I learned something cool today.
I was listening to the Shortwave podcast and they talked about an online program called Skype a Scientist. It was originally designed for classrooms but they have added a way for families to participate.
Is your daughter dinosaur crazy, or does your son want to know everything about caterpillars? Through this website, you can talk to an expert in whatever field interests your family. This is not a lecture. The scientist you skype will answer your questions in real-time. How cool is that?
This is also a great way for kids today to see possibilities. When I was a kid, the only scientists I saw were Mr. Wizard or in the movies (I’m sure Christopher Lloyd’s character in Back to the Future was a role model for budding scientists.) Nowadays scientists come in all shapes and sizes and really want to share their work.
I hope you will try out Skype a Scientist. It can turn staying-at-home into a virtual field trip.