.

You will notice that the game charts have a column labeled LEARNING STYLES.  If you have Discover Your Child’s Learning Style, you will understand what the notes mean.  If not, here is a brief key:

Modalities:

Print means that most content is in print.

Picture means there are a lot of pictures or other graphics.

Visual means that both print and pictures are used in the game.

Verbal means there is some to quite a bit of talking involved.

Listening means that listening is involved.

Auditory means that both Verbal and Listening skills are used in the game.

Hands-on means that there is significant hand movement of cards, pieces, etc.

Whole Body means that the whole body is moving.

Writing means that writing is involved.

Dispositions:

Move means that there is significant physical activity.  These games are great for the very active child who hates to sit still.

Produce means that there is a clear (to the student) and quantifiable learning objective.  These children like to have a game labeled “educational” whereas that adjective is the kiss of death to most of the other dispositions.

Invent or Discovery means that there is discovery and/or experimentation involved.

Interact means that there is significant social interaction.  This learning style enjoys most games so it is only listed it when the group interaction is above average.

Create means that the game requires significant thought and/or creativity.

There is another vital element of learning that is important in regard to physical movement or what schools like to call Physical Education.  This is explained in depth in Smart Moves by Carla Hannaford.  Therefore, we have included the notations Vestibular and Proprioceptive to help you pick out P.E. games and activities that give your child reinforcement  in these sensory areas.

Vestibular refers to awareness of body balance and movement.

Proprioceptive  refers to the relative position of different parts of the body and the strength of effort used in movement.

Most games combine multiple elements, so we listed only the salient ones.  Likewise, any one child’s learning style is far more complex than these simple definitions and each child’s personality includes a combination of several modalities and dispositions.  Watch for the elements in games that your child likes and look for those or similar elements in other games

Many parents worry a great deal about providing proper lab science courses for their students.  In most cases, this concern is unnecessary. Unless your student is bound for an elite college or university or a career in a hard science, a survey of the various branches of science is entirely sufficient.  Many if not most of the games in this section were developed by science teachers or scientists to enhance their students’ knowledge and understanding.  A practical understanding of scientific principles is important, but that may be obtained through a variety of means.  The games presented here are one possible venue and combined with some practical activities (ex: learning to sail entails an understanding of physics) and reading/research in an area of interest will give many students an adequate understanding of science and a basis for learning more in the future.  One top resource we recommend is The Usborne Illustrated Dictionary of Science.  This comprehensive volume explains every important scientific principle with a series of two-page, easy to understand “lessons.”

NOTE: To be sure your student will be prepared for the college he wishes to attend, check the course requirements for his major to see how much preparation will be needed for success in lower division required science classes.  Most non-science majors will not be required to take more than one or two science classes.

BIOLOGY

Book and CD/DVD suggestions:

Lyrical Life Science (Volume 1- General Life Sci.)                                                                                 

Lyrical Life Science (Volume 2- Mammals, Ecology & Biomes)                                                      

Lyrical Life Science (Volume 3- Human Body)                                                                                                     

The Usborne Illustrated Dictionary of Biology 

The Usborne Illustrated Dictionary of Science                 

Lewis and Clark:  Songs of the Journey CD                                                                            

Lewis and Clark:  Songs of the Journey Companion        

Good Eats by Alton Brown  (the chemistry/biology of cooking!)