How Can I Teach the Skills?

The rubber band powered bird is a great kit to learn about ‘Using Variables’ skill. Ask your child what will affect the distance travelled of this rubber band powered bird? Explain to him or her that the factors that affect this are called variables (Definition). These variables might include the number of spins on the rubber band, size of the bird, environment or place conduct the activity, etc.

Let’s investigate with your child by changing one of the variables which is number of spins on rubber band and observe how does it affect the distance travelled. Tell your child that it is important to change only one variable at a time to keep the investigation controlled.

Begin the investigation by taking the rubber band powered bird and spin the rubber band 20 times, 30 times, 40 times. Ask your child to observe the distance travelled and record them in the observation form below.

Do you know that ‘measuring’ is a scientific process skill? We can measure an object using both standard unit measurement and non-standard unit measurement:

• In standard unit of measurement we usually use instruments such as ruler and measuring tape to measure the length of an object.

• In non-standard unit of measurement, we use anything around us to measure such as strings, pencil, paper clips, and etc. In the past, people used part of their body as unit of measurement such as cubit, handspan, foot, arm length and etc.

Let’s practise the measuring skill with your child using both type of measurement and record them in the observation form above. You can be creative with your child by coming out other types of instruments to measure besides the examples mentioned on the form.

Have fun!