Karen GoatKeeper's Blog - Posts Tagged "science"
Another New Venture
Several years ago I started a botany book on plants for middle grades. It morphed into "The Pumpkin Project."
Then my mother got sick. Then other projects hijacked my time. "The Pumpkin Project" languished.
Finally I am picking up the pieces to finish this science book. It isn't in need of much. But the hiatus hurts as the pictures I need are harder to get now.
It will be fall before everything is done on this manuscript. But I don't want to wait until fall.
So I will release the book in a series of PDF pieces by subscription so kids can enjoy doing the projects and investigations over the growing season this year. The completed book will be mailed out in the fall.
This plan may solve three problems at the same time. One: The book will get finished. Two: I will get feedback to make any necessary adjustments to the Investigations before finishing the book. Three: I get to enjoy growing lots of pumpkins this summer.
Will this plan work? Like the giveaway, I anticipate delays and disasters to descend. [The day after the giveaway began, I got snowed in with no Internet.] But it will be nice to have an old manuscript off my computer.
I hope many children get to grow pumpkins this summer and learn some botany from them plus learn to cook with the recipe section. At least "The Pumpkin Project" by subscription can give them the option this year instead of next.
Then my mother got sick. Then other projects hijacked my time. "The Pumpkin Project" languished.
Finally I am picking up the pieces to finish this science book. It isn't in need of much. But the hiatus hurts as the pictures I need are harder to get now.
It will be fall before everything is done on this manuscript. But I don't want to wait until fall.
So I will release the book in a series of PDF pieces by subscription so kids can enjoy doing the projects and investigations over the growing season this year. The completed book will be mailed out in the fall.
This plan may solve three problems at the same time. One: The book will get finished. Two: I will get feedback to make any necessary adjustments to the Investigations before finishing the book. Three: I get to enjoy growing lots of pumpkins this summer.
Will this plan work? Like the giveaway, I anticipate delays and disasters to descend. [The day after the giveaway began, I got snowed in with no Internet.] But it will be nice to have an old manuscript off my computer.
I hope many children get to grow pumpkins this summer and learn some botany from them plus learn to cook with the recipe section. At least "The Pumpkin Project" by subscription can give them the option this year instead of next.
Writing Science Investigations
I taught science. Every chapter was reduced to a list of topics covered, labs to include, worksheets and a test. This sounds so dry and some of it was. Too many science classes are only boring book learning.
Science is often maligned but most of us wouldn't be alive today without it. All of our technology, medicine, clothing, food, housing, transportation and communications were once no more than scientific ideas.
The problem for me is: I love science. I love teaching science. I believe science is fun and interesting and not buried in a book somewhere. It is there in front of you if you will only look and think about it.
"The Pumpkin Project" is based in this. That is why it is more than just the Investigations. The Investigations are the foundation on which the book is built. They have to be well thought out, written plainly and work.
There are 19 Investigations in the book. I am now working on number 17 although I have rewritten 18. The mind is filled with cotton. It's hard to concentrate. That lure of being done is overwhelming.
Except I'm not done. Several need pictures so I will be doing these over the summer. Then I will know for sure if the directions are easy to follow.
Fall looms closer. Will "The Pumpkin Project" be done? Today I wonder. But underneath I know it will.
Science is often maligned but most of us wouldn't be alive today without it. All of our technology, medicine, clothing, food, housing, transportation and communications were once no more than scientific ideas.
The problem for me is: I love science. I love teaching science. I believe science is fun and interesting and not buried in a book somewhere. It is there in front of you if you will only look and think about it.
"The Pumpkin Project" is based in this. That is why it is more than just the Investigations. The Investigations are the foundation on which the book is built. They have to be well thought out, written plainly and work.
There are 19 Investigations in the book. I am now working on number 17 although I have rewritten 18. The mind is filled with cotton. It's hard to concentrate. That lure of being done is overwhelming.
Except I'm not done. Several need pictures so I will be doing these over the summer. Then I will know for sure if the directions are easy to follow.
Fall looms closer. Will "The Pumpkin Project" be done? Today I wonder. But underneath I know it will.
Experiment Time
Rain has returned to the Ozarks and most of my pumpkin vines love it. Yes, I did write vines.
There are volunteer Connecticut Field vines, sugar pie vines, Jack Be Little vines in a big pot, a Red Warty Thing vine and a giant pumpkin vine. These last two are not happy at the moment.
I forgot the Baby Bear that just came up in the garden.
Yes, I do like pumpkins. However this many vines is a bit of overkill. But they are necessary this summer as I try to complete The Pumpkin Project.
for the last week I've been measuring how fast two of the vines are growing. The sugar pie vine in the garden won handily over the Connecticut Field on the compost pile.
Not to be outdone the Connecticut Field has a pumpkin growing. This is the next target for measuring. Three different ways of measuring the pumpkin added together give an estimate of weight.
Next I move back inside to complete several Investigations of roots, stems and leaves. Unfortunately this means digging up one of the vines. The smallest, puniest one.
Microscope pictures are on the agenda as well. Plus more pictures of roots and leaves. Maybe next week. It takes a week to sprout pumpkin seeds.
In the meantime my page by page list of contents is up to page 138 with at least 60 pages to go.
I wonder if I can take a vacation once this is done.
There are volunteer Connecticut Field vines, sugar pie vines, Jack Be Little vines in a big pot, a Red Warty Thing vine and a giant pumpkin vine. These last two are not happy at the moment.
I forgot the Baby Bear that just came up in the garden.
Yes, I do like pumpkins. However this many vines is a bit of overkill. But they are necessary this summer as I try to complete The Pumpkin Project.
for the last week I've been measuring how fast two of the vines are growing. The sugar pie vine in the garden won handily over the Connecticut Field on the compost pile.
Not to be outdone the Connecticut Field has a pumpkin growing. This is the next target for measuring. Three different ways of measuring the pumpkin added together give an estimate of weight.
Next I move back inside to complete several Investigations of roots, stems and leaves. Unfortunately this means digging up one of the vines. The smallest, puniest one.
Microscope pictures are on the agenda as well. Plus more pictures of roots and leaves. Maybe next week. It takes a week to sprout pumpkin seeds.
In the meantime my page by page list of contents is up to page 138 with at least 60 pages to go.
I wonder if I can take a vacation once this is done.
