what examples can i give to explain in simple english, what science is?
2006-11-06 19:50:32 · 17 answers · asked by henryjoes 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Other - Science
Science is the best way to find out about the world around us. Real science is not about learning facts, it is a way of thinking and a set of tools to explore and get close to the truth.
Science is about observation, creative thinking and then very careful experimentation. Too many people come out of school thinking science is about learning dull facts - it is not!
Get a packet of yeast and follow the instructions to start growing a teaspoon of yeast (add warm water and sugar). Don't tell the child anything about what yeast is or what it's for. Let them simply observe what happens over the next hour.
Discuss their observations in general terms and try to get them thinking critically about what is happening. Be led by their ideas - get them thinking!
What is the sugar for? Why does the water need to be warm? Where are the bubbles coming from? Can you measure how many bubbles? Is the amount of sugar important? What if the water is boiling hot? What is yeast?
When they start coming up with possible explanations, start them thinking about how they might test their ideas to see if they are true. Introduce the idea of testing just one idea at a time.
Start designing an experiment with 2 or 3 pots. Introduce them to careful use of a themometer. One experiment might be to keep the quantitites of everything the same but just reduce the temperature of the water. Time how long the yeast takes to start growing. Can you measure how many bubbles (stretch a deflated ballon over the pot?).
2006-11-06 20:48:32 · answer #1 · answered by SteveNaive 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think that learning should be fun for children,science is a way of explaining things. Perhaps you could show him some simple science. You could show what happens to things when they're mixed, like a cup of vinegar, water, lemon juice, then add a teaspooon of bicarbonate of soda to each, seeing how each one reacts, how much gas is produced by each. Or just how things change when exposed to heat, a bar of chocolate being solid, what happens when it's melted, poor it over ice-cream, what happens to the chocolate? then eat it and enjoy.
2006-11-07 04:09:01 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
The very best explanation of science for a child I have seen was written by Richard Dawkins for his ten-year-old daughter. It is a fantastic piece of writing, explaining the difference between things we know because of evidence, and things we only believe because someone in authority told us.
It's called Good And Bad Reasons To Believe, and can be found in his book The Devil's Chaplain. It's also on-line here:
http://www.fortunecity.com/emachines/e11/86/dawkins2.html
2006-11-07 06:27:41 · answer #3 · answered by Daniel R 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I have a 10-year-old. I would just explain to him/her that it is studying about the world around us and discovering how things work. As your child gets older, you can get into more specifics or if your child is advanced, you can explain that there are different types of science--astronomy, zoology, biology, physics and so on. HTH
2006-11-07 03:54:08 · answer #4 · answered by lorilou 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Science is a way that people learn by observing and testing. In science people make guesses from facts. Those guesses are called "theories". Then the people study the world to see if the theory is true.
2006-11-07 04:01:01 · answer #5 · answered by Susan M 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Science is the search for truth. That's about as simple as you can make it.
2006-11-07 03:53:10 · answer #6 · answered by Barbara Doll to you 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Science is when adults continue to ask 'Why?' to every answer we get.
A compass points north. But why?
Because the earth's magnetic field points that way. But why?
Because the outer core of the earth is liquid iron and rotates. But why.
Etc....
2006-11-07 05:34:43 · answer #7 · answered by andrew w 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Dissolving things in water is science, sugar salt and fruit cordials. Also melting candles showing the way heat works. Talk about temperatures Ice & fire, boiling points.
2006-11-07 04:03:26 · answer #8 · answered by Powerpuffgeezer 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
The Usborne publishing company does excellent books on all things to do with Science. I was devastated when my boys grew out of them because they were so interesting. Try them, they're full of bright, clear pictures and children love them. (and so do I!)
2006-11-09 18:38:05 · answer #9 · answered by Val G 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Science is about experimenting and discovering new things.
2006-11-07 06:39:35 · answer #10 · answered by ispakles 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