Physics Inspiration!

Our homeschool co-op, Leadership Connections, has a physics lab class this term for our Apprentice Scholar and Scholar students. It is being taught by one of our mentor moms who really loves science. This mentor mom was so excited to teach physics and told me "we get to make toys" with a big smile. The first week, the class learned about energy. Our mentor mom brought out a cylinder and rolled it away from herself. After a few seconds, the cylinder rolled back towards her! As they discussed possible reasons why the cylinder didn't act in the way they expected, I looked around at their excited faces and interested discussion. That moment is one that they will never forget. Physics is interesting, and watching that cylinder act in an unexpected fashion helped them be interested.

After some discussion, the mentor explained to them how the cylinder worked and what it had to do with energy. The youth then were able to make their own version of the toy and do some experiments, measuring how far the cylinders rolled back and forth.

In our co-op, we use our time together to inspire learning as much as possible. We have a certificate for each class that can be earned if the children are inspired enough to learn outside of our time together. Science is one of the most exciting and fun classes we get to do because it usually involves a lot of fun experiments. The certificates then give the students resources to delve more deeply into the science behind the experiments than the explanations we give in class. (I really wish I had taken pictures of the day we made different colored flames in chemistry!)

For a version of the cylinder, click here. You can make one and learn about why it works the way it does. Physics is awesome.