Beyond Duckybots: Encouraging Discovery

• ASK DON’T TELL: Ask questions

• How would you…?
• Why is it (tipping over, stopping, etc.)?
• If they’re stuck… Leading questions:

• What would happen if?

• Ask them to explain:

• When you turn on the motor, what moves? (the propellor.. what does the propellor move… (air, water))
• Why is it tipping over?

• Answer Questions with Experiments

• Let’s find out…
• What if we (added weight.., etc.).. Try it and see!

• Play with the principles

• Is it easier to push me over when I’m standing up or sitting down?

• Get Silly!

• Who doesn’t learn more when they are having fun?

• Remix

• STEM toys are great, but don’t JUST follow directions!
• When that toy breaks… What can we make from this?
• Don’t limit it to STEM/Mechanical, Sciencey projects. If you can’t make something that works, make something fun, silly, artsy or creative. Example: glue some of those parts on Barbie…..

• Challenge yourself

• Become a child… wonder, limit yourself to what they know.
• If you and your child enjoy competing, OK, but at their level! (well, you can be sillier!)

Resources

• Your Instructor: http://baldwisdom.com kevin.osborn@gmail.com
• Make Magazine: http://makezine.com
• Instructables: http://instructables.com
• Cheap motors - bubble blowing toys at Walgreens
• Ducks -- seasonally, local stores (Walgreens, Target, etc.)
• Rhode Island Novelty -- http://rinovelty.com