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Science with dad

baby monitor disassembly

Our (probably 10+ year-old) baby monitor died recently, and Mike took the opportunity to give the kids an electronics lesson. They talked about hooking up LED lights, and saw where the speaker, antenna, and microphone were, but mostly they just admired the capacitors, transistors, and resistors on the circuit board.

learning about circuitsMike also used the remnants of a rotisserie chickens to give the kids a hands-on Biology lesson about skin, muscle, bones, and more. Here they are learning about how cartilage helps helps joints (like elbows) move.

learning about cartilage

I know Mike is really looking forward to the day when the kids are old enough to learn about computer science with Dad =)

MaryAnne is a craft loving educator, musician, photographer, and writer who lives in Silicon Valley with her husband Mike and their four children.

14 thoughts on “Science with dad”

  1. this looks fun and what fun to learn with Dad
    .-= Beverly´s last blog ..Please Spread the Word =-.

  2. Valerie @ Frugal Family Fun Blog

    What? They haven’t mastered applied physics or neurosurgery yet? Mike must be slacking! ;-)

    I love how he uses these opportunities to teach the kiddos. That is so cool!
    .-= Valerie @ Frugal Family Fun Blog´s last blog ..Cheap Thrills — Tea Time Edition =-.

  3. I love how Emma and Johnny are holding their elbows while watching the chicken. Wow! That’s some fantastic learning in action.

    Now I’m very curious what our baby monitor looks like on the inside… Reminds me of the experimental circuit board I had in the 5th grade.

    I remember programming BASIC for a high school class. That would certainly provide computer science entertainment for littlies (getting the screen to blink different colours and words, make noises – maybe not so much recreating form 1040EZ).

    Ah science… :) Beautiful in all its many forms.
    .-= Elisa | blissfulE´s last blog ..have you any S-N-O-D? =-.

  4. Yay for science! Brendan is really looking forward to being able to do chemistry things with Ingrid. The chicken thing kind of grosses me out though, I have to say! I pretend meat doesn’t actually come from an animal, so to think what I’m eating has body parts…yuck :)
    .-= Amber Liddle´s last blog ..My Singing Sensation =-.

  5. It’s awesome that your husband takes time to show this hands-on science to them. It’s a lot more interesting than just batteries. Emma and Johnny look very interested in poor chicken – just like Anna :)
    .-= Natalie´s last blog ..The School Corner – February 26, 2010 =-.

  6. Awriiiight, MaryAnne! Science is so this-season! Your amazing husband – rotisserie chicken and science! So clever. We did one of those vinegar and baking soda playdoh volcanos last week and the kids were so amazed. They asked, “Is it magic?” and I, party pooper that I am, said, “It’s just science, honey!” But science IS magic, especially if done with rotisserie chicken and circuit boards. What a fun childhood your kids have!

    P.S. My husband is an open source/Linux guy, so I’m afraid the user interface is not very fun for kids. Pity.
    .-= LiEr´s last blog ..Stuck in Customs =-.

  7. I’m afraid neither of us have the aptitude to take electronics apart, but it would be interesting to try the Chicken experiment. I love it when Peter’s around to help with some of my kids learning.

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