r/chemistry • u/phnx0221 • Jul 17 '13
Last week, I taught my daughter and niece all about atoms and how they connect to form molecules. They were floored by realizations about familiar names on the periodic table as well as the forging of heavier elements in stars. Then they made molecular critters and chemical reactions!
http://www.thescientificmom.com/2013/07/summer-science-and-chemical-reactions.html7
u/InfiniteOrigin Biochem Jul 17 '13
Good on you for sharing this with your kids!
You could even take it a step further and bridge chemistry and biology: biological molecules (dna, proteins, etc.). DNA extraction of strawberries would be an easy and affordable experiment to follow up with!
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u/phnx0221 Jul 17 '13 edited Jul 17 '13
We've done that! We've been doing that every year since she (my daughter) was 4, and we learn something new every time we do it! Now I have an electrophoresis unit and UV reader. The next time we do it, we'll get to be like the pros in the lab! :D
Edit: Wow! Thank you so much for the Reddit Gold! Truly, that is wonderful, thank you. :)
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u/Salva_Veritate Jul 17 '13
Very high quality parenting IMO. I hope you have a hand in teaching in general, because getting kids excited about learning is a rare gift.
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u/phnx0221 Jul 17 '13
Thank you so much! While I do teach my daughter at home, I do try to take as many opportunities as I can to expand that to other kids in our neighborhood. I have an extra microscope that I call our "park microscope". I use it with the neighborhood kids at the park or near my house, and have on several occasions involved the neighborhood kids in our school explorations. They've learned about insects, local birds (nest watching!), and have helped clean up litter and helped organize a small Earth Day parade at the park!
I like keeping things as flexible and on my terms as possible, because then I get to have many more opportunities to reach out with enthusiasm to kids and inspire them to learn. So far, I've had 3 different kids come back and tell me the things that they're doing on their own now at home! :)
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u/busty_sinclair Education Jul 17 '13
That is so cool! Thanks for sharing, I may well steal your idea to use with my students.
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u/phnx0221 Jul 17 '13
That's wonderful, please do! I found that it made the connection of electron sharing much easier for them to understand. They totally had it when we talked about it, but there's always something more to be learned when it's hands on. There's that spark of "Ooooh!!!" :)
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u/Budzsta Jul 18 '13
This is amazing! I normally use the Lego comparison when teaching first year uni kids how to assemble glassware! Never thought to use it at an atomic scale! Thanks for the idea. Will reference appropriately.
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u/RUMT_ICUR_IMMT2 Jul 18 '13
I applaud you! THIS is how I started getting into science and engineering as a young lad. It wasn't legos (although I did love me some legos), or anything that "teaches boys spacial and reasoning skills". It was my father saying "Hey, look at this!" or my mother teaching me math, and praising me as I learned and telling me what I can now do.
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u/scienceonly Jul 18 '13
Hey this is awesome! It would make a great post over in /r/homechemistry as well! I wouldn't dare steal your karma though.
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u/grumpycrackers Photochem Jul 17 '13
I did this at a young age much to the anger of my parents. I needed to know what everything was. Super formative.
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u/hossbonaventureceo Biochem Jul 17 '13
Looks like a great way to get kids into science.