Would Sir Isaac Newton use a car seat for a baby? What has King Louis XVI got to do with a meter? How can you use two balloons to show that air has mass?
Wonder Scientist© books explore math and physical science with pre-school and elementary children. Children discover fundamental scientific principles with stories, activities, and demonstrations using common household objects. A parent or teacher helps with the discovery process.
The first book is now available and introduces numbers, measuring, shapes, kitchen science, stars, and Newton's first law of motion. Sara Penny and Laura Cotts wrote the book to implement a style of teaching for math and science based on the ideas of Dr. Suzuki. "We knew a four year old could start to play the violin and now we know that same child can learn the fundamentals of math and physics in this nurturing approach," said Penny, a violin teacher. The ideas are presented in small steps with lots of questions and observation, so the parent is able to create an atmosphere which encourages science in a fun way for the child.
The explorers may go to Greece to count sheep on their staffs or to Arabia to find the number symbols for counting their oil lamps. They may find themselves in the Old West for a melodrama with Fearless Freddy Friction or in the kitchen making a wizard concoction. "All children are curious and open to looking at the world around them. We're providing a program where parents and teachers can turn that natural quest for knowledge into a foundation for science and math," said Cotts, who teaches physics labs at Southern Utah University. "If the children begin school knowing that math and science are fun, they will be more successful in these subjects. And if they can develop the habits of noticing, observing, wondering, questioning, predicting, investigating, experimenting, describing, trying again and again, they will develop their minds. They will know that learning is not something you do just in school; it is the essence of life."
The authors have presented their ideas at the Suzuki Association of the Americas Convention in Chicago in May '96 and in October '95 at a regional meeting of the National Science Teachers Association in Salt Lake City. They have also used the ideas to teach enrichment classes for the Intermountain Suzuki Institute in Salt Lake City, Utah and presentations for both large and small groups in southern Utah.
"We are pleased with the excitement of the children, parents, and teachers as they embark on this scientific adventure. Most parents know a lot more about science than they realize and this approach provides a fun project for families," said Penny. The book can be utilized by a parent and child or in class settings with a teacher, parents, and children. "The parents are crucial to the success of the child's understanding because they reinforce the concepts in daily life at home," said Cotts.
Helping the adult/child team have fun on their journey makes it easier to absorb the ideas. Using common household objects the child has a hands-on laboratory in his home which is better equipped than the labs of Newton or Galileo What would Bernoulli think of a hairdryer and a ping pong ball? A modern home is an incredible science lab when we take the time to share it with our children.
The first Wonder Scientist book has five sessions, each about an hour, with stories, activities, and experiments for children from age 4 to 10. The numbers and shapes sections are best for preschool children, but the physics and geology sections are sutiable for older elementary children.
Dr. Desmond Penny, SUU physics professor, helped develop this program for children and Brian Penny illustrated the book.
The book is available from Wonder Scientist, 270 S. 200 W., Cedar City, UT 84720 For further information, contact E-mail: Cotts_L@suu.edu.
Send check or money order for $14 per book (includes postage) payable to Wonder Scientist to Sara Penny, 270 S. 200 W., Cedar City, UT 84720. Utah residents add 75 cents for tax. Please allow two to three weeks for delivery.
Bulk rates are available for 10 or more books.
For further information, contact E-mail: Cotts_L@suu.edu