1B Scientific Inquiry #1 People can often learn about things around them by just observing those things carefully, but sometimes they can learn more by doing something to the things and noting what happens.... 1C The Scientific Enterprise #1 Everybody can do science and invent things and ideas....

	3B Design and Systems #1 People may not be able to actually make or do everything that they can design....

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Invention at Play

http://www.inventionatplay.org/


Description

This site, which is part of the Smithsonian National Museum of American History, challenges students to explore, question, invent, and collaborate to make their own discoveries. Adult inventors use skills that children develop through their play, and this site offers four activities to foster these skills. Cloud Dreamer facilitates make believe and visual thinking; Puzzle Blocks supports puzzle play and problem solving; Tinker Ball encourages exploration and tinkering; and Word Play focuses on social play and collaboration.

Have students play with each of the four online activities. You could make similar materials available to students in the classroom for them to also explore hands on. When students explore hands on and virtually through the computer, they develop the same concepts from different angles. This not only strengthens their development of these concepts, it also reinforces the connection between hands-on exploration and computer-based learning.

• Inventions 1: Edison and the Light Bulb K-2 Lesson
  
• Inventions 2: The Impact K-2 Lesson
  
• Making Good Decisions K-2 Lesson
  
• Images of Science 3-5 Lesson
  
• Social Trade Offs 3-5 Lesson
  
• Values and Attitudes 3-5 Lesson
  
• Ology Tool
  
• Wonderville Tool
  

Created : 02/26/2004