How do I teach a 3 1/2 year old social studies, history, and science?

Question

My 3 1/2 year old daughter is extremely advanced for her age. She reads and does math on a 1st grade level; she starts preschool this fall. Yes, she has been tested in these areas - it is not just me saying that. I teach her a lot of stuff myself at home (no, I do NOT push her. a lot of the stuff just instantly clicks with her and she finds it fun), but want to branch out from just reading/writing/spelling/math. How can I make social studies, history, and/or science interesting to her considering her age? Any ideas would be greatly appreciated!

Answer 1

I don't have answer but a comment: Your kid rocks mommy!  I guess you do too apples don't fall to far from the tree or so they say.  Kudos to you both and keep up the great work!

Answer 2

History is a bit difficult for most preschoolers as they really don't have a good clear concept of time, especially as it relates to history. 30 yrs ago, 100 yrs ago, or 5 yrs ago: it really doesn't matter to them. However, that doesn't mean you can't talk about historical events or people. I'd start locally with experiences she can be involved in. For example, our city has a several museum and historic sites. Dd has always loved going to them. They also offer courses for kids, like how the pioneers cooked and that sort of thing. Can you travel? Visiting sites of historical significance is the best way for young children to learn about history. If she's reading on a 1st grade level, she might enjoy Magic Treehouse books which touch on historical events.

For social studies, she should begin, again, by learning about things locally. Study your own community. Who lives there? What do they do? How does the community work together? Take opportunities to get involved as a family.

Science can be great fun for preschoolers as it is part of our lives every day!! Cooking is science. Going for nature walks is science. Go for walks and observe what you see. Dd used to love to take paper and coloring pencils along and draw things she saw. Study the names and types of trees, birds, etc.  Do simple experiments at home - there are many on the internet!

The great thing about all I've mentioned above is that she'll be learning reading/writing/spelling/math while you're learning about the other things!

Answer 3

allthough your child might be very advanced for her age,lets not ferget thats she is only 3 1/2. why dont you let her do activities a child her own age does like discovering the world around her.dont make her grow up too fast.or else find a healthy balance between intellectual activities and leisure ones

Answer 4

u might wanna skip those things for now u dont want to let her in on too much history has a lot of bad things that have happened as fas as how i've learned social studies was th esame as history and science is a little too complex but as far as that u could start with the planets but i would leave history out for now she doesnt need to kno bad things yet

Answer 5

Maybe start with a map of whatever country you are in (I'm guessing the US) then start with the states.  Give a little "fun" background info for each state.  Then work your way up to other countries with "fun" info for each also.   That would work for both social studies and history.  As for science maybe finding science projects online and doing them at home would be "fun" for her, also explaining it as you go.  I know my son's headstart teacher ordered some cocoons and each day they watched to see when the caterpillar would pop out as a butterfly.  Maybe also grow a garden with her may help (it doesn't have to be a big one it could also be a house plant, starting from a seed)  you could explain to her how they grow and what is going on.

Goodluck.

Answer 6

Well, I don't mean to sound like a 1960's hippie, but CONGRATULATIONS!  You have an "old soul."  Museums are great - I don't know where you live, but if you live in WV, you'll have to drive once you get past the ones here!  State and National battlefields/parks are good (avoid the gory stuff, of course).  Nature hikes are GREAT - get some frog eggs (good time of year for that) - put them in a cheap plastic aquarium from Wal-Mart or wherever, make sure there's a big rock in it for when the tadpoles turn to froglets - watch the eggs turn to tadpoles, then hatch to froglets, lose their tails, then let them go in a pond (oh, they eat algae); capture a monarch caterpillar (on milkweed) - put some leaves and part of the plant in a large jar (with one leaf hanging down so it can make its crysalis), poke holes in the lid, watch the caterpillar build the crysalis, watch it turn/hatch, set it free.

Answer 7

try teaching her through games or songs in that way learning is fun and not hard for her.. you can invent games or song or look for sites that can help her learning with fun

Answer 8

Our oldest is this way also. She is now in 5th grade and reads at an 8th grade level and does the same in math and science. All, I can say is that with a child that will push herself to the brink of perfection.... keep her "simple". Don't overlook the everyday opportunities in the garden, the grocery store, the neighborhood. I accepted that our daughter would excell beyond what I was ready to teach her..... so, I have always worked on her humanity. Get her involved with helping others, going to church, learning about money and charity, etc. It is those things we can teach, the other stuff comes easy. Best of luck !!!

Answer 9

Isn't that exciting!  Go for it.  

