She’s collected facts and speaks of the science of the elements so naturally, that my boys found learning about Sodium and Carbon a fascinating time.ĭrawing a many-faceted diamond that sparkled off the page will certainly be a memorable experience for my kids. Nana builds excitement by telling kids that Carbon is called “the glue of life.” Plus, she introduces important chemistry terms like “bonding” and “compounds.” I think it’s great for kids to hear these terms when they are younger, so when they get to high school, they will feel more familiar and excited about learning chemistry.Īgain, Nana shared background information on the element Carbon. In this lesson they learned about this nonmetallic element, and how it is found everywhere from their own bodies to precious gems like diamonds.
The boys also completed the element Carbon video art lesson. But instead of plunking this information down in a box that looks like all the other boxes on the periodic table, Nana has the kids paint the information onto a flag at the top of their picture. Included in the Sodium chalk pastel art lesson were the important details about sodium’s name, symbol, and atomic number. Or sometimes, she’ll do a little storytelling, painting a word picture of a scene in which they might find themselves face to face with: Sodium! It always makes them stop and think (or at least, they don’t daydream!). I just love how she asks questions right at my kids in her videos. However, I have not met a kid yet who doesn’t perk up at the mention of french fries! Wait till your kids find out that the element sodium is a huge factor in what makes their drive-through snack so tasty!Īs Nana lead my boys through drawing a carton of vibrant golden French Fries studded with savory salt (sodium chloride), they both agreed the entire lesson made them hungry! Nana shared facts about the element sodium as she demonstrated how to paint these savory spuds.
Kids might hear grownups talking about “watching their sodium” in their food, but that won’t hold much meaning for them. Practically speaking, most of us will rarely encounter a pure element, like sodium in our day-to-day lives.
In Nana’s latest addition to the I Drew It Then I Knew It Science series, you’ll find two lessons featuring the very common elements of Sodium and Carbon. Understanding how elements are related and have similar reactions is more important than simply filling out a blank table by rote. He even includes a wee little bit of art by having them color-code a blank periodic table to reflect the different groupings of the elements. My husband teaches high school chemistry and in his class, he focuses initially on having students learn categories and groupings of elements. When it comes to learning chemistry, knowing everything on the Periodic Table isn’t necessarily the primary goal. Showing kids where they are most likely to encounter each element makes learning chemistry memorable and practical. There’s a saying that goes, “What in the world ISN’T Chemistry?” because everything we see is made up of elements (not necessarily as pure elements, but in their ionic, compound, and mixture forms!). The key is to introduce concepts like chemistry and the Periodic Table of Elements in a way that is practical and relatable. Yet, the same hands-on and wonder-based approach kids enjoyed in other sciences is still possible in advanced sciences. Suddenly, students must do long series of math equations and formulas, study complicated charts and graphs, and apply rules and principles. The transition to sciences like physics and chemistry can seem like a departure from the beauty and wonder of biological and physical sciences. After all, who doesn’t love learning about clouds and rain, rocks and volcanos, how the heart pumps blood, and the life cycle of frogs? In the elementary years, kids often rate science as one of their favorite subjects.