Mr. Science was unmasked once again. That was some months ago. Now I see that I could have just left the problem of encouraging scientific inquiry in my children to the educational software publishers. With the shelves glutted with reading and math software, the industry is turning to science. Sometimes this works brilliantly.
Children can learn concepts, play games and engage, perhaps, in a bit of scientific inquiry.
After watching a child build a hundred circuits with bells and batteries on a computer screen, I began to wish the publisher had included a few wires in the box. In the electricity lab, you learn to construct simple electrical circuits by adding and cutting wires, and attaching bulbs, fans and bells. The exercises become increasingly complex, covering basic electrical concepts like current, voltage, resistance and parallel circuits. You can follow the lesson plan step by step, or putter around with your own circuits. The laser lab explores light rays and colors.