science
UU Church Today, Practice & Voice

Science: From the classroom to home




Continuing cuts by the State Legislature in funding for education doesn’t necessarily mean an inevitable descent into a new Dark Age.

At home, with our children, we can take matters into our own hands. One way to ensure our children are well-prepared for their journey into the future is to bring some of the learning home in engaging ways.

Bring Science Home

While reading the Winter edition of New Humanist magazine, I saw a full-page advertisement for the Royal Institution about “Bringing Science Home.” This got me thinking about how we can bring elements of the classroom home, specifically through learning about science and the scientific process by playing and conducting experiments with our children. The Royal Institution makes science easy and accessible for families with their ExpRimental series of short films—making it fun, easy and cheap to do science experiments at home with your children.

The Royal Institution exists because they believe science shapes our lives, our culture and the world around us.

Sound familiar? In the Unitarian, Universalist, and Humanist spectrum there is a foundation of trust in reason and affirmed in the findings of science. This is explored in All Souls three services, including the Humanist Hour.

Science is the medical treatment that may save your life. It’s the device in your pocket that connects you to the world. And it’s how we will solve the major global challenges of the future. – Royal Institution

Their mission is to harness science for the maximum benefit of society.

Who we become as adults and what we do to shape society depends a lot on how lucky we are in our family surroundings. Being raised in a warm, loving, and mentally stimulating family environment is important to the future well-being of any child. I encourage you to explore the Royal Institution website. Their videos of experiments, like Memory Masters, shows how children and their caregivers can use items at home to conduct an experiment, teach kids how to link ideas, and observe their findings.


Andrew Donovan-Shead has a long history as a lay leader at All Souls, from leading meditation to mentoring children and being a PIE Reading Buddy. With his background as an electrical engineer, he’s lead the PIE Code Club. Andrew wants to see All Souls become beacon that leads the way as a multicultural, multi-ethnic, multi-colored, multi-religious, all-inclusive community that lives up to its name. Read more from Andrew on beyondbelief.online.


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