1 coupon for 20%, I have to look out for promotions for P6 Chinese books...usually around this time bcos PSLE coming soon...looking out for:
*短文填空
*完成对话
*语文应用

[cimman]

Before I coached my kid in science, I had the idea that science involve lots of memory work. However, after the experience, I realized that there is actually very little memory work involved. The bulk of the learning involves understanding the concepts and explaining it in a way that is "exam accceptable".


The understanding part of it is also not too difficult because at the primary school age, the concepts that are taught is something they encounter on a daily basis, something they can see, touch and feel. It is not like secondary school science where theoretical concepts are introduced.

The difficult part of it lies in 2 areas.
a) putting ideas into words. They know the answer, but they just don’t know how to express it. For children who are good with English, this will probably not be an issue. However, it is a hurdle for the average kid. They just can’t seem to find the right words to string together to express what they think is the solution.

b) analysis. Science is all about analysis and coming up with hypothesis to test those theories. Analytical thinking needs to be trained. With the exception of a few gifted kids who seems to have a knack for this, the vast majority will need coaching in critical thinking. Most kids will just accept the answers and not dig deeper and ask about the why or even challenge the answer.

Memory work is not going to help in analysis, nor will it help in expression. It will help if you need to know, say, the seven colors of the rainbow, but those kind of questions are few and far between.

Do children need to remember a long string of numbers or alphabets ? No, unless they want to do a performance. I had a long look at memory enhancement techniques and have yet to find something that enables concepts to be easily understood and remembered.
I eventually felt that the time would be better spent in enhancing the analytical abilities of the young mind.

[Brenda10]

janet_lee88:

Hi Brenda,

No worries
There is this other Science book by MC...orange one with eagle on cover as well as some other titles...for eg the Synthesis & Transformation by Carolyn Lee as well. Since Popular only giving 1 coupon for 20%, I have to look out for promotions for P6 Chinese books...usually around this time bcos PSLE coming soon...looking out for:
*短文填空
*完成对话
*语文应用

Hi Janet

Have checked with Popular's staff and they said the magazine with 20% discount coupon will be out 2 weeks time. Looking forward to top up the Refillable Tapes.

[Lynn2]

Hi Brenda,

If u are ntuc card member , u can have a 20 percent discount from now till 15 may, dont have to wait till the coupon is out from popular

Cheers
Lynn2

Brenda10:

janet_lee88:

Hi Brenda,
No worries
There is this other Science book by MC...orange one with eagle on cover as well as some other titles...for eg the Synthesis & Transformation by Carolyn Lee as well. Since Popular only giving 1 coupon for 20%, I have to look out for promotions for P6 Chinese books...usually around this time bcos PSLE coming soon...looking out for:
*短文填空
*完成对话
*语文应用

Hi Janet

Have checked with Popular's staff and they said the magazine with 20% discount coupon will be out 2 weeks time. Looking forward to top up the Refillable Tapes.

[Lynn2]

Hi cimman,


Thanks for confirming that science is not about memory work.DD refused to memorise, she finds it a torture.She writes on the keyword and based on her understanding and concept.


Cheers,
Lynn2

Before I coached my kid in science, I had the idea that science involve lots of memory work. However, after the experience, I realized that there is actually very little memory work involved. The bulk of the learning involves understanding the concepts and explaining it in a way that is "exam accceptable".

The understanding part of it is also not too difficult because at the primary school age, the concepts that are taught is something they encounter on a daily basis, something they can see, touch and feel. It is not like secondary school science where theoretical concepts are introduced.

The difficult part of it lies in 2 areas.
a) putting ideas into words. They know the answer, but they just don’t know how to express it. For children who are good with English, this will probably not be an issue. However, it is a hurdle for the average kid. They just can’t seem to find the right words to string together to express what they think is the solution.

b) analysis. Science is all about analysis and coming up with hypothesis to test those theories. Analytical thinking needs to be trained. With the exception of a few gifted kids who seems to have a knack for this, the vast majority will need coaching in critical thinking. Most kids will just accept the answers and not dig deeper and ask about the why or even challenge the answer.

Memory work is not going to help in analysis, nor will it help in expression. It will help if you need to know, say, the seven colors of the rainbow, but those kind of questions are few and far between.

Do children need to remember a long string of numbers or alphabets ? No, unless they want to do a performance. I had a long look at memory enhancement techniques and have yet to find something that enables concepts to be easily understood and remembered.
I eventually felt that the time would be better spent in enhancing the analytical abilities of the young mind.[/quote]

[Brenda10]

Lynn2:

Hi Brenda,

If u are ntuc card member , u can have a 20 percent discount from now till 15 may, dont have to wait till the coupon is out from popular

Cheers
Lynn2

Thank you Lynn for the information. However, we don't have the NTUC cards so no choice have to wait for 2 weeks lah.

[Lynn2]

Hi Brenda,


Ok.

Anyway, just another two weeks, which is almost the onset of school holidays.

cheers
Lynn2

Brenda10:

Lynn2:

Hi Brenda,
If u are ntuc card member , u can have a 20 percent discount from now till 15 may, dont have to wait till the coupon is out from popular

Cheers
Lynn2

Thank you Lynn for the information. However, we don't have the NTUC cards so no choice have to wait for 2 weeks lah.