Simplifying the Scientific Method for Kids

When your child is in fourth grade or so, she will begin learning about the scientific method. It will be taught in science class, and very likely described as ‘the method that scientists use’. She will be told that in order to achieve accuracy, all scientific investigations must follow these important set of steps. While all this is perfectly true, it also sounds pretty complex. After all, fourth graders are a long way away from becoming scientists. And terms like ‘scientific investigation’ and ‘accuracy’ may inadvertently be a put-off for them. And that is quite unfortunate, especially when you consider the fact that your fourth grader is, in all probability, already using the scientific method. On a regular basis. Only, she doesn’t realize it.

Instead of making her feel like she is learning something that could have waited a few more years, why not simplify the scientific method for kids? Explain to her that she is already thinking like a scientist when she tries to solve problems or answer questions in her everyday life. Like the time she thought her friend Anna was upset with her. Or when she realized that her school bag was wet. Ask her to go over the thought process that helped her find answers to her questions. And draw parallels between the way she thought and the scientific method of investigation.

“Science for Fun” by Denali National Park and Preserve is licensed under CC BY 2.0

 For example, when did your daughter (let’s call her Lucy to avoid confusion) first feel Anna was upset with her? Lucy observed that her friend was behaving a little differently. Anna borrowed an eraser from Dave instead of asking Lucy like she usually did. And during the break, Anna ran out to play without waiting for Lucy to put her books away. Observing something that piques your curiosity is the first step in any scientific investigation. Based on her observation, Lucy made an assumption, also known as a hypothesis. She assumed that her friend was upset with her. She wanted to make sure she was right, so as soon as she put her books away, she ran out to find Anna. She found her near the canteen, and tried to smile at her. Anna immediately smiled back. This wasn’t in accordance with her assumption. Lucy then asked Anna whether she would play on her team in the basketball game later that day, to which Anna replied ‘Of course!’ What Lucy was doing here was looking for data that supported her hypothesis. However, all the evidence she collected pointed to the contrary. On analyzing her data, Lucy concluded that her hypothesis was wrong, and that Anna was not upset with her after all. In thinking carefully and meticulously, Anna used the very same steps that scientists use in their investigations, also known as the scientific method! Point out to your daughter that skipping any of these steps could make her reasoning faulty, and result in a different set of events altogether.

To make sure she understood the scientific method, ask her to see whether she can identify all the different steps from the time that she realized her school bag was wet. She must mention how she observed the wet patch below her bag, assumed (or hypothesized) that the bench she was sitting on was wet, and checked the seat for signs of dampness. On analyzing her findings, she concluded that her hypothesis was wrong. She then made a new hypothesis – perhaps the water from her bottle had spilled inside her bag! To test this hypothesis, she opened the compartment where she kept her bottle and looked inside. The insides were considerably wet. She then took out the bottle and tilted it to see whether it was leaking. It was! On analyzing her findings, she concluded that her hypothesis was correct.

Using simple examples from everyday life is a great way to simplify the scientific method for kids. It not only helps them understand the steps involved and the meanings of the various terms, it also helps them recognize the thought process they generally use while trying to solve problems. As they understand the significance of each step, children will be able to monitor their thinking in the future and ensure that they approach problem-solving in a systematic, scientific manner. It helps kids realize that science and scientific thinking exist outside the science classroom and are merely guidelines for understanding the world around us.

Raising your kids to be tech savvy

Almost as essential as ABCs and 123s are technology skills as the world is becoming more digitized and classrooms are following suit; digital literacy is the new buzzword. Kids are exposed to a range of technology so early in life that they rely on gadgets to teach them their alphabet and numbers. Needless to say, parents have to lend a helping hand to kids as they take their first baby step into the big wide world of technology.

Kids can start with online kids games that familiarizes them with the use of mouse and arrow keys. These games use sound, graphics and simple moves that young children can easily grasp, making them popular. Gradually, kids can begin using apps and games that are designed to teach them specific digital skills like coding and more.

“P1070196” by Daniel Messer is licensed under CC BY 2.0.

Basic Technology Skills

Kids should be familiar with basic computer skills like mousing skills, keyboarding, online research skills, communicating via emails, and coding. Mousing skills can be taught with simple games like Mousercise, while BBC’s Dance Mat Typing shows kids how to move those fingers across a keyboard. Instructions in online safety must precede your child’s use of the internet. Teaching them research strategies will help them use the internet efficiently. By the time your child is in elementary school, they will be ready to tackle coding with apps like GameStar Mechanic, Scratch and Hopscotch.

“IMG_7969wtmk” by Jen is licensed under CC BY 2.0.

Must-Have Gadgets for Kids

Here are gadgets that kids have to be familiar with if they are to tackle the world outside home and even within home.

• Computers – Whether these are laptops or desktops, kids will need computers as even their classroom assignments these days are dependent on research and emails. Many schools are also introducing class blogs and online submission for assignments.
• Cell Phones – There are many child-friendly phones out in the market that allow parents to program numbers, and to disable picture and text messaging. This allows kids to use technology appropriately, allowing them more control as they get older and more responsible.
• Tablets – These are versatile and portable gadgets and allow children to read virtual textbooks and to use apps. They also include touch screen technology and parental controls.

“Games” by bane bane is licensed under CC BY 2.0.

Armed with the technology know-how, kids will have an edge not just in today’s job market but in staying social in a world that is growing very dependent on gadgets.

5 Interesting Book Games for Kids

Books aren’t very often associated with games. In fact, a simple Google search will come up with hundreds of online games for kids, but you’d be hard pressed to find ones that bring print to life and foster a deeper understanding of words, characters and texts. But books need not be paper-and-ink objects to be passively consumed and set aside. Try these fun book-based activities and games for “bookish” and not-so-bookish kids.

“137 – Look up!” by David D, licensed under CC BY 2.0

All about Words

Open the kids’ favorite book and challenge them to find the longest word in it. Once they have found it, ask them to make as many words as possible from it. Challenge them to find the meanings of words like “ration” and “predate” from words like “desperation.”

Spot the Phrase

Open your child’s favorite book and write out a memorable sentence on a piece of paper. For example, “All children, except one, grow up” from Peter Pan by J. M. Barrie. Cut the sentence up into single words to make a jigsaw and challenge your child to place the words in the correct order. Then, when you’re reading the book, have him spot the sentence.

Gingerbread Tag

Give a literary twist to a game of tag. Cut out a figure of the Gingerbread man from cardboard and tie it to your child’s waist with a scarf. Now he must run singing “Run, run as fast as you can, you can’t catch me, I’m the gingerbread man!” and try to escape the other players. The person who tags him gets to be the gingerbread man in the next round.

Acting out Adverbs

Bring out the entertainer in your child with this grammatical game for kids. Have him write down 20 different adverbs (sneakily, angrily, tiredly, quietly, etc) on index cards. Now, give him a simple sentence (Mom, what’s for dinner?” or “Can I watch TV?”) and have him act it out using one adverb at a time. How about tiredly asking what’s for dinner or sneakily asking if he can watch TV?

Story in a Jar

Write several creative and imaginative sentences on strips of paper and put them in a jar. They should be interesting enough to grab your child’s attention and get his imagination running at full speed.

“Once there was a little girl with green hair and silver eyes.”

“Last night I travelled to Neptune.”

“The family next door has twenty six and a half children.”

“We had mud pies and snow casserole for dinner last night.”

Shake the jar well and invite your child to pick a strip of paper and use it to start a story. If he gets suck at any point, he may pick another sentence from the jar.

Books are not just books. These book-based games for kids will keep your little ones playing for hours!