I have just checked the grapefruit seed
that I spoke about in last Saturday's post: "Grow a Plant from Food Scraps".
No sprout yet, but no moldy mess either, so I'm going to wait it out.
I guess I'm not the only one thinking about growing things this time
of year, as I just received my "Kids Garden News" from
www.kidsgardening.org. They, too, have made some suggestions for
starting kitchen scrap plants that you may want to check out here. If you
are not already familiar with Kids Gardening.
by the National Gardening Association, I'd
recommend checking it out.
The lack of progress with my grapefruit
seed seems to be the theme of the week when it comes to science
observations. On Wednesday night we were excited to check out the
Lovejoy Comet.
We were not successful spotting it from my house that night, nor the
following two. This is not the first time we have been skunked in the
past few months when it comes to astronomy. We put in an honest
attempt to view the Geminid meteor shower as well, but only saw a few. Some of my students have seen the
comet, which is exciting.
Although it is easy to get discouraged when
you don't get the results you expect or hope for in science it is
best to remember that the effort is not wasted. Good science
observations and experiments always lead to more questions. For me
today they are, "Am I keeping my grapefruit seed moist enough?",
"How was this fruit grown, and did that have an effect on the
viability of the seed?", "Is the seed being kept at an
optimal temperature for germination?". I continue to look for
the comet each evening because I have lingering questions. "Was
it too bright the first time we looked?" "Am I interpreting
the tools I have correctly to look in the right spot?" "Was
I looking at the right time? If not, will I see it at different
times?" "What is that other bright object near the Moon?"
(Actually answered that one: Jupiter).
Sometimes the effort of asking the
questions and making observations is truly the most important part,
not the results. I recently shared a Rachel Carson quote with parents
in my 6th grade class after we all had difficulty spotting meteors
during the Geminid shower. To me, this is something to remember and
keep in perspective when sharing science with children. “If a child
is to keep alive his inborn sense of wonder, he needs the
companionship of at least one adult who can share it, rediscovering
with him the joy, excitement, and mystery of the world we live in.”
Being curious alongside children creates a lasting impression and
nurtures their desire to question and wonder. This weekend, I
challenge each of you to be curious with your children and question
the world around you. Who knows? You might learn something in the
process. As always, I would love to hear about your discoveries and
adventures in science. Comment below, or e-mail me at:
shareitscience@gmail.com
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