E-BULLETINOctober 2011 - Issue:07

ACTIVITIES

OCTOBER

AT CHILDREN'S

RESEARCH CENTER

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Teacher Seminar at the Darüþþafaka Schools

A seminar entitled "Scientific Thinking Method" was organized at the Darüþþafaka Schoolsfor primary and secondary school teachers. Science education, the related skills and teachingmethods, the role of science education and scientific research method were the focus ofthe seminar conducted on 7th-8th September 2011. Workshop and brainstorming activitieswere conducted with the participant teachers.

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Children's Research Center, E-Bulletin, October 2011, Issue:07

Inventing is a process that can be initiatedthrough the imagination and creativityof the children. In this process, childrenare real "thinkers".

They use the information in a new andcreative way, identify the problems andfind out how to use what to createsolutions for the problems. Inventionactivities provide children opportunitiesto develop their thinking skills and usetheir unique intelligence.

Anything can start a new invention forthe children when they move theircreativity. But is it really necessary forchildren to spare time for invention andexplorations? Sure! Children, too, needtime to think and when they are providedwith sufficient time they can createmeaningful applications out of what theyhave learned. The environments wherethey can invent freely provide them withthe opportunity to spend time on whatthey find interesting. It is not necessaryto spend too much money for these. Atable on the corner and some recycledmaterial will be enough.

You can use the followings as theinventory of your box.Various recyclable materials such asplastic boxes, masking tapes, buttons,wooden parts, plastic bottles, CDs,strings, marbles classified in smallerboxes or packages. Some basic toolssuch as safe scissors, glues, tapes,crayons, pieces of paper and cards. Thebasic daily stuff such as teaspoons, smallplates, paper bags, egg packs or naturalmaterials like sunflower seeds,pinecones, chestnuts, seeders can beincluded in the box.

Different invention activities can be doneother than the use of "invention box". Forexample some old mechanic and

LET�S INVENT

TOGETHER

With an "Invention

Box", you can create

the set of materials that

is easy to use and store.

Children can put

interesting and

recyclable materials

and in this box and use

them for their new

invention.

COVER STORY

04

electronic devices can be taken apartbecause invention is not only about buildingand creating things.

You can also prepare a grab bag and putsome material that can start an inventionfor the children. Such a "treasure hunt"game will be exciting and enjoyable forthe children.

When children experiment with thematerials and think about the inventionsand new ideas, they do not only developtheir critical and creative thinking abilitiesbut also their communication andcooperation skills. Supporting their innatecreativity and thinking abilities, observingthem, listening to them, asking goodquestions and supporting their progressin their quest for creating new ideas beargreat importance.

As Einstein said,

"Imagination is more

important than

knowledge. For

knowledge is limited to

all we now know and

understand, while

imagination embraces

the entire world, and all

there ever will be to know

and understand."

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Preparing an "inventionbox" and using it is greatfun. How about creatingthe skeleton of animaginary animal?

The Materials You can Use:

15 Paper Clips, 10 Straws, 2 Pieces

Cardstock, Tape, Play dough, Ruler,

Plastic Bag, Scissors or anything

you want to use out of you

"invention box"

First, think of the plastic bag as youanimal's body. You can fold, wrinkleand shape the plastic as you wish to

create your animal's body. Drawyour animal's body in the box below.

Now, you can create the skeleton ofyour animal using the materialslisted above or the ones you choose.The skeleton can be inside of youranimal or it can be outside of itsbody. Decide which one you will use.Before building the skeleton drawyour idea in the box below.

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FROM THE

OUTSIDE IN

EVENT

Skeleton ShapeBody Shape

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Children's Research Center, E-Bulletin, October 2011, Issue:07

Now you can build the skeleton the body of your animal. How does it look like?How does it move?

Can your animal move? You can send the

drawings, photos of the

animal to Children

Research Center-Turkey.

You can send them to:

iletisim@acm-tr.org

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What are the advantages of theskeleton you designed?

What disadvantages does theskeleton give to your animal?

"Imagination ismore important than knowledge.For knowledgeis limited to all we now knowand understand,while imagination embracesthe entire world,and all there ever will be to knowand understand."

Einstein