VanCleave's Science Fun

Your Guide to Science Projects, Fun Experiments, and Science Research

ABOUT THE SOUND PICTURE

With mouth wide open, vibrating air coming up the throat from the vocal chords leaving the open mouth and spreading in all directions. Hi, I am Janice VanCleave, author of 50+ best-selling science experiment books for children ages 4 through high school. I taught science for 27 years and now am creating this science website.   My scream was not staged. The picture was to be of two adult cats, which I was holding. A microsecond before the camera snapped, the two cats dug their claws into my skin as they prepared to leap out of my arms. A picture like this is great for making inferences. Kids could make "guesses" as to why I am screaming. They would be drawing on facts from the photo, such as I look like I am in pain or maybe I am just pretending.

Sound Supplies and Sound Investigations

Educational Innovation Sound Supplies A black and yellow logo for Educational Innovations. A place to find fun science supplies.
  • Home
  • ASK JANICE
  • Teacher Guide
  • Homeschool Science For Kids
Home » Teaching Tips

Teaching Tips

By Janice VanCleave

A great teacher is not someone who knows all the answers. Instead, a great teacher is someone who can give GREAT CLUES.

Teachers need to STOP being answer givers and START being “FUNOLOGY GUIDES.”

FUNOLOGY GUIDES are facilitators–in other words, a funology guide  direct and provide fun clues so that kids can be excited about discovering the answers on their own.

stop-sign

SCIENCE is just one of the tools that a funology guide uses to guide kids in their quest to discover answers about the world around them. 

Remember: Funology Guides DO NOT GIVE ANSWERS–Funology guides give “FUN CLUES.” Think of education as a scavenger hunt with the teacher providing clues. The fun part of a scavenger  hunt is THE HUNT.

Funology Idea for History!

HISTORY is about the dates when important events happened. So what was happening when I was born? Use the clue given to discover my date of birth:

DOB–  51 days after Pearl Harbor was bombed.

Kids can discover some special historical event that gives a clue to their DOB.

GEOGRAPHY is where different science events take place.

1. So, where did the birth of Janice VanCleave take place? Use a map or globe to identify my hometown.

  • Latitude: 29° 45′ 48 N, Longitude: 95 ° 21′ 48 W

2. Where do I presently live?

  • Latitude: 31°28′ 20N, Longitude: 96°55′ 55 W
Geography for Every Kid by Janice VanCleave

Geography for Every Kid

(paid link)

Share this:

  • Email a link to a friend (Opens in new window) Email
  • Share on X (Opens in new window) X
  • Share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Facebook
  • Print (Opens in new window) Print

Filed Under: General Science Tagged With: Teaching Tips

Topic Search

Visitors From All Over the World


Welcome to Janice’s Science Extravaganza!

The spoon hanging from the string vibrates when struck and these vibrations are transmitted through the string and the sound is amplified by the plastic cups. ABOUT ME: Hi, I am Janice VanCleave, author of 50 best-selling science experiment books for children ages 4 through high school. I taught science for 27 years. MORE.....

Introductory CAT Lesson

Science CAT Activity and SCI/Art  

SOON! More CAT Activities

Janice VanCleave CAT Stickers

Order Your CAT Stickers Here

FAQs

Janice VanCleave answers your questions about all the different kinds of color changing products.

Check here for Frequently Asked Questions about CAT
stickers.

Send Questions to Janice

Send Information to me using this form.

Contact Janice

Other Janice VanCleave Free Color Changing Lessons

  • HAT Stickers Heat Activated Thermochromic Stickers Stickers that change colors when heated.
  • SA Stickers Sun Activated Stickers Stickers that change color when exposed to sunlight.
  • TLC Dot Stickers Thermochromic Liquid Crystal Stickers Stickers that, like Mood Rings, change color when heated.

Copyright © 2026 · Janice Van Cleave · JVC's Science Fair Projects · Log in