Catch Them Young! 10 Proven Tips to Arouse Kids' Interest in Sciences

It is a well-known fact that science and technology roles the world today. So it is of utmost importance for science teachers to keep themselves abreast of the latest development in science and technology, as well as be acquainted with updates in this indispensable vast and dominating field in human existence. This is the reason why the slogan ‘Catch Them Young’ should be ingrained in every science teacher’s consciousness and be ready at all time to help inculcate in young minds from cradles, the basic concepts of science.

Here are 10 proven tips that can help every science teacher achieve this:

1.         Value your pupil’s/child’s questions.

“Sir/Dad, why is the moon following us?” With this question, a child lets us know he is thinking about how the world works. We can respond in ways that encourage his/her scientific thinking. Think of how you might respond. Do you think it’s adorable? (It is! But the question also shows what your child is thinking!) What can you do if you don’t know the answer? That is why it our responsibility as teachers and parents to update ourselves to develop our children’s minds.

2.         Explore and find the answers together (incase you don’t know the answer)

Responding with “What do you think?” or “ I don’t know but we can find out together,” can stimulate confidence in your child to ask more questions. Explore and find the answers together. (Don’t say I will tell you later). Use available resources in the class to give answer to questions asked by the children.

3.         Give children time and space to explore.

Children learn science through trial and error. They need time to experiment, try things out, and think on their own. Wait before jumping in with “correct” answers. Give your pupils/child the time and space to explore and discover on their/his own.

4.         Accept that explorations are often messy

Whether it’s outdoor exploration with mud and sticks or indoors with water, children are likely to get dirty when they explore materials. But be careful to keep acids or any dangerous item away from their reach if it in the laboratory.

5.         Learn from mistakes together

If an experiment goes wrong, take advantage and investigate with your pupils to see what went wrong. A mistake can lead to all kinds of possibilities and it provides opportunities for you and your pupils to refine your ideas, understanding, and hypotheses.

6.         Invite curiosity

Science learning begins with curiosity. Observations and questions can create a climate of discovery – key to scientific learning. Children can learn a lot about science even at bath time. Parents, let your child ask his/her own questions but you can also stimulate curiosity. For instance, when seeing a rubber duck float in the water, invite him/her to think by saying, “I wonder if the soap will also float?” see what questions he/she asks and what experiments he/she tries.

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7.         Support further exploration

Intentional adult interactions with children can extend their learning. When the moment is right – may be when he’s/she’s done exploring on his/her own, offer a suggestion to extend his/her exploration. Guide your pupils/child by asking questions like, “What might happen if we try this?” share something you find while exploring.

8.         Encourage children to record their observations.

Writing, drawing, or taking photographs are all ways to record observations – an important scientific skill. Such records allow children to keep track of what they saw, heard, questioned, or discovered. When you notice your child is interested in something (like the moon, leaves changing on the trees, or the growth of a plant) you can suggest ways for them to record what they have observed. “Do you want to draw that” or ”Do you want to take photos?” or “Do you want me to help you write down what you noticed”

9.         Make good use of your electronic devices.

Take pictures of a stunning butterfly, record frog sounds, use a website or app to learn more about a specific phenomenon or creature.

10.       Use items you have in the class/lab or at home to experiment and explore

You don’t need to spend money buying science supplies. Here are some science questions your pupils/child can consider using materials you might have in the lab/home.

Question1: How does water move up a plant’s stem?

Directions: Put a celery stalk or carnation stem in water that has some food colouring in it.

Science principle: Children can see how the coloured water travels up the stalk or stem and might notice how a specific part of the celery stalk (called the xylem) draws the water up from the roots just like a straw.

Question2: How does changing the angle of a block impact the speed of a ball?

What you need: Rubber ball, small toy cars, and long block or plank.

Directions: Experiment how fast or slow the ball or car travels down a plank as you adjust its angle. You can do this by changing the height of the plank and testing the speed of the ball

Science principle:  children can see that items will roll at different speeds depending on the angle of the block. Try different kinds of items – a tennis ball, a super ball, small toy cars for example, to explore whether the size, weight, or material impacts the rolling speed.

You can go on and on, but these few tips, if judiciously followed will arouse the interest to study sciences in your children/pupils.

By Mr Anthony Eyo

He is a trained and highly experienced science teacher with many years of both industrial and professional engagement. He is an authority in his field. You can reach him through his personal email: eyonito@gmail.com