Children are Natural Scientists

Science is not just a collection of facts. Facts are a part of science.

We all need to know some basic scientific information: water freezes at 32 degrees Fahrenheit (or 0 degrees celsius), and the earth moves around the sun.

But science is much more. It includes:

• Observing what is happening;
• Predicting what might happen;
• Testing predictions under controlled conditions to see if they are correct; and
• Trying to make sense of our observations.

Science is just an extension of the play every child does! Science is play put to practical use.

Just like play, science also involves trial and error--trying, failing, and trying again. Children are natural scientists. To them, the world is a place to explore and discover, filled with mysteries to unravel.

Science fiction writer Isaac Asimov describes science as "a way of thinking," a way to look at the world.

Science does not provide all the answers. It requires us to be skeptical so that our scientific "conclusions" can be modified or changed altogether as we make new discoveries.

Next: Children Have Their Own Ideas