Developing Early Science Skills

In the first article of our latest series entitled ‘Early Skills’, we investigate a number of activities families and teachers can use to cultivate an interest in Science.

Science, as most know, is an area of study that has come to dominate modern technology. Along with Mathematics, it has generally been responsible for today’s computer revolution, medical and astronomical innovations, and our continued, evolving study of the natural world.

Every branch of science has, at its root and in its earliest history, a passionate desire to understand nature. As a result, parents and teachers should incorporate the natural world into childhood activities whenever possible. Below are a few suggestions.

• Stargazing. Telescopes and expensive equipment are not necessary to go on a stargazing trip. All that is needed is a flashlight (to point out stars), a clear night, and either a constellation chart or identification book.
• Nature walks. Taking children for walks in all types of environments and encouraging observation. For ex: seashores, deserts, forests, pondscapes, wintry landscapes, mountainous environments, etc.
• Observe shadows. On a sunny day, observe the position of shadows at various times: morning, afternoon, and evening.
• Build your own bird nest. After observing real nests outdoors, encourage kids to collect nature objects to try to make a nest of their own.
• Create a garden. Start a garden (flower, vegetable, herb, etc) either in the ground or in pots/cups to observe the nature and timing of growth in the natural world.
• Cooking. Include children in cooking activities and allow them to measure ingredients.
• Creative mixtures. Allow children to experiment with a variety of cooking or (safe) household ingredients to see what happens when they are combined. Supervise as necessary.
• Build. Provide children with cheap materials to build bridges, buildings, catapults, or any structure of interest to discover strengths in shapes. Ask: What worked? What didn’t work?
• Boats. Build boats out of old egg cartons and float them down shallow roadside streams to develop an understanding of currents.
• Make an Ocean in a Bottle: Using an old soda bottle, combine oil, water, and food color (if desired) to demonstrate the density of different liquids.
• Activities with Magnets. What can you do with magnets? What do magnets stick to? What don’t magnets stick to? Will magnets stick to each other in every direction?
• Throwing. Throw nature objects into streams or ponds (with adult supervision) to see what sinks and what floats. Also, how does the method/direction of throwing alter an object’s trajectory?
• Make your own volcano. Using a homemade volcano (with cardboard, a plastic bottle, or papier-mache), combine baking soda and vinegar to produce a chemical reaction.

Another excellent tip for young children is to follow science activities with books. If you just returned from a trip to the seashore, be sure to sit down with a book about seashores, fiction or nonfiction, to learn a little more and reinforce what was experienced.

Also, and most importantly, remember: ask young learners what they think. Ask about what they see and what they would like to see in the future. During hands-on activities, ask what should happen next, what may have caused an end result, and what would happen if they tried it differently. Listen. Observe. Brainstorm. Implement their ideas whenever possible even if they may not work, because experience will always trump direction.

And lastly, seek out organizations that offer science or nature-based experiences and resources for kids, such as Project Learning Tree or Snapology. There is no shortage of scientific resources for today’s kids, but no program can take the place of time, attention, and the freedom to explore.