Science software for a 10yo boy

[drivin_me_nuts]

I am hoping that some here with some experience with software might be able to suggest some suitable learning software for a 10 year old boy who is bright as a button, but 'hates' science.

Actually, he doesn't hate science, it's just that he is a very visual child and interacts best with visual interactive media.

So, does anyone have any suggestions for suitable software that might stimulate the mind of a young child and improve his science grades?

Cheers.

[Plotloss]

Have a look at the Edubuntu suite on Ubuntu Linux

Theres stuff there suitable for all ages.

Plottot (6) loves it.

[Mobile Chicane]

Why not show him how much fun science can be?

Testing mum's gravy with litmus paper... Making stinkbombs... Raising tadpoles... Throwing a load of sodium into a bucket of water... Looking at new worlds through microscopes...

Ya see?

[gamefreaks]

Celestia?

Lets you explore the galaxy.

http://www.shatters.net/celestia/gallery.html

Its opensource freeware.

[plg101]

gamefreaks said:

Celestia?

Lets you explore the galaxy.

http://www.shatters.net/celestia/gallery.html

Its opensource freeware.

Actually - that looks great...

[ewenm]

Dangerous book for boys? For fun science things to do with mum/dad at home.

[plg101]

I used to have these:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B000L7DGZI/ref=...

Or at least something similar, used to come from Tandy/Radioshack.

You can make all sorts - there are many variations. Fantastic fun.

Best one was a "radio jammer" - in effect a HF generator (I think) that had about a metre range. Pressed up against the wall it would convert my dad's Radio 4 to a screaming howl...

[NitroNick]

I've only had a chance to read the thread title, i think it sounds like a fair swap.

[bonsai]

drivin_me_nuts said:

Actually, he doesn't hate science, it's just that he is a very visual child and interacts best with visual interactive media.

Is that a roundabout way of saying he only likes watching TV and playing on the PS3?

Edited by bonsai on Wednesday 17th March 09:28

[Landlord]

Mobile Chicane said:

Raising tadpoles...

Just make sure he tells people what this means "in context".

[drivin_me_nuts]

bonsai said:

drivin_me_nuts said:

Actually, he doesn't hate science, it's just that he is a very visual child and interacts best with visual interactive media.

Is that a roundabout way of saying he only likes watching TV and playing on the PS3?

Edited by bonsai on Wednesday 17th March 09:28

No , not at all. It means that he, like a significant number of people, reading is not the most efficient way to process and understand information. Learning is better achieved through an interactive process, that reading a textbook is not.

[Justayellowbadge]

Landlord said:

Mobile Chicane said:

Raising tadpoles...

Just make sure he tells people what this means "in context".

There was a choice of 'Testing mum's gravy' and you thought that was the one worthy of a pun?

[Landlord]

Justayellowbadge said:

Landlord said:

Mobile Chicane said:

Raising tadpoles...

Just make sure he tells people what this means "in context".

There was a choice of 'Testing mum's gravy' and you thought that was the one worthy of a pun?

Yip.

[Simpo Two]

drivin_me_nuts said:

No , not at all. It means that he, like a significant number of people, reading is not the most efficient way to process and understand information. Learning is better achieved through an interactive process, that reading a textbook is not.

When I was about ten I had Leonard de Vries' 'Book of Experiments'.

http://gyanpedia.in/tft/Resources/books/bookofexpt...

It was a BOOK, so clearly far too complex and boring for anyone under 20 even to pick up. Like it had words in it like you had to actually read and stuff?

BUT it's full of science experiments you can do in the kitchen. Both my parents had scientific backgrounds and we used to pick the experiments that looked fun and try them out. To this day I love science and find it sad that 99% of people prefer to rot in front of Eastenders rather than learn something new.

So you can make and do stuff, and still have a book, and with you on hand it can work. Eventually the poor lad will have to read and learn for himself from scary words, so don't feed the fear, work with it.

Edited by Simpo Two on Wednesday 17th March 10:35

[D-Angle]

What was the package they used in Weird Science?

[drivin_me_nuts]

Simpo Two said:

drivin_me_nuts said:

No , not at all. It means that he, like a significant number of people, reading is not the most efficient way to process and understand information. Learning is better achieved through an interactive process, that reading a textbook is not.

When I was about ten I had Leonard de Vries' 'Book of Experiments'.

http://gyanpedia.in/tft/Resources/books/bookofexpt...

It was a BOOK, so clearly far too complex and boring for anyone under 20 even to pick up. Like it had words in it like you had to actually read and stuff?

BUT it's full of science experiments you can do in the kitchen. Both my parents had scientific backgrounds and we used to pick the experiments that looked fun and try them out. To this day I love science and find it sad that 99% of people prefer to rot in front of Eastenders rather than learn something new.

So you can make and do stuff, and still have a book, and with you on hand it can work. Eventually the poor lad will have to read and learn for himself from scary words, so don't feed the fear, work with it.

Edited by Simpo Two on Wednesday 17th March 10:35

Actually, other than your pointless patronising, that's actually a good call. Cheers.

[Mr E]

Chemistry/microscope set?

[drivin_me_nuts]

Mr E said:

Chemistry/microscope set?

Cheers, that's a good idea too and it's something he doesn't have at home.