For our November 2013 Catamount Kids class, we are pleased to have Mr. Stuart Strife as our guest instructor.
Mr. Strife is a retired professional geologist who has an extensive rock, mineral, and fossil collection. He has a series of experiments planned to teach Catamount Kids about using the Scientific Method.
Learning About Science and the Scientific Method by Studying Geology
Science is simply put a way of thinking, a quest to gather knowledge, and a desire to learn why and how things work the way that they do. Scientists use a technique called the “Scientific Method” to investigate phenomena, test hypotheses, and add to their body of knowledge. In this class, kids will learn how to use the Scientific Method by investigating several questions in the field of Geology (the study of the Earth). Catamount Kids will become scientists for the evening and make predictions to answer the following questions:
1) Can a rock float like a boat on water?
2) Can you read a book through solid rock?
3) Can you determine what part of dinosaur’s body a fossil bone is from?
4) Can a rock change colors like a chameleon without using paint or magic markers?
Kids will make observations, form hypotheses, predict outcomes, and then perform a series of experiments to test their ideas. You will learn some fun things about rocks, minerals, and the Earth that is our home. Most importantly, this class will help Catamount Kids to develop a sense of curiosity that can stay with them throughout the rest of their lives.