CardinalAlt Posted January 27, 2015 Share Posted January 27, 2015 I have a very science-motivated 7 year old, accelerated in reading, a bit in math, but pretty on level with writing output. She's been obsessed with dolphins for a while, to the extent that (I think) we've read most of the k-8 related stuff in the library, watched documentaries, done little reports on cetaceans (dipping into Venn diagram representations of animal classification), talked and written about Sea world and animal activism, gotten an annual pass to the nearby aquarium, gone whale and dolphin watching... Last night's comment was that she'd like to learn more about their digestive system and how they're related to cows with their multiple stomachs... To broaden a bit, I'd hoped, we have been trying RS4K chemistry, and while she likes the cartoons and filling out the simple lap book study guides, I think it's a dud otherwise - just too simple conceptually, boring experiments, and way too expensive. I've been fleshing out with library books and a different lab kit... So I'm back to thinking go with the interest... But how?? Any thoughts on where to go with dolphin obsession and science from here? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dmmetler Posted January 27, 2015 Share Posted January 27, 2015 Just dive in! Most adult science/animal books are fairly kid safe (with marine mammals, I'd check indexes to make sure there's not too much on hunting and possibly avoid or at least preread for graphicness about anything related to Blackfish/captive training), and there are a lot of periodical articles out there if you check back issues (many are available electronically). Once she's comfortable there, and can read on a high enough level, it's a natural segue to more science-focused materials. What I've found in the herpetology world is that a lot of the people who write good books for non-specialists are also the active researchers in the field, so you can start looking for their papers as well (a LOT of them are available free via university websites if you check for the specific person). An edition or two old college textbooks are often very, very inexpensive, and even if she can't read the text yet, she'd probably get a lot out of having a marine bio textbook, vertebrate anatomy textbook, and so on just for the pictures. What I've found in following a herpetology obsession is that following the obsession leads naturally to needing to fill in gaps. My DD kind of started at the end-she jumped from the stuff in our local library to auditing upper division/grad level special topics courses in herpetology and going to conferences, then went back and did a college general bio for non-majors and is now doing a high school chemistry class to fill in gaps in her understanding. Similarly, she jumped from pre-algebra to college level plug and chug statistics and is now back to algebra, because that's what she needed. She's also really ramped up her writing skills due to seeing just how prominent writing is and how required it is in the field. Meeting several people who make a big part of their career blogging about and rewriting research for more popular audiences (and how valuable this really is for conservation of the animals she loves) and having them encourage her to do likewise has really helped a lot in filling that gap. The best gift you can give your daughter is to take her interest seriously. She may or may not follow it long-term, but she can and will learn a lot in the process. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CardinalAlt Posted January 27, 2015 Author Share Posted January 27, 2015 Thank you, very sincerely! I don't know why it felt like such a leap to just move up into the more advanced materials... But it did, and I didn't know quite where to start. I asked her if she wanted me to use a Christmas B&N gift card on some older college textbooks about marine biology and comparative anatomy, and she got the biggest grin! Then I used charter funds to order some high school level coloring books for marine biology, zoology, biology... Off to do a library search without the child-level filter! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dmmetler Posted January 27, 2015 Share Posted January 27, 2015 I will warn you-your child will quickly know more about reproduction than you'd ever expected, and generalize it pretty quickly :). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CardinalAlt Posted January 28, 2015 Author Share Posted January 28, 2015 Yeah, she's known about reproduction for a while :). Taking the "I answer the questions she asks" approach with a science-y kid led to a lot of info pretty early! Reading Horton Hatches an Egg with that girl at 4 or so, and cracking up with her spontaneously making elephant sperm comments, coming up with all sorts of theories on how that elephant-bird came to be... