 Hands-on Learning: How to teach a child
about puddles.
Option 1: Find a puddle and photograph it.
Show the photograph to a seven-year-old child. Have her read about puddles,
build one from construction paper and color a picture of a puddle.
Later, ask her to talk about the puddle.
Option 2: Find a puddle. Add one seven-year-old
child. Mix thoroughly. Stomp, splash, and swish. Float leaves on it. Drop
pebbles into it and count the ripples. Measure the depth, width, and length
of it. Test the pH. Look at a drop under a microscope. Measure 250 mL of
puddle water and boil it until the water is gone. Examine what is left
in the container. Estimate how long it will take for 250 mL of puddle water
to evaporate. Time it. Chart it. Now ask the child to talk about the puddle.
If you were a seven-year-old child, what option
would stimulate you to talk about the puddle? With hands on learning,
kids are part of the process rather than just spectators. |
