Space-opoly
Kids love my new twist on the classic game of Monopoly. Besides being chocked full of real photographs of celestial objects, it’s simple to set up and easy to play.
Stand Guard at the Gateway to Your Mind
After putting together this video, it is so clear what makes some kids successful when it comes to school and why others really struggle.
Motivation. That’s it.
And, I also know it’s not that simple to motivate kids, but stick with me for a minute…
NEW! 3 Videos on Easy Steps to Keeping Science Journal
Keeping a science journal doesn’t have to be flashy or fancy, just accurate. Science is already hard enough without the added chaos of not knowing what you did yesterday. I’m going to show you the three easy steps to keeping a journal.
How to fix ANYTHING
Have you ever torn apart something and then couldn’t figure out how to get it back together again so that it worked? Worse, you knew that if you had only taken a few moments to think about the problem or jot something down, you know it would have taken you far less time to figure it out?
NEW! Getting Started Video
I’ve added so much to the site recently that I created a video to show you how to get the most out of it. Currently, there are over 800 projects, experiments, and activities!
9 Universities Offering AP High School Courses Online
Did you know that some of the most prestigious universities now offer free science courses online? Some include audio and videos of lectures, course reading, etc. If you’ve got an advanced child who’s sped through the typical high school textbook, then these courses are for you.
The best part? You can go at your own pace, and they are all free.
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Easy Steps to Award-Winning Science Fair Projects
Science Fair Projects. This phrase will strike more fear into the hearts of parents than electrons in a lightning storm. Whether you’re a teacher, parent, kid, or science fair judge, you can quickly turn dread into dexterity with a few quick tips and tricks from the pros of the trade.
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Does this sound familiar?
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Common Misconceptions and Myths in Science Textbooks Revealed… and How to Deal with Them
I gave a teleclass on the biggest *oops!* found in science textbooks, and in addition to the teleclass recording, I thought you’d enjoy an excerpt from my notes. If you’ve found one or more of these in your books, it’s not the end of the world… but this may raise your awareness a few notches.
This article will outline the basic fundamental concepts in physics and give you real hands-on experiments you can share with your child that they will love. I’ve been teaching physics from grade school through college, and in this article I am going to address the common myths and misconceptions about physics and help you set the record straight.
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Click here to for the teleclass audio recording.
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My Secret to Teaching Science
How to Teach Science That Kids Really Enjoy AND That’s Easy To Teach.
You CAN do this for your own kids. It’s not that hard. You just need to know the right steps AND sequence. Kind of like baking a cake. You need the right ingredients, AND you need to mix them in the right order. In this slide-show presentation, I’m going to share with you…
- How to teach your kids science in a way that makes it a part of understanding the world around them (not as some abstract concepts in a book).
- How to make learning real science totally fun for your kids (and I mean both the hands-on experiments AND the academic stuff that they should know).
- How to get your kids super-excited about learning science (or any subject)
- The easy way to teach science, even if you’re not exactly a science guru yourself.
- How to teach your kids the kind of hands-on science that will help them be successful in life when they finally head off to college or to find a job (even if it’s not in a science-related field).
- And much, much more!
I’ve never done this type of presentation before, so please be patient with me! Sometimes I get off on a tangent and take forever to change to the next slide… but I promise, it’s worth it. If you take away only one or two small things that can really make a difference for your kids (and you), then it was worth your time.
Need Help? Call Aurora!
Every Wednesday at 12 noon Pacific (3pm Eastern), Aurora will be on the phone answering any questions you have about any part of this program. These Q&A calls are for folks on any level of the e-Science program, whether at the beginning or with the more advanced stuff. We stay on the phone as long as there are questions to answer.
Here’s the phone number you need to dial in:
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Space-opoly
Kids love my new twist on the classic game of Monopoly. Besides being chocked full of real photographs of celestial objects, it’s simple to set up and easy to play.
This game plays exactly the same as Monopoly, only there are comets instead of railroads, black holes and neutron stars instead of income tax, rocket repair stations instead of jail, community quasars, and much more!
My kids and I have played this game for hundreds and hundreds of hours using these simple templates that I’ve put together for you. The only additional items you will need to find are rocks and dice – which I assume you already have access to. Everything you need to create your own homemade version of this game is right here: Click to download the Space-opoly Templates
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Stand Guard at the Gateway to Your Mind
After putting together this video, it is so clear what makes some kids successful when it comes to school and why others really struggle.
Motivation. That’s it.
And, I also know it’s not that simple to motivate kids, but stick with me for a minute…
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Educational Games That Teach
If you’ve ever wanted to sneak a peek into my cabinet of educational games and books for kids, now is your chance. Use this list for gift ideas, boredom busters, and just plain family fun. Some of these games you can pick up at the store, and the rest are the home-made, print-it-out, cut-and-play variety that your kids will really learn from.
