Education is the science of relations said Charlotte Mason.
In this case, 6th grade science meets art. When I recently gave her this model kit, she grabbed this chemistry book she had been reading as part of her Ambleside Online schedule and built a few models including this one of the fructose molecule. She had the idea to photograph, edit and print a picture of her molecule so she could put it on her science journal. It was a great idea that I will remind her of so she can continue to add to her science journal.
Atmosphere and attitude.
When we keep delight in learning and curiosity as an atmosphere, students will be able take on the task of learning as a way of life. It requires diligence especially in the early years. It’s hard to not point out and explain and connect everything for them but rather to allow them to build those skills for themselves. Either over enthusiasm or dread toward a subject can have negative effects when you’re being a role model of how to learn. (For example, I don’t always enjoy math but I do my best to keep a positive attitude!) If we can maintain an openness in our own attitude towards learning while also consistently presenting good material, our students will catch on.
Let the material and atmosphere do the work.
As educators our job is to open the door to knowledge by teaching them to become self-learners. It takes a lot of self restraint to not interfere with their blossoming understanding by over explaining. By spoon feeding the student and connecting everything for them so they don’t have to, we steal those epiphany moments from them, and don’t allow them to build those skills for themselves. The incredible reward to this approach of letting the material and atmosphere do the work is that once they become a self-directed learner they will have that approach for life!