Science in the car: TMBG

Sing along to science related songs in the car


Appropriate Age Level

4+ (at least my 3yo wasn't into it)          

Science Learned
Planets
How Blood Works in the Body
Hydrogen Cars
Elements
Colors of the Rainbow etc.

Materials Needed

They Might Be Giants - Here Comes Science CD, usually found at a local library but can be found here on Amazon.

Experiment
1. Play the CD on the go in the car to expose the kiddos to science concepts such as the one listed above.

2. Disclaimer: Tracks 1 and 6 are of the secular humanist view point, so disregard these tracks if this is something that conflicts with your faith.

3. Quiz the kids when getting out of the car on some of the science facts they could have learned while listening. Here are some example questions: 
     a. Can you name some elements?
     b. What are some or all of the colors of the rainbow?
     c. Why is pluto no longer a planet?
     d.  How does hydrogen power a car?
     e. What is the sun made out of?
     f. What life forms participate in photosynthesis?
     g. How does the scientific method work?
     h. What dinosaurs can you name?
     i. What are some of the states of matter?

4. There is also an accompanying DVD that you could play at home and do the same thing at home.  Here is a video from the DVD.

Time Allotted
5 or more minutes depending on how many songs you want to listen to and discuss. 

References
http://www.amazon.com/Here-Comes-Science-Might-Giants/dp/tracks/B002FKZ4UO/ref=dp_tracks_all_1#disc_1

Singing and Dancing Bones

Appropriate Age Level

7+

Science Concepts Learned

The names of the bones of the body using a song. You can teach as many bone names as you want, all 206 if wanted. 

Here are all the bones:

Activity/Experiment

The run down of this activity is to put the names of the bones that you want your child to learn into a song, with them making up the song as you go.  Kids learn well through song, so why not learn some biology in the meantime. 

Here is an example of a bone song, that comes from the ever popular Hannah Montana.  You can learn 30 or so bones from it.

Doin' the Bone Dance

When I milk the cow
On uncle earl's farm
I use the ulna bone
That is in my arm

Moo-Yah! 

Everybody knows the bones
Just had to find a way
Everybody know what I'm talking 'bout
That's how I'll get an A

My body's many parts
And this is where it starts
Phalanges I have 10
And Metatarsals then

I got some Tarsals too
I'll put them in my shoe
The Fibula is next
According to my text

Then comes the Tibia
That ain't no Fibia

And now up to my knee
Yeah, yeah, yeah
That's the patella to me

Chorus:
We're doing the bone dance
You study the answers
Again and again til I get it right

We're doing the bone dance
You dance and you learn it
And we won't mess up this test
We'll get it perfect

And now I take it home
With the Parietal bone
It might be crazy
But we learn that way

Temporal and frontal too
And now we're finally through
That makes two hundred & six
I found a way that clicks

Chant: Bone Thugs in the house

We're doing the bone dance
You study the answers
Again and again till I get it right

We're doing the bone dance
You dance and you learn it
And we won't mess up this test
We'll get it perfect... word!

Time Allotted 

~ 30 minutes