I need some recommendations for science kits/classes for 5 year olds.  O is fascinated with experiments and building things.  Yesterday he was trying to rewire the TV.  Today, when I was on the phone, he plugged the two ends of the phone cord (for the printer/fax) into the dual phone jacks ont he wall and short-circuited the phone.

I thought of buying a few small appliances (well, I'll probably start with one) from the thrift store and looking for an owner's manual/repair manual.  Then I'll let him take it apart and put it back together.  Has anyone tried this?  The problem, of course, is adequate supervision.  Because I'm not motivated to endure the mess/risk involved, I never get around to doing it with him, so he's trying to do it on his own.  Advice?

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Posted by Anonymous

Ugh. I wish I could help you with this but I honestly have NO idea. But wow-- just think of how HANDY he's gonna' be someday!!!

~Stacy

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Posted by Christinethecurious

Dear Annie,

Ever see the Dilbert cartoon? Its about a group of engineers in an office with a horrible boss. In one frame the mother is taking young Dilbert to the doctor "Doctor, he took the clock apart, and put it back together again with one piece missing, but it works better now. He reads repair manuals"
"...I'm sorry Ma'am, he has the knack, I'm afraid he will be an engineer."
"Isn't there anything we can do about it?"

I asked Dan my Roadside Electronics Guy for some guidelines in the spirit of Dr Christienson the Houghton Organic prof, who said "Always ask what can go wrong with a piece of equipment, so then you know that everything else is fine":


Dan said, no TVs or Microwaves - I'm adding - the power supplies can hold a charge for a long time and have enough voltage to elecrocute, I may have gotten the terms wrong though.

So, nothing with a screen - no TV or microwave, cut the AC plug off the end of the wire, forbid any plugging in of connectors to a power supply, make him wear safety glasses, look on the roadside on recycling day, you may not even need to go to a thrift store. Old computers and toaster ovens are prime picks. Since the circuit boards are full of lead, and other toxic metals, wash hands after doing autopsies.

The Bernie Zubrowski books from Pitsco are great for integrated studies of physical consepts, but they are quite teacher centered, and need a lot of matterials prepared a head of time. I usually do them at co-op so I have enough kids to bounce ideas off each other, and feel that my prep work is helping enough other people to make it worth my while. But, the books are narrated right at the children, it might work just as a read aloud.

If you do buy a pair of wire cutters at the hardware store for taking off those AC plugs: they work great on chenille wire, beading wire, and also for cutting toe nails, more accurate than nail cutters. It's always nice to know your $15 purchase is not a one use item.

Love,
Chris

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Posted by momco3

All right-- I'm off to get a good pair of wire cutters and drive by looking at people's trash. =)
Seriously, I wish Sam or I had the skills he's going to have-- maybe he can teach us!
Annie

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