Papa’s mechanical fish
- Author: Candace Fleming | Age: 4+ years
Papa is an inventor. From edible socks to steam-powered roller-skates, Papa is ambitious to invent something special. So one day, when asking Papa the question “Have you ever wondered what it’s like to be a fish?” the children are well aware that it’s not enough to just look it up in a book about fish, going fishing or to the aquarium.
Asking Papa this question can only lead into long days and weeks of tinkering, thinking, testing, improving and testing again. They continuously test a refined model of the ‘Mechanical Fish’, which leads Papa and his family to think about new questions, such as “How do fish swim through the water?” or “How do fish stay dry?”
The book Papa’s Mechanical Fish illustrates how children’s questions can lead to wonderful discoveries and new learnings. Working collaboratively with their peers; children can explore many possibilities, evaluate their observations and help to solve everyday problems. What questions and problems can you solve by encouraging a sense of wonder with children?
With our book recommendations, we want to spark an interest in children to discover STEM in their everyday lives. Most books go beyond the obvious STEM connections and can be a great starting point for exploring children’s questions and ideas further.
Learn more: Book a STEM workshop.
Article author: Tina Gaertner
Graphic Design & Marketing Support
Tina combines her love of graphic design with a master’s degree in adult education. She loves using her creativity and digital expertise to contribute to changing young children’s lives.