I first made this list because I felt that so many games are watered-down versions of either bingo or “roll the dice and see where you land”, with the occasional card pick. I was curious to see if there were any truly great educational games still available, or if they were all just brain candy.
My games listed here are designed to develop strategy, critical thinking, and chaotic surprise in addition to having the kids learn practical knowledge along the way (not trivial fluff). And when a kid memorizes the card deck, it works in their favor because now they know the entire periodic table, for example.
Here you’ll find games including arithmetic, fractals, equations, chemistry, physics, and more. If you have any you’d like to add to the pile, just submit it in the comments section so everyone can benefit. Are you ready?
Note: This list is growing so please check back for updates!
Favorite Books
- Why Pi? by Johnny Ball
- Go Figure by Johhny Ball
- The Space & Time of Uncle Albert by Russell Stannard
- Black Holes and Uncle Albert by Russell Stannard
- Uncle Albert & the Quantum Quest by Russell Stannard
- George’s Secret Key to the Universe by Lucy & Stephen Hawking
- George’s Cosmic Treasure Hunt by Lucy & Stephen Hawking
- The Elements by Theodore Gray
Favorite Science Games
- Space-opoly (My kids love my version of the classic Monopoly)
- Chemistry Period Table Board Game by Ellen McHenry
- Chemistry Card Game by Ellen McHenry (order fancy cards from Amazon)
- Elementeo developed by a very talented school-age student which teaches kids the characteristics of the periodic table of the elements using a game structure similar to Magic
- Solar System Treasure Hunt This one is included because it’s so fun the first time!
- The Way Things Work Board Game
- Cells Alive! Puzzles and Crosswords online
- Around the World is a favorite at my house, as kids learn all about geography while having a blast!
Math Games
- Equate the Math version of Scrabble, which is great for kids that are getting the hang of arithmetic
- Best Dice Game for honing math skills – I keep a set in my purse wherever I go (no kidding!)
Awesome Games Overall
- Chess find a 34-piece set (with four queens) and a vinyl mat
Intelligent Music for Kids
(that doesn’t make adults want to rip their hair out)
- The Element Song (audio only) by Tom Lehrer
- The Nano Song (audio only) based on nanotechnology
- Supernova Bounce is a jazzy, upbeat, accurate song about exploding stars
- Cute little song about Hooke’s Law and Newton’s Laws (F=kx and F=ma)
- Fun song about Amphere’s Law from Maxwell’s Equations (something they’ll learn about in college)
- Story-like song about Snell’s Law (which has to do with the way light crosses between one medium to another)
- The Relativity Song that’s a favorite of mine! We touch on this topic in Unit 7, Lesson 1
- A very accurate Hydrogen Line Song about how we can use filters to view the sun and see what it’s made up of
- Rudolf the Bright Red Photon and other holiday songs about physics
- What Pi Sounds Like by Michael Blake (see video below)
Note: You can find more songs at the Harvard Physics Song site, but be sure to preview them before sharing them with your kids as they appropriate for college-level students!
Math Help for High School Science
If you high school student is struggling with some of the math concepts in physics, chemistry, and astronomy, then you’re going to love this resource!
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Long-Term Effects of Not Fulfilling Your Child’s Passion for Science
Most kids love the idea of science – of building things, creating inventions, and getting stuff to work by using their own two hands. Kids have a natural passion for science. The problem comes in when the parent feels they can’t meet this need in their child, and they struggle with how to fulfill it.
We’re going to take a look at what happens long-term when you don’t meet this need, and how you can avoid these pitfalls by following three simple steps today. But first, let’s take a look at what passion really is.
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Having a passion for science isn’t a switch that gets flipped on one minute and off the next. Rather it is the result of small and consistent actions taken every day. If these actions empower your child and nurture their curiosity, then you’ll see the interest spark into a flame of passion and creativity.
Unfortunately, there are still a lot of textbooks and teachers out there that do the exact opposite – they slowly chip away at a student’s passion, not consciously aware that they are doing it, until one day that passion for science disappears altogether.
This article is the result of interviewing dozens of people who have had this experience specifically in science, and the issues they face today as adults. All of these folks have one thing in common: they once had a brilliant spark of interest for science, but ‘something happened’ along the way. These people are from all over the board: auto mechanics, grocery store managers, hair dressers, stay-at-home moms, newspaper journalists, and one even was still flipping burgers. They feel an innate regret about being turned off to science, not knowing why or how it happened.
We are going to take a look at the effects of not feeding a child’s passion for science, some of which might be new for you to think about. I share this with you now you can learn from people who already know what the road ahead looks like. If you find you’re doing some of the things here, don’t feel bad – someone may have not told you about this before. We’re also going to look at the three simple things you can do to avoid this type of future for your child.
