I recently gave a speech on the importance of science education in schools. Unfortunately, studies are showing that in many elementary schools, students are getting 20 minutes of science instruction per day. For some, it might be closer to 20-30 minutes per week. To me, that seems sad. It’s important that we take the time now to understand why this is happening and figure out how we can fix this disturbing trend.
In my TEDx talk, Science is for Everyone. Even YOU!, I offer suggestions for how we can help kids to be excited about science. There are ways that we as adults can support kid’s interest in science as well as the teachers who teach science in the classroom and homeschool.
I realize that not everyone loves science as much as I do. Ever since I started a science club in my garage when I was 7 years old, I have been been hooked! For me, science is how I view the world. But of course, not everyone sees science in that way.
Science shouldn’t be intimidating, it should be FUN! At one time, practically every kid was a scientist and asked lots of questions about how things work. The key to all of this is CURIOSITY and AWARENESS.
Let’s talk Curiosity!
- Notice the Science all Around You– One way to get kids curious is to encourage them to notice the science that is all around them all the time. Ask kids to look around the room, outside, or wherever they are and name 5 things that come from science. They could be grass, trees, a table, a computer… whatever. When you help kids to become aware of science and the fact that it’s in everything they do, it becomes less scary.
- Fun FACTS! — Most kids LOVE fun facts! I know I do. I guess all of those years watching the Jeopardy show when I was growing up and also having my kids made me really excited to learn obscure and intriguing facts. Try to play that up with your kids, or your grown-up friends, too.
Why are facts so great?
They engage curiosity. A great fun fact can start a discussion. Get kids to ask questions. And promote family interaction. In the age where screen time is ever-increasing, being able to sit down and chat about something cool is a great way to promote family time. Or get kids to read books to discover how things work and why stuff happens. Ever wonder why developing video games is important for space exploration? Check out the Atlas Obscura’s Explorer’s Guide to Inventing the World
They provide mini-learning moments. When you are reading something, a fun fact can make you stop and think. It can spur you on to do your own research. It can help you to learn more about something that you maybe didn’t even know you were interested in. These learning moments can take place anywhere at anytime. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve been watching television and learned something new from a show that I just had to stop and look up. Learning keeps those brain cells working and energized.
They help expand your vocabulary. Some fun facts come about because you aren’t familiar with the topic. Maybe you hear a word that you don’t understand. Or perhaps you hear it used in a way that seems strange to you . Doing the research by looking things up, allows you to not only increase your understanding of the topic, but also to learn new words, new ideas, and gives you a new perspective on the topic. Check out this book below. This book, Actual Factual Files: Ancient Egypt by Workman Publishing is filled with new vocabulary words.
They increase critical thinking skills. This is probably one of the most important benefits of curiosity. Being curious can cause you to think about what you just learned. You might consider the fact. Is it right? Is it a little off? Does it challenge your beliefs? All of these are parts of critical thinking which is incredibly important skill for how we navigate life!
Awareness is Key!
Becoming aware of science and how we interact with it on a daily basis is a great way to open up a discussion about science. It encourages people to not be afraid of it, or intimidated, but to ask questions and learn more. If we, as adults, become aware of science and point it out to our children, and each other, then it will become a natural part of our lives.
We don’t need more information about how to teach science, we just need more awareness. Do you cook? That’s chemistry. Drive a car? That’s physics and engineering. Like to go on hikes? That’s environmental, biological, and meteorology. Those are only a few types of science that you will encounter in these activities. Want to learn about the night sky? Check out this Actual Factual Files: Outer Space book by Workman Publishing
Encourage everyone to be a scientist in their own right and see the world around them. For once we see ourselves as scientists, we will see how important science is. After all, science is our shared language for understanding the world.
These books, Actual Factual Files: Ancient Egypt and Actual Factual Files: Outer Space and the Atlas Obscura’s Explorer’s Guide to Inventing the World by Workman Publishing are excellent resources for awesome fun facts! I think they are really fun and kids love them!
So BE CURIOUS! Encourage AWARENESS! and remember Science ROCKS!
Check out my SCIENCE ROCKS APP for your iPhone and Samsung products!!
Jennifer Swanson is the award-winning author of over 50 STEM/STEAM books for kids. She is the creator of the STEM Tuesday blog, STEAMTeamBooks promo group, and the creator and cohost of the Solve It! Science Podcast for Kids. You can find her at www.jenniferwansonbooks.com
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Jennifer is also the creator and administrator of #STEMTuesday and #STEAMTeam2020
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