Real Outdoor Science Experiments
#3 in Science Wide Open Series
on Goodreads (4)
What’s inside...
S.T.E.A.M. powered outdoor experiments for kids ages 8 to 12. Dive into the world’s most exciting science lab—the great outdoors! Covering everything from plants and trees to rocks and weather, this amazing book of 25+ real outdoor experiments offers a fun way to immerse yourself in science, technology, engineering, art, and math.
Discussion points
What was your favorite experiment from the book and why?
How do the experiments in the book help us understand the natural world?
If you could create your own experiment based on what you learned, what would it be about?
How do you think science helps us solve everyday problems?
What experiment would you like to try next, and what do you think you'll discover?
Tip: Role play these questions
Encourage your child to first describe the scientific concepts they learned. This not only reinforces their understanding but also builds their confidence in explaining complex ideas.
Ask your child to draw connections between the experiments in the book and real-life scenarios, which enhances their critical thinking.
Propose the idea of conducting one of the experiments together, providing hands-on learning and making the experience more memorable.
For each experiment discussed, challenge your child to think of potential outcomes before conducting the experiment, fostering their predictive and analytical skills.
Key lessons
Example Lesson: Curiosity and Exploration
Explanation: The book encourages children to venture outdoors and explore the natural world through hands-on science experiments.
Real-World Application: Children learn to engage with their environment, ask questions, and seek answers through real-life observations and experiments.
Example Lesson: Scientific Method
Explanation: Each experiment in the book follows the scientific method, teaching children to make hypotheses, conduct experiments, and draw conclusions.
Real-World Application: This approach instills critical thinking skills and a systematic way of problem-solving that can be applied in school projects and daily decisions.
Example Lesson: Environmental Awareness
Explanation: The experiments focus on outdoor settings, subtly educating children about biodiversity, ecosystems, and the importance of environmental conservation.
Real-World Application: Children become more conscious about their impact on the environment and learn ways to protect it, fostering responsible behaviors.
Example Lesson: Patience and Perseverance
Explanation: Science experiments often require patience as some results aren't immediate; the book portrays this through various trials and errors in the experiments.
Real-World Application: Children learn the values of patience and perseverance, understanding that not all processes yield instant results, which is applicable in learning new skills or hobbies.
Example Lesson: Collaboration
Explanation: Many experiments encourage teamwork, showing children how to collaborate effectively to achieve a common goal.
Real-World Application: This lesson prepares children for collaborative projects in school and in future workplaces, emphasizing the importance of teamwork and communication.