Leonisa Ardizzone - Science - Not Just For Scientists!: Easy Explorations for Young Children

Contents

Science:
Not Just for Scientists!
Easy Explorations for Young Children

Leonisa Ardizzone, EdD

Photography courtesy of Shutterstock.com

Gryphon House, Inc.

Lewisville, NC

Copyright

2014 Leonisa Ardizzone

Published by Gryphon House, Inc.

P. O. Box 10, Lewisville, NC 27023

800.638.0928; 877.638.7576 (fax)

Visit us on the web at www.gryphonhouse.com.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or technical, including photocopy, recording, or any information storage or retrieval system, without prior written permission of the publisher. Printed in the United States. Every effort has been made to locate copyright and permission information.

Cover photograph courtesy of Shutterstock.com 2014.

Library of Congress cataloging-in-publication data

Ardizzone, Leonisa, 1968- author.

Science--not just for scientists! : easy explorations for young

children / Leonisa Ardizzone, EdD.

pages cm

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN 978-0-87659-484-1

1. Science--Juvenile literature. 2. Science--Methodology--Juvenile

literature. 3. Science--Study and teaching. I. Title. II. Title:

Science, not just for scientists!

Q163.A783 2014

500--dc23

2014003143

Dedication

for Rafaella

Acknowledgments

I gratefully acknowledge the support and guidance of these people:

My parents, Ron and Marie, who made me the explorer I am; two exceptional science teachers, Ms. Bell and Ms. Eisner, who set me on my scientific path many moons ago;Ms. Lucille Schmeider and Dr. Mildred Brammer, former science professors who continue to believe in me; my numerous progressive education colleagues from twenty-plus years in the field; my dear friend/editor/sounding board, Anne Gehris, who read and reviewed my manuscript; my partner, Chris Clavelli; my daughter, the eternally curious Rafaella; the people of Washington Heights and beyond who supported my experiment in place-based science education, Storefront Science; the children who attend classes with me, especiall my Early Explorers who unwittingly tested so many of the ideas represented in this book; and to Stephanie Roselli and the folks at Gryphon House, Inc., for giving my ideas a home.

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Disclaimer

Gryphon House, Inc., cannot be held responsible for damage, mishap, or injury incurred during the use of or because of activities in this book. Appropriate and reasonable caution and adult supervision of children involved in activities and corresponding to the age and capability of each child involved are recommended at all times. Do not leave children unattended at any time. Observe safety and caution at all times.

introduction
Why Science Matters

You wake up to the alarm clock on your smartphone. You press a remote control that turns on the television. You fall out of bed and review your email while pulling up a favorite tune on your desktop. You amble to the kitchen where you pour a cup from your automatic coffeemaker and pop some vitamins to keep yourself healthy.

All the luxuries we have gotten used tothe fridge, the phone, the Internetdont seem like luxuries at all. Theyre so common now that we forget that forward-thinking scientists made all these things possible. The science that you might have dreaded in high school has made your life longer, easier, and healthier.

Science is the force behind innovation, advancement, and progress. Science is the reason we have cured diseases, improved communication, easily traveled to other countries, and even voyaged to heavenly bodies. Clearly, science isnt just about facts we learn in a classroom.

Science is a habit of mind that involves problem solving, critical thinking, and analytical assessment. As citizens, we are asked each day to make decisions from the seemingly mundanewhat vegetables to buyto the more complexwhether to follow a treatment a doctor has suggestedthat require some level of scientific understanding. The more informed we are, the better the decisions we make about what we eat, where we live, how we live, what we consume, and so on. Using a scientific mind-set, we are better able to analyze our choices. We are better observers who can see connections, understand where things come from, and predict what effects our choices will have.

At the core of scientific thinking is a quest for truth and understanding. This quest drives innovation. On the path to truth and innovation lie wonder, discovery, and analysis, all three of which are innate to children. This habit of mindthe practice of thinking through problems and questionsmust start with young children. Focus on cultivating their developing scientific minds.

Educators and parents will have an easier time integrating science into their students and childrens lives by remembering a few premises:

Start with open-ended investigation. Just as scientists start with an inquiry (not an answer), provide children with an open-ended question, a problem to solve, or a design challenge. Give them materials to explore and offer guidance as they investigate. Let them work toward a solution or the development of even more questions.

Develop childrens observation skills. To prepare students for these open-ended investigations, be sure they understand the primary tool of science: observation. This second premise comes quite naturally to children, but observation must be expanded beyond what children see. They can easily record or verbally share their visual and aural observations. Dependent upon the task, they can feel, smell, and taste. These three senses can be useful even if only asking children to imagine what something might feel like, taste like, or smell like.

Repeatedly expose children to the practices and concepts of science. This will increase understanding and enhance the cultivation of the scientific mind. Children absorb a lot, but often they dont grasp concepts on the first pass. Lay a solid foundation with repeat practicesenhancing and diving deeper each time.

Connect content to childrens reality and interests. Base activities on what is happening in the community; what plants and animals are found locally; and what the children are reading, watching, or talking about. Ask them what they are interested in, and collect their ideas. Base activities and learning units on their input.

Allow ample time for questioning, exploration, and analysis. Reward curiosity by encouraging children to ask questions and explore content. Help them analyze their observations and organize their findings. Teach them to sort by a variety of variables such as color, use, sound, or texture. Focus on the process and learn alongside children. For example, if a child wants to know more about roller coasters, dont be afraid of physics. Instead, get some building materials and investigate with her the forces that make roller coasters run.

The importance of science and science education must not be understated. Science plays an important role in global society. Looking toward the future, the demand for science and technology skills in employment is increasing; workers and consumers alike need to understand complex systems and applications of technology. Capitalize on and promote the inherent love of science that children have. Wonder and exploration make life more interesting! The things we dont understand become our inspiration for knowing more.