You don't need to be a scientist to tell if your child's school or after-school science program lives up to high standards. Here are ten things to look for in science programs for your children.
Students do science themselves.
They get their hands on real materials such as batteries and bulbs, magnets and paper clips, seeds and soil. Reading about science or having someone tell you about it is not enough. Imagine the difference between reading about magnets and holding a magnet so you can feel its pull on a nail or watch it push another magnet away. Students are encouraged and taught to ask questions about nature. Noticing patterns, being curious, and asking questions are beginnings of scientific thinking.