Review of Kidz Science: Flying and Falling Kit (Developmental Studies Center)

Examined the first three lessons of this unit.

The first lesson starts by asking, “How can we slow down the fall of a binder clip?”

“This lesson prepares the children to understand the idea of air resistance, which they will learn about in session two… The children also learn that scientists investigate by making observations and performing tests.” 

While many scientists do investigate by making observations and performing tests, that isn’t the only way things are done and to say so limits student thinking.  Some scientists don’t perform tests or experiments other than the ones in their own mind.  I would also be hesitant to use the question cards that use the words “air resistance” before we’ve discussed what that is.  It’s educationally inappropriate to use vocabulary that students may not understand and to wait until a later lesson to explain terminology.  I would give either give a brief description of what “air resistance” is or to perform the experiment and then talk about the vocabulary.

Later in the lesson, gravity is mentioned in passing.  It is also stated that gravity isn’t the focus of the lesson.  Then why mention gravity at all?  To avoid that confusion, I think it would be better to avoid the topic of gravity all together and not ask why objects fall to the ground unless gravity has already been discussed in a previous lesson.

The end of session one focused on working together and exploring instead of actually having answers, a great example in looking at the nature of science instead of simple processes.

Session two focused on air resistance and parachutes.  Instead of demonstrating the making of a parachute for students, I think it would be better to show a video of parachutes in action and then ask students to make their own parachutes with the materials provided.  It would show more constructivist thinking to get the students to build and create with their own ideas with the teacher as a guide.

Session three did a good job of including video clips and focusing on the social nature of science again.  However, instead of making a rocket for them and explaining why to make rockets a certain way to improve performance it would be better to give students the materials and allow them to make their own rockets and then go through the process of revising them.  Revising work and making changes is a part of the nature of science and an integral part of actually being a scientist. 

You can buy the Kidz Science kits HERE.