You want to guide learning for your child that is thoughtfully organized and will build upon the child's interest and ideas. It is useful to progress through a series of related activities about a topic making connections to concepts the child may already know. How is the new concept different or similar to what they already know? Where does the spark of interest in learning about something start?

Here we introduce you to two educational approaches that are well researched and well received in a formal educational setting. One is the BSCS 5E instructional model and the other is Project Based Learning. Having some concise background knowledge about these models will give you some ideas about guiding purposeful learning with children. We offer a few examples of simplified threads of activities through a sequenced topic. See the physical and life science activities in the chart.

The well-researched approach of the 5Es has had many applications for classroom organization, curriculum design and professional development. We feel it is also an effective guide for learning in informal settings at home. Simply put, the 5Es are: Engage, Explore, Explain, Elaborate and Evaluate. Notice they are all active verbs. This is what the child would do in each stage of learning. The chart of activities we have prepared for you provides an activity to engage the children in the topic and compare it to what they know, an activity to explore the situation or concept (phenomenon) they are learning, an activity to allow the children to explain what they are thinking about the topic as they are learning, an activity to allow opportunities to elaborate upon what they learn, and lastly, an activity through which the child can evaluate what and how they are learning. These activities should elicit lots of questions, discussion, and interaction through which you will try, collaborate, research and discover together.

Build a Cloud Chamber

Exploring Matter in Space (NSTA Interactive eBook+)