Scientists test the explanations they come up with, and the results of their tests are evidence on which to base their explanations. Sometimes they call their explanations “theories” or “models” or “hypotheses”. Children can test their theories about the world too: Is it the baking soda that makes my pancakes thick? Can I make thicker pancakes with more soda?
Change, Constancy and Measurement
The natural world changes continually. Some objects change rapidly and some at a rate too slow for us to observe. You can encourage your child to look for changes by asking him to observe and talk about:
- What happens to breakfast cereal when we pour milk on it?
- What happens over time when a plant isn’t watered or exposed to proper sunlight?
- What changes can be reversed? Once water is turned into ice cubes, can it be turned back into water? Yes. But if an apple is cut into slices, can the slices be changed back into the whole apple?
Children can observe change more carefully through measurement. Keeping a growth chart or making a graph of the temperature each day will give your child practice looking for differences and measuring them—and help him to understand how he’ll need to use math skills in learning science.
Parenting viewpoints from parents in the trenches, because parenting doesn’t come with a manual. In addition to