Are you ready to get started?
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Seven Essential Steps to a Rock-Solid Scientific Journal
The Six Keys to Teaching Homeschool Science
As a hands-on science teacher who some kids think is a bit wild, I’ve found that there are certain very specific keys to teaching science well, and without getting burnt out doing it (especially important for me, because groups regularly hire me to do multi-day science workshops for hundreds of homeschool kids). Actually, these keys just the opposite of how most schools try to teach science.
You’ll learn my 6 keys to getting kids to want to learn science, and for teaching it in a way that takes less time and is more effective (Otherwise known as the 6 mistakes parents make in teaching homeschool science).
Some of the topics we’ll cover include:
- How to teach science in a way that really works. Your kids will learn better and it will take you less time to teach it!
- How you can include academic material in a way that gets kids really excited about learning more.
- How to take what kids learn from an intellectual level of understanding to an everyday applied level. This way they’ll learn the foundation they really need to be successful in college and especially when they go looking for a job someday.
- …and more!
Here’s how to access this information:
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Conversion Charts
Are you using another curriculum alongside the eScience program? This match-up sheet will help you really bring the scientific principles from your textbook to life and show you which experiments and activities work best with the chapter you currently on.
Note: The eScience program does not cover creation nor evolution so ALL families can participate with our programs. We focus on how to build the robot, take data and measurements, work a microscope, launch the rocket, why a laser works…basically sticking to the physics of what’s going on and how to build the projects. Of course, you can always add to it in any way you see fit.
The conversion charts we provide are for most requested texts from our members. For other curriculum, simply email us your TOC and we’ll create a conversion chart for you and post it here.
Which State Standards are Met by e-Science?
Click on the link below to download the PDF file.
- A Beka
- Apologia
- Bob Jones
- God’s Design
- Real Science 4 Kids
- The Noah Plan
- K12.com Online Course
- Alpha Omega Switched On School House and Lifepac Series
- Considering God’s Creation
- Science of Physical Creation
- Noeo Science Curriculum
- Christian Kids Explore Creation
- Secrets of the Universe by Paul Fleisher
- Rainbow Science
- Classic Science: Physical Science
- Science: A Closer Look
- Singapore Early Bird Books (1-4)
- Science Foundations
- Prentice Hall Physical Science
- REAL Science Odyssey (Life)
If you also own the Science Mastery Program, here are the conversion charts between Science Mastery and e-Science:
Science Mastery Program (Silver, Gold, and Diamond) Topics and Subject Areas
Which Materials Do I Need to Get? Determine which materials you can use from your Science Mastery box(es) with the e-Science program
What science stuff does my child REALLY need to learn?
When I teach a science class, this is the questions I get asked most: “What science stuff does my child need to learn?” Parents are wondering exactly what bases they should cover for their kids to understand science before they hit the high school or college scene.
This is a difficult question to answer, partly because it depends on what your ultimate goals are. If your child wants to just get his feet wet and see what all the fuss is about, then grab a couple of science kits and just play. On the other hand, if your kid reads every science text on the planet and is still thirsty for more, there are a few basics you can cover to be sure she is both well-rounded and happy about learning.
There are 18 main principles in science, ten of which kids need to know and understand before they hit college. (As a college professor myself, I’ve seen senior students struggle with these basics that they should have mastered years ago.) And these principles are…Please Login or Register to read the rest of this content.
“What does my child really need to learn in science?”
Have you ever picked up a textbook, filled out a worksheet, or done a science activity and wondered…“What is my child really learning with this?” Parents wonder exactly what bases they should cover for their kids to understand science before they hit the high school or college scene.
Before you can teach your kid science, you’re going to need a basic science understanding yourself. We’ve prepared a science quiz to see where you are and how you’re doing. This is portion of the same quiz we give the kids during our science workshop, so you can test them again after the workshop is over to see how well they’ve pick up the stuff. So take a few minutes and give it your best shot. Good luck.
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Secrets from Successful Teachers
12 Ways to Transform a Teaching Nightmare into an Educator’s Dream
Did you ever have a teacher that made a real impact on you? They took a subject you previously thought was dull and boring and somehow made it jump alive? Special teachers can touch our lives in small ways that make big changes later in life by phrasing a topic into just the right words so it really clicks for you, or simply just believing in you when no one else around you did. These types of teachers are pretty amazing when it comes to inspiring children. If you’ve ever wondered how some of them ‘work their magic’, you’re not alone. Most amazing teachers really couldn’t tell you how they do what they do – they just know how to reach kids effectively in a way that really makes an impact.
One of the main differences between an outstanding teacher and a dud is their ability to enter the student’s world and find out not only where they are, but also where they are coming from. In this way, teachers can structure lessons in a way that not only motivates the child to learn, but instills a deep curiosity that will continue this love of learning for the long-term.