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stef03 Posted January 28, 2015 Share Posted January 28, 2015 Just dive in! Most adult science/animal books are fairly kid safe (with marine mammals, I'd check indexes to make sure there's not too much on hunting and possibly avoid or at least preread for graphicness about anything related to Blackfish/captive training), and there are a lot of periodical articles out there if you check back issues (many are available electronically). Once she's comfortable there, and can read on a high enough level, it's a natural segue to more science-focused materials. What I've found in the herpetology world is that a lot of the people who write good books for non-specialists are also the active researchers in the field, so you can start looking for their papers as well (a LOT of them are available free via university websites if you check for the specific person). An edition or two old college textbooks are often very, very inexpensive, and even if she can't read the text yet, she'd probably get a lot out of having a marine bio textbook, vertebrate anatomy textbook, and so on just for the pictures. What I've found in following a herpetology obsession is that following the obsession leads naturally to needing to fill in gaps. My DD kind of started at the end-she jumped from the stuff in our local library to auditing upper division/grad level special topics courses in herpetology and going to conferences, then went back and did a college general bio for non-majors and is now doing a high school chemistry class to fill in gaps in her understanding. Similarly, she jumped from pre-algebra to college level plug and chug statistics and is now back to algebra, because that's what she needed. She's also really ramped up her writing skills due to seeing just how prominent writing is and how required it is in the field. Meeting several people who make a big part of their career blogging about and rewriting research for more popular audiences (and how valuable this really is for conservation of the animals she loves) and having them encourage her to do likewise has really helped a lot in filling that gap. The best gift you can give your daughter is to take her interest seriously. She may or may not follow it long-term, but she can and will learn a lot in the process. Totally off topic, but you don't happen to be A's mom (on Athena Academy)? I'm not stalking :P Just read your post thinking this has to be the same kid. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dmmetler Posted January 28, 2015 Share Posted January 28, 2015 You mean the sultana of serpents? Yep! AAA has worked well for her because she's not a humanities kid, so the group class gives her reason to focus on the subjects that aren't math, science, or Latin. She's running out of classes, though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stef03 Posted January 30, 2015 Share Posted January 30, 2015 You mean the sultana of serpents? :lol: Well she's an impressive kid! You can tell her that John William says Hi :001_smile: (they were in SOTW3 together). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maize Posted January 30, 2015 Share Posted January 30, 2015 Thank you, very sincerely! I don't know why it felt like such a leap to just move up into the more advanced materials... But it did, and I didn't know quite where to start. I asked her if she wanted me to use a Christmas B&N gift card on some older college textbooks about marine biology and comparative anatomy, and she got the biggest grin! Then I used charter funds to order some high school level coloring books for marine biology, zoology, biology... Off to do a library search without the child-level filter! Can you share what books/coloring books you got? My nine year old is into marine biology right now as well and I'm having a hard time finding good materials for him. He's got all the children's level library books memorized... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CardinalAlt Posted January 30, 2015 Author Share Posted January 30, 2015 Sure! I haven't received this yet, so I don't know how exciting it will end up being... http://www.rainbowresource.com/product/sku/032462 ETA: I'll look for the textbooks titles ASAP... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CardinalAlt Posted January 30, 2015 Author Share Posted January 30, 2015 Textbook-wise, I went with used copies of Intro to Marine Biology by Karleskint, and Vertebrates: Comparative Anatomy, Function, Evolution, by Kardong. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EndOfOrdinary Posted January 30, 2015 Share Posted January 30, 2015 If she is interested in animal activism, Ds has a ton of stuff. Mist of it involves either plastics, changing current structures due to climate change, or dead zones from over acidification. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CardinalAlt Posted January 30, 2015 Author Share Posted January 30, 2015 EndofOrdinary, what resources would you recommend? She is very interested in "helping," and I'm not sure where to guide her next. I think there might be some TED talks on activism appropriate for kids, I was thinking of researching those. My one concern is that she's pretty emotionally intense and sensitive - we've read about captivity issues, for instance, but only in more general, emotionally neutral ways. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dmmetler Posted January 30, 2015 Share Posted January 30, 2015 The Kardong book is the one my DD's mentor gave her. It's really nicely organized, so you'll have a section on the stomach and then diagrams breaking out different vertebrate species. It went to bed with her for about a week 😋 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dmmetler Posted January 30, 2015 Share Posted January 30, 2015 I totally agree with the coloring books, too. I think DD has done all of them (biology, zoology, marine biology, anatomy, physiology, chemistry, microbiology). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
