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ds showing a real aptitude for science, how do I encourage it?

18 replies

OracleInaCoracle · 06/04/2011 10:49

ds is nearly 6 and has always had a very logical mind, he is good at maths and reading (his teacher said in parents meeting that his reading age is 7, maths age is 7-8) but his real passion is science. when they did science projects he was, apparently, the one leading the class, the one coming up with the ideas and solved the problem pretty much instantly. like all young boys he is obsessed with dinosaurs, but it seems to have gone a little further, he is interested in the fossils, how the paleontologists work, how geologists work, the process of dating etc. his learning age for science is 11-12 and he absorbs anything to do with geology, chemistry and paleontology like a sponge. he wants to be a paleontologist when he grows up and is saving his money to "go on a dig" ffs.

the thing is, I dont know how much to encourage it and how to encourage it. we are going to the think tank in brum for his birthday and will be visiting the shropshire hills centre in the easter holidays, we are also going to go to the lapworth museum to see the fossils there, but we arent on the coast and there arent any young geologist groups around here. we go to wenlock edge a few times a year to up his fossil collection, but my condition is pretty bad at the mo which has limited me quite a bit.

any advice greatly appreciated!

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CMOTdibbler · 06/04/2011 10:55

Theres quite a lot of stuff here - theres some geology activities over easter, and the geopark trails are good.

DH likes the holiday geology guides from the british geological society too

OracleInaCoracle · 06/04/2011 10:57

oooh thank you, we could go to the bewdley meet with expoerts, he would LOVE that. have you been geocaching?

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CMOTdibbler · 06/04/2011 11:02

No, we haven't yet - ds is only 4. DH did his degree in geology, and is a fanatic, and would have us looking at rocks all the time given a chance. But I am proud that at 4 ds has a good grasp of tectonic plate theory Smile

OracleInaCoracle · 06/04/2011 11:07

lol, its great isnt it? I am rubbish at anything scientific but ds just seems to "know" it. we were reading a (very basic) dinosaur book from school the other week that said that TRex had very short arms, no one knows why. ds announced "its obvious, its because they have big heavy heads and jaws and long heavy tails, so if they had long, strong arms too they would fall over onto their noses. they have little arms to help them ballance" I was gobsmacked.

where did dh study? has he always loved geology etc?

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CMOTdibbler · 06/04/2011 11:11

DH did his degree at Cardiff - at the time the two best places to do geology were Cardiff or Camborne school of mines. Cambourne had a male:female ratio of 30:1, so he decided against that !

He's always loved geology. Pretty much as I've always loved physics, so between us we are v scientific. No suprise that ds is following on

OracleInaCoracle · 06/04/2011 11:18

fab, thank you. tbh, ds's ability in this area has taken us both by surprise. I was always better at English and drama at school, while dh was English and Sports. ds is NOT sporty, in fact, if you give him a football he will look at it then pretend its a globe instead Grin

we are hoping to attend a junior geo walk next year and are planning to go to dorset for our holiday so that we can.

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greenlotus · 06/04/2011 11:20

If you ever fancy a day out, Snibston discovery park is brilliant for young engineers/scientists. (Sounds like you are in the middle of the country & distant from the sea like we are). We live very near & have a season ticket, the DS's would spend every weekend there given half a chance. Even the play area teaches about water, mechanics, sound waves, and there's plenty on mining as well.

greenlotus · 06/04/2011 11:21

oops link for Snibston. There's also a fashion gallery should your interests not run to science, me, I love it all.

OracleInaCoracle · 06/04/2011 11:22

ooo, lovely, thank you!

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tiggerandpoohtoo · 06/04/2011 22:49

Have you thought about a visit to the natural history museum? If he loves dinosaurs, then he'll love it there. Especially this summer www.nhm.ac.uk/visit-us/whats-on/temporary-exhibitions/age-of-the-dinosaur/index.html
A friend of mine took her 6 year old ds for his birthday, they went on the train which was a treat in itself for him, and because she booked well in advance not too expensive.

3rdnparty · 07/04/2011 19:51

if you are do go to the natural history then the science museum is next door ....which has some fab sections for kids

EduStudent · 07/04/2011 22:42

Roughly guessing your location, it sounds like Dudley Museum has a few sciencey displays (not been there though).

Techniquest at Cardiff is pretty fun too, though a bit further out, also Ironbridge has a few sciencey type places.

If you go to Lapworth, when you go through the large marble reception area, look up at the ceiling above the reception desk. It's actually an optical illusion and the ceiling is almost flat, it's just painted to look curved. Interesting, but useless information Grin

OracleInaCoracle · 08/04/2011 09:49

we are going to the NHM in the summer holidays, we were going to go for his birthday, but its the day after the royal wedding so we decided it would be best to wait.

we are thinking about enginuity in the holidays though. he is so excited!

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CMOTdibbler · 08/04/2011 09:52

Its Cheltenham science festival in June, and there'll be loads on for children. The programme looks really interesting

OracleInaCoracle · 08/04/2011 10:08

oooh, thank you. will check it out

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CMOTdibbler · 08/04/2011 10:10

And there was a Cheltenham hotel offer on Groupon today (just saw it) which would make it a nice stay

brabbinsandfyffe · 08/04/2011 16:33

If you did make it to the NHM, have to say that we took ten year olds to the NHM not so long ago and they loved it - there is a discovery type room www.nhm.ac.uk/visit-us/whats-on/daily-events/investigate/index.html where they get to use the measuring equipment, computers, microscopes, available staff etc to investigate loads of different specimens (including beetles - in perspex thankfully, a stuffed alligator, a massive snake skin, some fossils and mineral samples and some pieces of coral to name a few). It is not just for schools, families also welcome. I think it has to wait until he is seven, but it sounds right up his street!

brabbinsandfyffe · 08/04/2011 16:35

Doh! Sorry I meant the NHM Investigate centre.

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