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10 Ways to Boost your Child’s Science Sense
By Sheila J. DePuydt
"MARGIN: 0in 0in 12pt; tab-stops: 49.5pt">Ask any young child what he thinks of the natural sciences and he’ll likely offer a blank stare. But point out the moon, or that frog, or that ant or worm and you’ll have his immediate attention. That’s because the smallest areas of a child’s world are filled with opportunities for discovery: the sink is thrilling, the tub is riveting, sand is extraordinary, a rock may be spectacular, a blade of grass is often captivating and dust specks suspended in a slant of yellow sunshine in the laundry room window might be miraculous. Nothing is overlooked; everything is worth investigating.
"MARGIN: 0in 0in 12pt">Your child is already a budding scientist. Be alert and you will see her using elements of the scientific method as she plays, starting with her own observations. Then, she hypothesizes by offering explanations of what she observes. She tests her predictions, draws conclusions and revises her explanations based on her experience. When done in sequence, this is the scientific method!
"MARGIN: 0in 0in 12pt">Today, there are better reasons than ever to promote children’s natural scientific tendencies. The federal education reform law, No Child Left Behind, mandates regular standardized testing in science beginning in 2007. By 2013-2014, all students will need to score at a “proficient” level in science.
"MARGIN: 0in 0in 12pt">This may help to address the problem of American students scoring much lower than students in other industrialized nations on science tests. But the best reason to encourage your child’s scientific appreciation is your child’s well-being; as he develops his science sense, your child gains the means to uncover the hidden laws of the natural world, an empowering experience. As Douglas Wood, former president of the American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine, said, “Science education liberates the human intellect”.
10 Great Ways to Foster Science Sense
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