| Problem solving, inventiveness, higher-order thinking skills: these are all skills that we would like to see more of in our students. But more often than not, children believe that these skills exist only in the realm of talented, highly skilled professionals. Wonder Wits will make them think otherwise.
In the book Boney Puzzle, Sophie and Luke want to enter the 'Clever Creators' competition but are stuck for an idea of what science exhibit they could make. While shifting boxes for Sophie's neighbour Mr Costa the children receive a visit from Nicholas Wilson (the 'world's biggest cheat' according to Luke) who brags of his planned entry: a mini rocket launch. Mr Costa then makes a suggestion - how about an exhibit that shows how whole dinosaurs are 'created' from fossil fragments by scientists and technicians.
Luke and Sophie are enthused by this original idea and visit the museum where they meet palaeontologist Erica Monroe. She takes them on a guided tour where they see fossils being unpacked and cleaned, fossil moulds constructed, the use of databases to search for matches to existing species and the way computers are used to make 'guesstimates' about skin colour, speed and even sounds.
The children work hard to make their exhibit and are rewarded when the judges award them (and Mr Costa) first prize. And Nicholas? His rocket has a teensy malfunction on the launch pad... |
