Maybe...just maybe, the key to upping the relationship our kids have with science lays in applying it to their interests and their daily lives. Unless you're making Oobleck, slime, a fizzy volcanoe or a rubber egg, doing science experiments at home can be an expensive, cumbersome, complicated drag. At least for me, anyway! Although, if you've never made oobleck, you don't know what you're missing!
Messes aside, here are some links that might get your kid thinking about how science works without you having to drop-cloth your kitchen:
Sci-fi kids can explore scientific principles behind Star Wars here: http://www.starwars.com/kids/explore/reallife/
Sporty kids will get a kick out of Exploratorium's science behind sports here: http://www.exploratorium.edu/sport/index.html
July 4th is coming up! An organization that promotes science education in Trinidad makes it easy to understand the science behind fireworks here: http://www.niherst.gov.tt/scipop/sci-bits/fireworks.htm
And, for my pal Mike, well, he can look up the fun "psueo science" of Godzilla here: http://scienceblogs.com/tetrapodzoology/2007/02/the_science_of_godzilla_1.php
For older Harry Potter fans, or parents who don't mind reading and then simplifying the info for younger kids, check out The Science of Harry Potter: How Magic Really Works by Roger Highfield (Penguin):
