Carschooling » science

Cartilage vs. Bones

chameleon — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 16:00:27 +0000

Bones make up the skeletal system. They are living, and they protect the body’s internal organs, support the body, make blood cells, store minerals, and provide a place for muscles to attach. Inside bones is a substance called marrow. It’s a thick fluid that makes blood cells that help the body fight off infection, and [...]

Splat!

chameleon — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 22:53:47 +0000

Did you ever notice that bugs that splat on your windshield have different colored blood? Bug blood is called hemolymph. It is clear and composed mostly of water. It is tinged with color, depending on what the bug eats. If the blood is green, the bug ate leaves. If the blood is yellow, it ate [...]

Autumnal Glory

chameleon — Thu, 06 Oct 2011 15:00:10 +0000

One of the most obvious changes in seasons occurs in the fall when the leaves of deciduous trees turn color and fall off. Evergreen trees remain green and lush. Have your carschoolers collect one specific kind of leaf and do some research on that tree. They can make sketches or photograph the tree at each [...]

A Nighttime Carschooling Adventure

chameleon — Thu, 11 Aug 2011 13:45:26 +0000

Organize a full moon carschooling adventure to a local park for a full moon walk! Invite other families to caravan with you to a heavily wooded park after dark on the night of a full moon. (If the park officially closes at sunset, get permission in advance from the park ranger to enter after hours). [...]

20 Questions

chameleon — Thu, 09 Jun 2011 15:00:02 +0000

A truly classic game, 20 Questions can be played by all ages. One person thinks of an object that the other players must guess. The players get to ask 20 questions (yes or no answers only) to figure out the correct answer. To focus on science, have your carschoolers exclusively pick plants, animals, or minerals. [...]

A Mobile Bug Collection Box

chameleon — Thu, 21 Apr 2011 15:00:33 +0000

Have you ever driven down the road on a sunny day and noticed lots of insects swarming? Sometimes the unfortunate bugs get splattered on the windshield. If they aren’t too squished to recognize, have your carschoolers try to identify them. One carschool family pulled into a gas station to clean the windshield after driving through [...]

Ready Resources

chameleon — Thu, 20 Jan 2011 15:00:38 +0000

Lies Across America: What Our Historic Sites Get Wrong, by James W. Loewen identifies historical markers, monuments, and sites in every state that have historical interpretations that are either misleading or wrong. Loewen is the author of the award-winning best seller Lies My Teacher Told Me, a book that discredits 12 leading high school history [...]

Turn, Turn, Turn

chameleon — Thu, 30 Dec 2010 15:00:11 +0000

If you travel the same route over a period of a year, encourage your carschoolers to keep a record of seasonal changes. Look for a natural setting along the way (a park, a community garden, a grove of trees, a field, a bay or lake or river), and at the change of seasons stop at [...]

Carschooling Science: Service Station Science

maria — Thu, 15 Jul 2010 20:13:42 +0000

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 [...]

Carschooling Science: Stormy Weather

maria — Thu, 20 May 2010 20:39:07 +0000

Driving in stormy weather can provide many learning opportunities including driver’s safety education. Talk to your kids about how vision is impaired by weather conditions and how the roads are slicker and more treacherous in rainy weather. Explain that cars deposit little drops of oil on the surface of the road. When the rain comes, [...]