Stopping for gas is a great time to get the kids involved in science. Think of the possibilities. How does a car engine work? Why should you check the air pressure in the tires? What is the purpose of the fuel and fluids used in the car? If you don’t know the answers to these questions, consider this story by a carschooling mom:
I don’t know anything about cars – except how to drive them. My mechanically inclined children were fascinated by what was under the hood of our car and asked endless questions that I couldn’t answer. One day I asked a service station mechanic to check my transmission fluid. The minute he popped the hood of the car open my kids were out of the car and asking questions. He patiently and thoroughly answered all of their questions. What should have been a 1-minute checkup turned into a 30-minute auto-shop class. He enjoyed the opportunity to “show-and-tell” and invited us to come back any time. Just goes to show…you never know where you’ll find a good teacher or a good education.
Like the service station mechanic, most people who have knowledge about a subject enjoy sharing it with others. All that you need to do is ask.