Our goal for science at a young age is to be curious and great problem solvers.  So provide situations where she has to figure out the answer.  Accidently on purpose leave some sliced apples out.  What happens?  They turn brown.  Hmmm... what can we do to keep them from turning brown?  Experiment.  If she can't come up with some ideas...set of items out for her to rub on the apples.  Which one works?  (Make sure you have lemon juice on it :-))

You can incorporate science through art projects if she loves art.  I have a color exploration activity that my preschoolers love.  I give them an icecube tray and in three of the slots I put red, blue, and yellow.  Then I give them an eyedropper and they can mix the colors to their content.  Of course they'll turn brown.  Please use the vocabulary associated with it.  They can comprehend it :-)  People laugh when they see me with a group of kids using words like complentary, primary colors etc but give the kids go home understanding and will tell their parents about it at home.  The higher their vocab the greater success they will  have in school.  Anyway, back to the project.  I provided cone shaped coffee filters and let them drip their mixed colors on it.  Even if it is brown the colors will separate on the coffee filter...a science experiment all on their own.

If you can garden...do it.  If you can't...do some indoor stuff.  Plant some quick growing plants in plastic baggies and tape to a window.  Not only can you see the roots grow but you can also discuss condensation and evaporation.  

There are so much you can do with science...if you search the internet for science experiments you will get a LOT of ideas.  If your local library has The Mailbox Preschool Magazine...check it out for their science experiments.

History:  Start with your family.  Make a family tree.  When a holiday comes around talk a bit about it. Go to the library and check out a book.  Though she can't read these non fiction books...you surely can read bits and pieces of it.  I find that the preschoolers I have notice flags and what a great piece of history in behind the flags.  If you are in the states...start with your flag and teach the anthem and other related songs.  Cars are a great way to introduce history.  There are a series of picture books under Laura Ingalls Wilder that would be a great "jumping board" for history conversations/lessons.

Social Studies is such a wide topic.  I'll have to get back with you on that one :-)  Time is running out.  Have fun!

Answer 10

If your daughter is extremely interested in a certain subject/theme go with that and plan activities around that.  For example, my 7 year old is fascinated right now with forts, WWI, WWII, Revolutionary War and so on.  So, I am planning activities with those themes.  We are going to St. Augustine to visit the old Fort there.  If I could go there, I would go to Williamsburg and such.  Does that make sense?  Whatever she is interested in you can apply that interest in social studies, history and science.  If you are looking for a more structured approach check out www.winterpromise.com  They are a website that provides curriculum to homeschoolers.  They have some incredible programs such as Children Around the World which talk about the types of houses children live in, food they eat etc.  It even comes with a cookbook and you could cook meals today and have celebrations.  A little costly but the curriculum comes with EVERYTHING you would use (books, movies etc) or you could buy things as you want and use it that way.

  If you have a zoo nearby go to the zoo often.  Pick an animal to study and find out its habitats, the food it easts and so on.

  I hope that helps!  As many hands on activities as you can do though will help her retain what she has learned.

Answer 11

I'm sorry to sound so extreme, but all of the earlier answers are dead wrong.

Your child is going to be in FIERCE competition with other children in the job market and world to come.  It is YOUR DUTY to provide your child with EVERY education opportunity you can.  Don't push...but if that child is hungry for knowledge, then feed him or her, as much as she/he can take.

You will be amazed, but one of the single best educational tools you will ever find for children is right in front of you.

The US Govmt (the ONE thing they actualy do RIGHT) is promote children's education on their websites.

nasa.gov

is probably the best and most expensive website in the world.

It has *infinite* educational resources, games, videos, tutorials, etc.. Appropriate for all ages. It is absolutely fascinating.  Be sure to check out NASA's Kids Club and Volcano World.

whitehouse.gov

has a BRILLIANT children's section all about our history and the history of our presidents.

For pete sake, even the stupid CIA has a kid's section!

https://www.cia.gov/cia/ciakids

(Maybe they're teaching our kids how to be like Maxwell Smart :-).  I couldn't get to this site from work, but try it from home.

Ben's Guide to the US Government for Kids:

http://bensguide.gpo.gov/

I haven't even gotten STARTED on the education resources your state provides.  I live in Virginia, and there are a bunch of historical and educational websites run by the state.

There are so many trillions of interesting website with tons of educational stuff for kids..bronxzoo, monterrey aquarium(http://www.mbayaq.org/), National Geographic...you get the idea.

Also, as dysfunctional as I think our Govmt is, when you visit a .gov website, you are definitely assured it is child-safe and that you're not getting any spyware or c**p on your computer.

(well, except for maybe the CIA...lol).

Create a separate folder that belongs ONLY to your kid and where he/she can save &/or access websites.  My kid was able to select favorite websites by the time he was 3.5 or so.

Stop wasting your money on games, books, etc..  There is no more powerful informational resource than the one you're using right now.

Another fun game I still play with my kid is having him think of ANYPLACE he can, and then we look up the official website for that place and learn all about it.  Last month, we learned all about Greenland, Saudi Arabia and India.

If all this doesn't work, go to www.homestarrunner.com.  Its not educational, but it is the funniest website on earth, with endless amounts of cartoons and sillyness.

Enjoy!