laughing lioness Posted January 30, 2015 Share Posted January 30, 2015 Bridgeway Academy has a 10 Learning Lab (live, interactive on-line) class on Marine Biology Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CardinalAlt Posted January 30, 2015 Author Share Posted January 30, 2015 Yay, nice to hear as we wait for them to arrive :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
purpleowl Posted January 31, 2015 Share Posted January 31, 2015 Thanks so much for posting this, CardinalAlt, and for your replies, dmmetler. I've considered posting similar, just substitute in flamingos as the area of interest. (And if I may piggyback on this thread, if anyone has any flamingo-specific suggestions, please let me know! But the thread already gives me some direction, so thank you. :)) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dmmetler Posted January 31, 2015 Share Posted January 31, 2015 The only thing I can think of extra is that, as with herps, there tend to be state/regional ornithology groups. You'll probably have to join and simply bring your child (until you get to the point where your child is better known in the area than you are an you become their "accompanying person"). Now, flamingos may not be observable locally, but a lot of other birds are, so that's a direction to look in. Cornell has a great website and app, too. One of DD's friends is a budding ornithologist, and being outside with those two together is a bit trying on the nerves, because DD is looking down, and will run into obstacles, and her friend is looking up, and will trip over anything, step in a hole, walk off a cliff, etc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
purpleowl Posted January 31, 2015 Share Posted January 31, 2015 I am already on Cornell's mailing list and have downloaded some of their resources. :) DD just received a bird feeder for her birthday, so she's been staring out the window and drawing our little visitors in her sketch pad as I help her identify them. She would greatly prefer to have flamingos appearing in our backyard, but alas, that is not to be. ;) I'm a little hesitant to try joining local groups because I usually have the whole Entertainment Squad along with me (the 3yo and the baby in addition to the 6yo). I can see the younger ones being an annoyance to people who are trying to quietly observe birds. I am laughing very much at the mental image of your DD and her bird-loving friend. They need to bring along an anthropologist who will look straight ahead! :lol: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CardinalAlt Posted February 1, 2015 Author Share Posted February 1, 2015 The Intro to Marine Biology came in today, and as we're wrapping up our current nightly read-aloud, it looks like we may be swapping this in soon :). The kiddo is thrilled... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
La Condessa Posted February 1, 2015 Share Posted February 1, 2015 Watching this thread closely, and taking note, in case my son's whale and shark obsession of the last six months sticks. (He's two. I find it highly amusing watching him correct his nearly-six-year-old sister on identifying his toy whales.) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dmmetler Posted February 2, 2015 Share Posted February 2, 2015 Watching this thread closely, and taking note, in case my son's whale and shark obsession of the last six months sticks. (He's two. I find it highly amusing watching him correct his nearly-six-year-old sister on identifying his toy whales.) If the shark side sticks, look up my DD at JMIH in a few years ;). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
La Condessa Posted February 2, 2015 Share Posted February 2, 2015 That would be awesome. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CardinalAlt Posted February 9, 2015 Author Share Posted February 9, 2015 An update - we're still having fun with the evening read-aloud being a science book instead of fiction! Besides the marine biology textbook, we found another one specifically on dolphins in the adult section of the library, AND we've also discovered Basher's science books. DD loves these! One big switch was just making sure DD knew she could read ahead in any of these and we could jump around however she wanted, versus the fiction read alouds we had been doing. For the science read alouds, I've told her that other than me deciding how long I'm up for reading, she's in charge... So we're jumping around a lot, and learning tons! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shburks Posted February 11, 2015 Share Posted February 11, 2015 My son is very interested in marine biology--dolphins and manatees in particular. I found a couple of things I'm going to look into more. http://www.homeschoolmovieclub.com/dolphin-tale-2?url=/dolphintale_files/videos/Lesson%201_v1.mp4 Goes with Dolphin Tale 2 www.forsea.org The Marine Biology coloring books like you mentioned above. And these books: a. The Living Sea by Jacques Cousteau b. Dolphin Confidential by Maddalena Bearzi c. Seaside naturalist Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CardinalAlt Posted February 11, 2015 Author Share Posted February 11, 2015 Awesome, looks interesting! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
La Condessa Posted February 12, 2015 Share Posted February 12, 2015 I know they're far behind your daughter's level, but I thought I'd mention a great series I found for my son, in case anyone else who can use it comes looking at this thread for ideas: the Smithsonian Oceanic collection of picture books. I ordered some online and can hardly wait for them to arrive for him! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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