Invitations to Learn

Isaac Asimov wrote, "The most exciting phrase to hear in science, the one that heralds new discoveries, is not 'Eureka!' but 'That's funny...'

The same can be said of science learning and learning in general. If we approach unknown ideas with curiosity, if we consider 'That's funny...' as an invitation to learn, then our experience of world changes in important, valuable and amazing ways.

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I believe that learning alongside your child is one of the most fun and most rewarding ways to learn. So I am creating an index of all the Invitations to Learn.

Science

Slingshots (Projectile Motion & Hooke's Law): This whole lesson grew out of reading "Mr. Putter and Tabby Pick the Pears." It is a delightful and surprising book that I highly recommend.

Eclipses: The great American Eclipse inspired this one.

Fairy Tales

Cinderella: The Cinderella Story is one of the most popular fairy tales in the world. Start with one that is familiar and then learn about the oldest version of the story (China) or dig into one of the many other versions from around the world.

The Princess and the Frog: The books I chose for this Invitation are unique because, instead of being different versions of the same story, they spin off and give the frog his own story. Definitely a different way to engage with a theme!

Pirates: For "Talk Like a Pirate Day" (or any day, really) I've collected treasure from the far reaches of the high seas (the internet). If you accept this Invitation to Learn about Pirates then grab your 'scopes (paper towel rolls) and set off to learn about lenses, map-making, and adventures on the high seas.

Art

Mozart: This started with a musical and snowballed into considering Mozart with fiction (Magic Treehouse) and nonfiction picture book biographies!

Mathematics

Multiplication: Start with your body. Then move on to consider multiplication with books, songs, and building toys.