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Astronomy for Kids 4-10 years
There's nothing like sitting outside in the darkness with their children and watching the night sky. Time stops while both reflect on the enormity of the universe and their place within it. Poetry comes to mind while trying to explain to your child how people 100 years ago, have not TV and 500 years ago could really imagine a "man on the moon." Speaking of talk brings more constellation of ancient peoples and stories in the stars and the construction of their worldview of the few phenomena reproducible in their lives. Even a period of three years may fall under the spell of heaven. Each child should be able to look to the sky, we understand that our earth rotates at a speed of 800 kilometers and hour and see the stars that are dying suns millions of light years away. Better still if it is for a child (or adult) to be able to recognize the constellations and planets. That is a basic skill as learn to juggle, play the harmonica or how to score a baseball game. None is necessary for survival in the world but are part of a core skills that make life fuller, more nuanced and more interesting.
However, if you're like me, this is not information you learned at school. Amateur astronomy, the kind of inspiration for non-astrophysicists, is not taught in school. It's like the course that does not exist on "how to invest in the stock market "that would have saved a bundle if they only had a course like that of the university. Fortunately, as a lot of things in the long list of" things I wish I had learned in school, "there are ways to fill the void in his knowledge and that of their children.
First, obviously, is a trip to local museum and planetarium. Not surprisingly, I have not done that with my children. Instead, I jumped accessible tools that look at home and take with us on trips anywhere I think there will be a big black sky, we can look together. Anyway, go to the local planetarium. Better yet, if there is an observatory, verify that a clear summer night.
However, if you have small children who would not sit through a planetarium show or stay late to take the route Observatory, here are some other ideas:
1. Buy or use a good set of binoculars to observe the moon. A telescope in the first stage is excessive and children have trouble delaying gratification, while the know. A good pair of binoculars, perhaps small enough to travel with you easily, may lead to the moon close enough to stimulate great conversation about the stars, planets, moons, and space travel. I have a pair of small binoculars Nikon 9×25 Travelite with resolutions. The prices are below $ 100 for what used to be a luxury item. They are small enough to carry easily in a jacket pocket and I carry with us in all family trips, to observe the moon, but also because children love to watch all birds, animals, neighbors with them. And, as I always say, "is for children," is always a good tactic to satisfy his desire for middle-aged so that the machine pinball, slot-car set-up, or model train wanted since I was nine years old.
2. Try a home planetarium. Do not laugh. Especially if you are miles away from a science museum, or having young children like me, this might be a good option to familiarize children with the concept of solar system. At $ 29.95, do not expect the Star Theater 2 to serve popcorn for the show, but the price is right for the semi-sophisticated tool it is. The Star Theater is a world in clear with the stars and constellations printed on it. Inside is a halogen bulb, and when you start, get a projection on the walls and ceiling of the night sky. So, okay, the lights that illuminate everything "is not" a star, the idea is a bit of head-down, but the children the idea. The CD comes with the set, and sweet-toned, the narrators explain the heavens. I found the narrative of CD to be both fundamental and interesting at the same time – enough clear to my daughter six years old, but it is clear that a hum of my two years old. The world itself can be taken abroad, and its brightness in printing darkness can be used as a map of the stars (to read in other tools for this). In addition, the theater comes with meteors a "producer" for children you can play with the projects of asteroids in the roof while fighting for control so you can see the Big Dipper. I can not imagine using this device thousands of times, but My daughter is fascinated with the idea of stars and planets on the walls and regularly ask for a show of stars.
3. A basic tool is a map to find Constellation of stars in the night sky. I recommend the Star Finder. There are plenty to choose from at Amazon. We have something similar to the Orion Planisphere. It's simple and easy use. U.S. $ 1.99 however, test the Glow-In-The-Dark Star Finder and let me know what you think. At this price, you can not go wrong. As the Amazon review says: "When you are under the summer sky, trying to discern Leo on the western horizon, less is more. Try juggling with a volume of astronomy and a flashlight and end with mosquito bites over the stars. A dial of stars is what is needed, an artifact of lightweight paper that can be manipulated to display the sky as seen, any that is the month and time of night. Accurate for mid-northern latitudes, there is a chart that shows where to expect Venus, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn, month to month, until 2000. The stars are classified by their magnitude, there is a line to identify each constellation of the zodiac zodiac shows how it appears in the sky, and most useful of all, the stars are coated with a light treatment that makes them glow in the dark, so you can see what you're looking for without ruining his vision of the night with bright lights. It's a great help stargazer built simple but elegant. "
These maps are articles cardboard star Simple, a magazine size and thickness of a few pieces of cardboard. The lack of sparkle-in-the-dark require that you put a piece of red plastic on his flashlight to read in the dark, his eyes never be able to go back and forth on the map and the sky.
If your budget allows, check out the Celestron SkyScout Personal Planetarium. No I saw this gadget to make, but it sounds magical.
Another take on the same topic is the scope stellar, allowing you to look through a telescope-style device for see the stars, as it appears in the sky. At about $ 40 more expensive and bulky, and probably over-kill for most.
4. Attach stars glow in the dark to your roof. This is a very low-cost idea that adds a magical element to the room with your child and before bedtime. The stars are barely visible white ceiling, but they are very bright after lights out. It is easy to put the simple constellations (Think Big and Little Dipper) and the stars are easy to remove painted surfaces.
5. And finally, check out the telescopes at some point. Not having any real experience (for now) in this, only I suggest taking a look at the selections below. Both National Geographic and the Discovery Store have good selections and provide good training materials for most science projects. Store Telescope Science Tools at National Geographic!
Find free online guide to the best Kid Websites of the activity. Keep your kids entertained.
About the Author
Paul B
Nikon News