Our Famous Inventor Science Club

I've been wanting to share a club that I created for my oldest son when we began homeschooling.  This son was really into science.  When I would ask him what he wanted to learn about, he would light up and say "science!!".  So, I began to think what I could create for him in order to fulfill this desire.  This is what I came up with.  It was extremely fun and interesting. 

Hope you like it.  I will also share some of our field trips that we attended and some projects that we created. 

This is my basic outline of our book club:

Science Book Club

Host: Jocelyn Vance

For kids ages 8-12

Exact dates and places TBA.

Also, a really good book to have on hand is called, “The New Way Things Work”, by David Macaulay it really explains the inventions in great detail. I'll put page numbers to that book in reference to the books that we will be studying as well.

September: “Archimedes and the Door of Science”, Jeanne Bendick, ( “The New Way Things Work”, p.22-27. 374 (levers) (pulleys) p. 54-55)

Inventions include: Archimedes' Screw (idea behind levers, pulleys and propellers in modern science) He also invented war machines for King Hiero and eventually used by Alexander the Great. Scientific terms include: gravity, density, mass, volume, buoyancy, displacement and hydrostatics

We will get together around 2^nd week in September to discuss book and perform several science experiments performed by Archimedes. As well as create mini models of war machines created by Archimedes.

Second Week in October: Field Trip (TBA) Possibly small airport in Sparks to see propellers on airplanes

We did it!! We went on our first field trip to a small airport here in town.  It was so much fun!!  The owners of the airport allowed the kids to sit in the cockpit of the small airplanes.  They explained all of the components of the airplanes to the kids and handed out coloring booklets for the kids to take home.  We discussed how the propellors function as a screw all because of Archimedes.  It was a hit!!

Last Week in October: “Along Came Galileo”, Jeanne Bendick ( “The New Way Things Work”(pendulum clocks, p.42), (telescopes, p.186-189)

Inventions include: Pendulums, The Law of Accelerated Motion, The law of Parabolic Fall, Speed

Telescopes and Space Studies.

We will meet to discuss solar system at time of Galileo and now. We will create mini solar system.

Second Week in November: Field trip to Planetarium

We did it!! We attended a field trip to our local planetarium and got to watch "Attack of the Space Pirates". 

First Week in January: “Ben Franklin of Old Philadelphia”, Margaret Cousins ( “The New Way Things Work”, electricity, p.386, conductors, p. 262-263), steam power p. 158-159, 380)

Introduction to Electricity and Automation

We will be getting together 2^nd week in January to discuss book and create a lightning conductor.

Last Week in January: Field Trip TBA possible newspaper office to see how newspapers are printed because Benjamin Franklin owned a printing press.

Second Week in February: “ The Story of Thomas Alva Edison” Margaret Cousins ( “The New Way Things Work”, batteries p.268-269, 386), camera lenses, p. 198-207, 383) modern TV p.242-247)

Inventions include: electric light bulb, phonograph, moving picture and hundreds of other inventions.

We will be getting together to discuss difference between modern moving pictures and those created by Thomas Edison.

We will experiment with light bulb and electricity. Record results in Science Notebook

Last Week in February: Each child will choose an invention by Thomas Edison and write a report to share as well as provide a sample of invention or experiment to share with group.

Second Week in March: Field Trip to TV station (TBA).

Last Week in March: “Albert Einstein, Young Thinker”, Marie Hammontree (Childhood of Famous Americans) ( “The New Way Things Work” hot air balloons, p. 104-105, jet engines

p. 160-161)

We will get together to discuss inventions and ideas made by Albert Einstein. Discuss atom bomb

Perform mentos explosion experiment as a group to simulate atomic bomb.

Second Week in April: “ Marie Curie's Search for Radium”, Beverly Birch and Christian Birmingham ( “The New Way Things Work”, X-rays p. 296-297, 388)

We will get together to discuss Marie Curie's discoveries including radium and X-Rays.

Scientific terms; radioactive, ray, x-ray, radiation and electrometer

Perform a science experiment together as a group, test water content of food before and after heating and record results in science notebook.

Last Week in April: Field Trip (possibly to doctors office to discuss X rays or have an Xray technician present to group)

We did it!! We attended a field trip to our local hospital.  We received a tour of the children's hospital and the kids were allowed to see a cat scan room.  We discussed how Marie Curie discovered radium and made it possible for x-rays to be performed.  It was a great experience. 

Third Week in May: Final Presentations

Choose a famous inventor to present to group. Wright Brothers (air Planes), Jacques Montgolfier (Hot Air Balloons), etc. (Choose from “The Picture History of Great Inventors” by Gillian Clements)

Each child will research on specific inventor and present to group along with a visual aid.

 There you have it.  Our science book club.  I had all these great ideas, and they didn't all work out exactly as I had planned, but we had a great time and that's what is most important.