While listening the Scientific Method Song (MP3), students learn about seven steps of the scientific method while listening to a catchy song.
Little scientists, big questions
Preschoolers are natural scientists. They ask questions all day long! At this age, the scientific method is simple: wonder, guess, try it and tell what happened. A child might wonder whether a rock will float, guess "no," drop it in water and say, "It sank!" They learn to look closely, make predictions and talk about what they saw. The click moment is when a child makes a guess, tests it and proudly says, "I was right!"
Keep the steps short and the experiments simple. These moves turn curiosity into science.
A short song about the steps of science helps little ones remember them. Sing it before each experiment and point to a picture for each step.
Why it works: words set to a repeating melody are easier to recall than the same words spoken (Wallace, 1994).
Try it withScientific Method Song (MP3)SongsOpen it →Gather a few objects, like a rock, a leaf, a spoon and a cork. Kids guess whether each will sink or float, then test it in a tub of water. Keep a simple chart with pictures.
Why it works: the U.S. Department of Education's guide for teaching elementary math recommends moving from hands-on objects to drawings to numbers.
Model questions all day: "I wonder what happens if we leave this ice outside?" Then test it together. Kids start asking their own "I wonder" questions.
Why it works: handing over the work step by step, from teacher to student, is one of the most widely used teaching frameworks (Pearson and Gallagher, 1983).
Yes, in a simple form. Preschoolers can ask a question, make a guess, try it out and talk about what happened. These are the same steps real scientists use.
Sink or float, color mixing, melting ice and rolling balls down ramps are all safe and simple. Each one lets kids make a guess and test it.
Call it a guess. Ask "What do you think will happen?" before trying something. That is a hypothesis.
Use everyday things: freeze toys in ice and melt them, plant a seed, or mix baking soda and vinegar together.
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