Leonardo da Vinci reminds our science students that, "All our knowledge has its origins in our perceptions."

What a pleasure to begin the year with an in depth study of the Renaissance Man's contribution to the world of science! Did you know that many of the inventions that Leonardo da Vinci envisioned in the 1400s are in use today? Helicopters and parachutes and many other modern day wonders began on one of Leonardo's 6000 "idea journal" pages. Leonardo believed that great ideas began with an observation that lead to curiosity. Observational drawing is a scientific skill and a powerful tool to teach the value of concentrated patient perseverance.Read more about this skill here:

http://fourandtwenty.typepad.com/blog/2011/08/da-vinci-summer-ii-listen-with-your-eyes.html