Just wondering if anyone has any websites they might recommend that would help with those many questions I find myself fielding each day. Probably a science-type site, but one that's geared toward a younger crowd. My daughter will be 4 next month (although she's very verbal for her age) and has always been VERY curious. To give you an idea, these are some of her more recent questions:
- What's inside a rock?
- How big is the sun really, in real life?
- Why do our bodies grow hair/have gas?
- How big is a crocodile's mouth?
- Do birds make their own eggs?
This is just a sample of the things she asks all the time. I'd love to encourage her curiosity (yes, I know I'll encourage MORE questions). It would be nice to have a site or two we could search for answers (that might be better than the answers I provide).
Thanks for any ideas I can get!
Here are several that I have/am using with kids from 2.5 to 16:
http://www.apples4theteacher.com/
http://www.tlsbooks.com/
http://www.funbrain.com/
there are several others, I just don't have them saved on my laptop
I can't help with a site, but will be excited to hear the answers since I have a curious 5-year old girl.
I am a researcher by profession, and sometimes I use google and wikipedia to get started. Type in your question and see what comes up. You jus thave to settle for some less than precise or accurate results. But it's a good start.
I would recommend the library. I have been uising that a lot lately. We go weekly to storytime. Everytime we have a new interest/activity (dinosaurs, swimming, God!!!!!), I just ask the librarian to recommend a good book or two. It's great.
Also, in Northern VA we have "Curiosity Zone" shops that offer classes. Here's the link: http://www.curiosityzone.com/
I also want to let you know another way to answer. That's a great question honey. Maybe when your older, you can be a scientist to find out the answer. It is okay that you don't answer every question. Good luck
I would rather recommend a trip to your local public library for your daughter. There you will find a wealth of books that the two of you can sit down and share together. There have been many books written for children on these science questions. You know that the public libraries are a safe environment (your identity is not in jeopardy there like at an unknown web site) and they have pre-screened the material so it is appropriate for children. Web sites are good, but sharing a book together with your child..priceless!
How about National geographics for Kids?
http://kids.nationalgeographic.com/
They also have a magazine you can get in the mail made just for preschoolers -- I got a subscription for my friends, they loved it.
Also, Bill Nye the Science guy is really good (Disney), and Popular Mechanics for Kids is a show from the 90's that you can get at the library, my 4 year old loves it!!!
perhaps she would like a monthly subscription to a magazine. my daughter gets 'your big backyard' it reasonably priced and the money goes to the national wildlife federation.
and this is the perfect time to go to the library and just let her run loose in the nonfiction section. even if the book is a little too old for her you can pick and choose the factoids to read to hear. my daughter has been reading a early science reader about bats (her passion) since she was two and as she grows she understands more of it.
pbs has a program called 'it's a big big world' which may be too young for your daughter but its website might be interesting. they learn about the scientific method, animal and plant behavior and biology, ecology and weather. you can find the show on pbskids.org.
have fun!
Oh my goodness B., that is so awesome that your daughter asks those kinds of things. It would be my guess that you spend a lot of time talking to her and that you have books in your home. As far as websites are concerned, one that I use a lot as a teacher is www.EnchantedLearning.com This one has a lot of worksheets and activities too. The other thing that I use a ton and have with all my own kids is the Usborne Books that are internet linked. We have a whole series of books the either answer questions like you mentioned or the Beginner Books are $5 hardback books great for that inquisitive preschool through elementary age. Eggs and Chicks, Tadpoles and Frogs...those are just a few. This series is Internet Referrenced (IR) which means that there are four websites listed for each book. They are very age appropriate with large print--I love them.
Check them out at www.EduHelpBooks.com and give me a ring and I will be happy to answer any questions that you and and tell you how you can get these books a little bit cheaper. My number is ###-###-####. Have fun looking at these two sites!
I don't have a website, but a wonderful hands-on museum here in Linthicum near BWI airport that has lots of space, radio communication, airplane type things to see. It is free, but takes donations. I love watching the children play with the displays and the senior retired engineers enjoying what they have put together to enlighten folks. If anyone would like more info on the National Electronics Museum, please contact me. ____@____.com
Grandma N.
We don't do websites with our boys, so I can't help you there, but we have found a series of books called "Science Vocabulary Readers" which are geared to preschoolers and available through Scholastic Books. Our 3 and 5 year olds love them. Each book is a different topic/full of different facts. You might want to check them out!
~m
Your dd sounds just like my son who is turning 5 soon! He loves Sid the Science Kid on PBS. Check out www.pbskids.org if you haven't already. From there you can click on Sid and do activies, experiments, explore, play games and more!
HTH,
S.
Check out the Magic School bus. They have both books (short and chapter) and short movies you can find at the library or on cable (Discovery Kids 8-9am) I'm sure they have a website as well. Good for her to be excited about science. My daughter reads nothing but non-fiction about animals and science (she is 8 now) encourage her without losing your mind in the process. Google is a beautiful thing and I have no problem saying "I don't know...lets look it up"
http://dep.disney.go.com/?cmp=dcore_dep_psg_product
Check out Bill Nye the Science Guy he has a link on Disney.
Also the Magic School Bus on CD is really good science for the young ones. My kids favorite was the Earth.
Have fun.
Sounds like she is a candidate for Sid the Science Kid. www.pbskids.org and search for Sid.
LOL. I don't have any suggestions, but had to write that I love the questions.
S.
