*What countries does your child know about? Can your child find these countries on a globe or map? Discuss different countries together, perhaps reading about them in a magazine article or an encyclopedia.
*Look at a bus or train schedule together. Does your child understand how it is organized? Can he or she make use of it?
*Children celebrate a variety of holidays in School. Canada Day, Remembrance Day, Thanksgiving receive the most attention. These celebrations are good opportunities to ask your child what he or she has learned about the Prime Ministers, and various national traditions; your child's awareness should be expanding each year.
*Ask your child to share with you what he or she has learned about different ethnic and cultural groups in and around your community. What has your child learned about African Canadians, Hispanics, Vietnamese, and Chinese? Is your child reading books and stories by or about members of these groups?
*Your child will be learning about the Native American peoples. See what Native American cultures your child has studied. Does he or she know about the Mayas? Ask how we know about the life of the Canadian Aboriginals before the Europeans came.
Reprinted from 101 Educational Conversations with Your 4th Grader by Vito Perrone, published by Chelsea House Publishers.
Copyright 1994 by Chelsea House Publishers, a division of Main Line Book Co.
Building Science Skills--Grade 3
Tips for Parents
*Close observation is a primary objective of the science program. You and your child can examine a rock, a tree, a leaf, an animal, or an insect. Take turns asking, "What do you see?"
*Observe the sky together. Ask, "What shapes do you see in the clouds?" "Where will you find the sun in the early morning?" "At noon?" "In the evening?"
*Observe the moon together over several weeks; note whether you are looking at it at the same time every day or at different times. Note its location and draw its various shapes; be aware of the stars around it. Examine the moon chart in the weather section of your daily newspaper or on a calendar.
*Can your child locate the North Star? Can he or she explain how it has helped explorers and outdoorspeople?
*Ask about the scientists your child has studied. What does he or she know about them?
*Walks afford many opportunities to identify objects in the environment. You can ask, "What do you think that is?" "What kind of bird is that?" "Let's see how many different kinds of flowers we can identify in this block" (or park, or outdoor mall).
*Together you and your child can name various parts of the body: the heart, lungs, blood, and bones. Talk about their functions.
*Ask why it is important to get exercise, to rest, to eat well, to dress appropriately for various weather conditions, and to see a doctor when you are sick. See what your child is learning about health.
*Engage in physical exercise together. Point out how important exercise is to good health. This is a good invitation to ask your child what he or she is learning about staying healthy.
*Science in school increasingly gives attention to the sources of common things and to everyday processes. You and your child can investigate questions such as, "Where does our water come from?" Where does our sewage go?" "What is the source of our electricity?" "How does a motor work?" "How does a plant grow?" "What causes cement to crack?"
Reprinted from 101 Educational Conversations with Your 3rd Grader by Vito Perrone, published by Chelsea House Publishers.
Copyright 1994 by Chelsea House Publishers, a division of Main Line Book Co. All rights reserved.
(Continued on page 10)