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Home › Articles › Activities › Kids Learn at Recess!

Kids Learn at Recess!

How Children Learn Through Play

By Mark Stackpole

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His family is full of hands-on learners, and he encourages his children to pursue their curiosity. "I've noticed that they learn so much more by taking a toy apart and putting it back together, or just by having them watch me and then trying it for themselves," Lindsey says.

Having visited hundreds of schools to perform science experiments for students of all ages, Lindsey knows a little bit about what kids respond to most. "With any subject, if you have fun, then you learn more," he says. "I've discovered that kids learn science best by having fun. Here's the trick: While they're having fun, sneak in a science term. Believe me, they'll learn the term and not even realize it. So many [teachers] fail to see this and in return, they create kids who don't like science."

Why is grass green? Why is the sky blue? Any trip to the playground can give rise to these questions. Your next trip to the produce aisle or farmer's market is a lesson in health, colors, tastes, shapes and, eventually, even the difference between fruits and vegetables. Everywhere you look, there's a chance to help your kids learn something new.

Forget recess; school is in – and it's all around you! Now get to class and learn something, even if you don't mean to.

Can Spaghetti Dance?

Have you ever wanted to see spaghetti dance? Jason Lindsey can show you how, and offers other simple and fun science experiments for parents and kids to try together. (Of course, adult supervision is required, as is carefully following directions.) For more cool ideas, visit the Heartland Science Lab (www.kfvs12.com).

Dancing Spaghetti
When spaghetti is placed into a solution of baking soda and vinegar, it rises to the surface due to the carbon dioxide gas that adheres to it. When the spaghetti reaches the surface, the gas is released and the spaghetti sinks again.

Ingredients:
1 tall, clear 12-ounce plastic cup
1 teaspoon baking soda (4 g sodium bicarbonate)
2 tablespoons vinegar (30 ml of 3 percent acetic acid)
4 to 5 large pieces of angel hair pasta
1 spoon
Tap water

Here's what you do:
Fill the plastic cup two-thirds full with tap water. Add 1 teaspoon of baking soda to the water. Stir to dissolve.

Break the spaghetti into small pieces (less than a half inch). Put all of the spaghetti into the cup. Stir. Observe your cup.

Take the spoon out of the cup and set it aside. Add 2 tablespoons of vinegar to the cup. Watch!


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