Hobbies And Interests
Natural History
According to Merriam-Webster, natural history is "the natural development of something (as an organism or disease) over a period of time." Presenting this topic to a child by using such a definition may not spark much interest. Show her a picture of a dinosaur, pieces on a game board or a puzzle depicting a prehistoric scene, and her interest level is likely to rise. Games serve as educational tools and bring alive the learning process.
Dinosaurs
Dinosaurs hold much fascination for children, perhaps because they existed in a bygone era and have a fantasy-like appeal. London's Natural History Museum offers a number of online dinosaur games, starting with a very simple multiple-choice question containing three possible answers. Another multiple-choice game asks "What kind of dinosaur are you?" After answering a series of questions, the child comes to a page containing a picture of the dinosaur he described himself to be. Dinosaur Defender offers the child a chance to manipulate the movements of a dinosaur that is defending attackers with its tail. He uses the space bar as the tail and the arrow keys for turning around.
Gems and Minerals
San Diego Natural History Museum teaches kids about gems and minerals through a quiz and puzzle activity known as Mine Games. Kids -- and interested adults -- learn the difference between stones and gems and some of the processes by which they are formed. Each game increases the player's exposure to the vast nomenclature of rocks and gems. The game of Knowledge Nuggets reveals the hardest, softest and most colorful of them. Those not ready for any of the games can go into the Mineral Matters section of the site and learn how to identify minerals or grow crystals.
Sharks
The Fish and Games section of the San Diego Natural History Museum site offers games and information about sharks. This includes a facts versus fantasy quiz about sharks, as well as one about which are the fastest, smallest, biggest and most dangerous. A challenging word puzzle awaits anyone who wants to try, and there is even a Back to Shark School portion where information about sharks abounds.