When you truly learn how to motivate people using their preferences (not yours), you open the vault because you hit all the right access codes and can enter into their world to really make an impact on them. Think of it this way: it’s equally important how you deliver the message as well as the message itself. And when you truly understand your child’s motivational programming, you can enter their world and guide them on their path in a meaningful and impactful way.
Note that you don’t need to do all of these. Simply focus on one or two until see a change in the way your child learns. Then come back for more. Are you ready?
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Seven Biggest Mistakes Made in Teaching Science
…and What to Do About Them.
Did you have a teacher that really had an impact on you? Remember the excitement? Or the thrill you felt when you taught something to someone else and they really got it? First, let me thank you for your commitment to education – a value that is high enough for you that you are stretching for resources to help you reach your goals. In this article, I am going to share with you some of the common mistakes that educators often make.
If you’ve fallen prey to one or more of these, it simply means that no one told you about them yet. Once you know, you can then focus on solutions. Or, perhaps you’ll find that you are already on track, and this may reaffirm that you are headed in the right direction. Are you ready?
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Parent Teleclass: How to Motivate Your Child
Aurora will share some of her top secrets with you so you can do the same with your own children. If you set it up right, you will no longer need to push your child to learn, but rather your child will be naturally pulled toward it in a way that lasts long-term. We’ll uncover the ten modes of motivation and the four different types of learning so you can enter your child’s world and meet them at their level, and you will walk away with a game plan for getting the most out of your learning time together.
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Keeping a Scientific Journal
Doing science is exciting, fun, and full of big ideas! Why bother with writing when you could be mixing up chemicals, blasting rockets, or shattering laser beams?
Because all your “great ideas” are worth nothing if you can’t tell others about what you’re doing. Scientists write in journals to let others know the latest news with their experiments, announce their new discoveries, or to simply keep track of their progress.
Keeping a science journal doesn’t have to be flashy or fancy, just accurate. Science is already hard enough without the added chaos of not knowing what you did yesterday. I’m going to show you the three easy steps to keeping a journal.
You don’t have to write a novel – just keep track of what you’re doing along with any questions that come up. It’s a lot easier to do a couple pages a day for a month rather than trying to pound out a hundred pages in a day! This is something you’re going to use throughout the program doing just a little bit at a time, At the end of the month or year, you’ll be surprised to see how much science you’ve covered!
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Science Equipment: How to avoid being ripped off
I’ve been traveling a lot lately and after seeing what’s on the market for science equipment… well, I just had to write this article to help you separate the trash from the treasures. (I’ve been to 13 different educational conventions in 16 months, 17 weeks of science camps, and countless other science-related workshops!)
NOTE: These are the items that I personally use in my teaching and science recreation, and thought I would pass them along to you, from one science educator to another.
I’ve focused mostly on the big-ticket items, the ones that will put the biggest hole in your wallet if you’re not careful. With these tips, you’ll be able to turn those hard-earned dollars into a sound investment in your child’s education and journey toward life-long learning.
The three most important things you can give your child:
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LIVE Q&A Calls
Every Wednesday at 12 noon Pacific (3pm Eastern), we’ll be on the phone answering any questions you have about any part of this program. These Q&A calls are for folks on any level of the eScience program, whether at the beginning or with the more advanced stuff. We stay on the phone as long as there are questions to answer.
Here’s the phone number you need to dial in:
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Need help teaching the basics?
Sometimes I’m lucky just to get my teeth brushed in the morning, let alone design an experiment that illustrates Einstein’s photoelectric effect for my 7-year old son. Luckily, though, YOU don’t need to reinvent the wheel (or the light bulb), because here’s a quick list of cheap and easy experiments that really drive home the basic principles in physical science.
I was thinking of titling it Quality Science in a Hurry on a Shoestring Budget. But what do you think?
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What exactly IS science?
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Science is more than a classroom… it’s actually pretty difficult to define. Science is not about what we know, but rather about how we face what we don’t know. It’s not a textbook of principles, set of rules, or collection of factoids. It’s a process, a thing you do. Science is what happens when you ask questions, get back answers, and try to figure and make sense of it all.
Science gives you a way to ask questions and get back answers. There are many different ways to do this, the Scientific Method being only one of the ways of sorting and sifting through the information as you go along. We’ll be teaching about several different methods as we go along in our program and highlighting which methods are most used by real scientists and engineers.
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Homeschooling Blog
Get the latest tips and news from Supercharged Science through our Homeschooling Blog! We’ve posted articles about how to homeschool your child so that they get into college, how to supplement your child’s education, how to figure out if your child is really learning, how to make homeschooling fun, and more.
You’ll find new articles here every few days… it’s just one of the ways we stay in touch. If there’s something you’d like us to write about, just drop us a note – we’d love to hear from you about what you’d like to read about!