Current Events in Kids Science

Science is very much a part of living history, and current events in kids' science is always a popular topic. Whether you're talking about the weather or biomes, using current events to teach science is a way that inspires interest and promotes scientific thinking.

Are you inspiring the next generation?

Fortunately, there are many resources to seek out when you're looking to teach about current events in kids' science classes. The first place to look is the news. There is always something happening that has scientific applications. On example (of many), is MSNBC which has a science section. If you're studying astronomy, nature, or even rocket science, you're likely to find something there. In addition, you can use the search feature to find a recent event that might not be on the front page.

Science News for Kids is a website dedicated exclusively to current events in kids' science. Some nice things about this website is that it is geared towards kids so you can take your class on a webquest, and they will find the site interesting. It has games, science fiction links and other goodies that will ensure your students are interested. However, it also has a link for teachers that offers worksheets and other activities geared towards this week's science lessons.

Science Spin is Weekly Reader's science magazine. Written for kids, you can obtain subscriptions for the grade level that you are teaching in addition to your weekly reader subscription. Parents can order this too, but you have to call them to get special pricing (or you and like-minded parents can get together and order a bundle.)

Another great way to find out about current events for kids that are related to science is to find kid friendly sites based on what you're studying. Weather and earth science in particular offer quite a bit in the current event arena--after all--the weather is constantly changing as is the earth! Below are a few examples:

If you have a budding astronomer, sign up for the e-mail updates from Space Weather.com. Spaceweather will alert you when there are unusual or noteworthy events happening that you can view either online or in your backyard depending where on earth your backyard is!

While hurricanes and tropical storms devastate the areas they hit, watching them develop through Hurricane Tracker is rather fascinating. Combining both weather science and satellite technology might be just what you need to inspire a budding meteorologist.

Nature News is an online resource full of interesting current events, all of course having to do with nature. This can include the weather, migratory patterns, or other current happenings.

If you're studying volcanoes, you can rest assured that there is something happening somewhere. Wovo is a website dedicated to updating information on the world's volcano observatories. You can also check out Volcano Live to watch some of the world's more active volcanoes in action.

Every spring, nature is a giant cornucopia of scientific current events, and no one tracks it better than Journey North. Although the website takes awhile to navigate through, the basic purpose is that students and sometimes entire classes chart the signs of spring as they are happening--everything from bird migration to when the first blooms bloom.

All these resources are great, but how do you squeeze them into what you're already doing?

One way to allow time for current events without sacrificing your curriculum is to start the semester by assigning students a particular week during which it's their job to wax eloquent on what happened that week in the scientific world. The advantage to doing this is that there is little prep for you, and at most, it'll take ten minutes per week out of your class time.

Challenge students to chart the signs of spring, the weather or even the night sky for one month. Not only does this increase observation skills, but it also helps student understand the relevancy of science in their everyday lives.

Search out current events based on what you're learning in class. Look for webcams that watch wildlife refuges in Africa if you're studying Africa, or pay attention to what happens in the ocean if you are exploring marine biology.

To regularly engage students, challenge them to note when science is happening all around them. It may be a bird singing outside one morning or a heavy roll of dark clouds coming in. Because science is always happening, current events in science are always around us as well. Incorporating current events into your science curriculum will help your students see how important and relevant science is to their daily lives!

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