Gift Companion to ADA TWIST, SCIENTIST

Our good friends gave us Rosie Revere, Engineer and Iggy Peck, Architect so when we saw that a third book in the series Ada Twist, Scientist was coming out before one of the their birthdays we decided to create a gift to go along with the book.   We provide labels for a scientific journal, collected specimens, research materials and a card!

Materials

• Paper (cardstock)
• Printer
• Printouts scientific-birthday
• Workbooks (With half the page lined and the other blank)
• Pencil/eraser
• Glue stick
• Clear tape
• Gift components (suggestions of ideas below)

Directions

• Print out the labels.  Cut them out.  Glue the “Science Journal” cover onto your notebook.  A notebook which is half lined and half blank could lend to diagrams, labelling, recording, organizing and developing classification systems.  If you are giving the gift to a child with siblings, you could include several to get the children working together.  Your child could also design her/his own labels.

• We put the “Research Materials” label on a clear folder which we filled with books that the kids chose.

• Choose other items that might relate to being a scientist.  Below are are some potential ideas, but use your judgement as to what would be appropriate for the child’s age and interests.  Our children’s understanding of science right now is pretty broad so they included items that appealed to them and thought would intrigue the recipient.  Here are some of their suggestions:

1. Tools (magnifying glasses, microscopes, slides, cylinders, beakers, tongs, test tubes/ racks, funnels, petri dishes, eye droppers, pipettes, scale, thermometer, safety googles, magnets, ruler/measuring tape, clipboard, telescope, timer, binoculars etc.)
2. Models (human body, animals, life cycles etc.)
3. Kits (Circuit boards, rock types, K’nex, marble run, “Build a solar car”, root viewing apparatus etc.)
4. DIY (You could include various items that sink or float for for the recipient to test out, make a light table, include  the materials for various child-safe experiments etc.)
5. Specimens: Our kids were excited about giving the receipt specimens that they had found (A snake’s skin, the shell of a beetle, a deceased dragon fly) and including containers for him to find and study his own.  We provided labels for you to print out and include with the gift.
6. Creative exploration:  (Drawing books, modelling clay etc.)

• Print out the provided birthday card on cardstock and fold it in half, writing a personal message inside or do as our kids did and draw the recipient as a scientist!

Purpose

• Getting familiar with tcomponents of the scientific method, tools scientists use, vocabulary associated with various branches of science.

Safety Notes

• We suggest that you wear a smock and use a craft tray to protect your clothing and surfaces.
• Use scissors with care and adult supervision.