It all started simply enough. We were going on a road trip and I picked up some "Space" flashcards from the dollar store. Elijah really enjoys looking at them and we get them out and read them every once in a while. Simple.
Then it started. Last week at preschool he learned a song about the planets in the solar system. I was not there for it, but another mom reported it went something like this. They are learning the song and Elijah raises his hand to report "But Pluto is not actually a planet. It should not be in our song about the planets." It cracked me up to realize that he was able to take the info from his little flash cards and apply it to a song he was learning at school. From there I thought it was just going to drop.
Nope. I was wrong. It has since been a daily topic of conversation at our house.
When we are driving home yesterday he tells me "Mommy, our family needs make a decision if Pluto will be a planet in our house or not." Apparently they are still talking about it at school and it is not a cut and dry thing. Some scientists still consider it a planet, not a plutoid or dwarf planet. It is the like the tomato debate: Fruit or Vegetable? (Did you know the Supreme Court ruled it a vegetable? It was an issue due to tariff laws. I digress.)
Huh. Not something I've ever really considered or have any passion level about. I told Elijah he could just decide.
He responded emphatically "No Mommy, our whole family needs to decide."
So, I'm not sure if we need to schedule a family meeting for this or what. At the moment I'm just taking the lead of the 4 1/2 year old.
He did (completely on his own) take 2 flash cards to school today. The ones that talk about Pluto now being classified as a Plutoid or a Dwarf Planet.
I guess the important question of the day "Is Pluto a planet in your house?". The vote is still out in ours apparently.
No, and I say you go with with no as well. Clearly, those flashcards have been printed fairly recently (I'm impressed for dollar store flash cards). The song the teacher taught, although I'm sure she's a great teacher, is probably one she's been using (or found) for many many years.
ReplyDeleteSincerely, a high school Earth/Space Science Teacher
Well, I feel bad for Pluto being demoted, but I guess we'll have to let it go. It just goes to show that we humans don't know as much as we think we do sometimes. We make scientific commentary on all kinds of things, but we can't seem to decide if Pluto is a planet.
ReplyDeleteWay to go, Elijah, for thinking it through, though! That's awesome!
Hm, you can inform Elijah that at FUMC Mrs Herman declared that it was not a planet.
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