Science and critical thinking for kids

[corydoras]

Having the same problem with my 3 grandies I tell em I dont believe in god when they ask me why ,I say because I dont have to

Why don't you believe in god? "Because I don't have to" is not much of an explanation.

[nick]

here are a few suggestions, all in use either by my kids, or by families Jill knows and they come highly recommended.

Janice VanCleave's Engineering for Every Kid (Science for Every Kid Series)
Oxford Children's A To Z to Science (The Oxford Children's A-Z Series)
The Everything Kids Astronomy Book: Blast into Outer Space with Stellar Facts, Intergalactic Trivia, and Out-of-This-World Puzzles
How Things Work (See Inside) (Usborne See Inside)
Stuff That Scares Your Pants Off!: The Science Museum Book of Scary Things (and ways to avoid them)
The Ultimate Book of Knowledge: Everything You Need to Know (Childrens Encyclopedia)
Science: Sorted! Space, Black Holes and Stuff
Why Is Snot Green?: The Science Museum Question and Answer Book (Science Museum Q & a Book)
The Way Science Works (Science Museum)
See Inside Science (Usborne See Inside)

 

Don't be put off by the "fun" presentation, I know they can appear a bit childish to us old folk, but the kids love them and seem to absorb the facts while having fun.

 

All the above are available from Amazon.

[rob.imk2]

Why don't you believe in god? "Because I don't have to" is not much of an explanation.

enough for me

[Ken L]

Some inteesting ideas there gents so thank you.

I had a quick look at some of them on Amazon and it looks like I should have no difficulty finding an appropriate birthday present.

[RUDD]

The Usbourne science books are very good.

Both my girls read theirs without being told to.

[corydoras]

enough for me

It maybe enough for you, but it's no explanation at all to your Grandchildren.

[rob.imk2]

It maybe enough for you, but it's no explanation at all to your Grandchildren.

It is for now I,m working on it have to be careful my son in law is a believer but he isnt devout so it should be easier .Going to get some of the books listed for them to read .It really winds me up the crap they tell the young uns PS they go to a church school which makes it a bit more difficult.

Edited April 3, 2013 by rob.imk2

[Ken L]

I suspect that sometimes it's enough to simply expose kids to the idea that not everybody believes the same things.

The moment the seeds of doubt are planted, the whole god story becomes subject to intelectual scruitiny - and even in kids that's more powerful than many people realise. It's also why the internet is so powerful. Even the most isolated of home schooled kids in the US have access to the internet and with it ideas that conflict with what they are being fed at home.

[nick]

wronf thread!

Edited April 3, 2013 by nick

[The Flying Tench]

i don't know suitable books for 9 year olds, but I fully agree about critical thinking. I remember when I was about 11 one of our teachers telling us that you should never accept anything unless you are given a logical reason. I fully accepted that (as did some others, both atheists and christians), though I think I may have been a particularly annoying pupil with my constant questions 'Why sir?'

 

Having said that, 9 is quite young, and I am not sure at what age the critical approach should start.