| Every science project is based on the scientific | | | | child you will want to gear the steps to their levels. |
| method, which is a step-by-step procedure that is used | | | | Here are three great reasons why you should do a |
| to prove or disprove your theory. Scientists in every | | | | science project with your kids today. |
| aspect of science use the scientific method for every | | | | Reason one: |
| project that they work on. | | | | Doing a science project with your child means that you |
| The scientific method consists of the following steps: | | | | can spend quality time with them. Most parents do not |
| Step one: | | | | have the opportunity to be stay at home parents so |
| Write a research question. This is the question you are | | | | they are always trying to find more ways to spend |
| going to try to answer while doing your project. | | | | time with their kids and a science project is a great |
| Step two: | | | | opportunity. If you like plants you and your child can |
| Research the topic. This will provide you with all of the | | | | plant a garden and tend to it together, science projects |
| information that is already available on your topic, you | | | | like these require a lot of time and nurturing so it is not |
| will get better results if you do a broad search on the | | | | just an afternoon spent together. You can also involve |
| topic, but you can also do a focused search. | | | | your child in home improvement projects or you can |
| Step three: | | | | spend the afternoon baking cookies or you can get on |
| Write a hypothesis. This is what you think the answer | | | | the internet to get a list of ideas and use stuff you |
| to your question will be. You will be proving or | | | | have around the house or you can go to the store and |
| disproving this statement in the next few steps. | | | | buy a science kit. |
| Step four: | | | | Reason two: |
| Develop an experimental procedure. This is where you | | | | Another great reason to do science projects with your |
| are going to state how you are going to try and prove | | | | kids are that you are teaching them how to make |
| that what you think is the correct answer and you will | | | | decisions based on the information that they find. This |
| also perform any experiments at this stage. | | | | will help to promote your child's critical thinking skills |
| Step five: | | | | which will be relied upon more and more as they grow |
| Collect and state results. Here you will take all of the | | | | older. By doing this you are giving them the tools that |
| information you have obtained and the results of your | | | | they need to succeed in life. |
| experiments and record them in a notebook. | | | | Reason three: |
| Step six: | | | | By spending time with your child doing science projects |
| Form valid conclusions. This step is the last step | | | | you are sending them a silent message that is telling |
| because here you are going to state if your answer | | | | them that science is fun. The advantage to this is you |
| was correct or incorrect based on all of the | | | | might encourage an interest that your child was |
| information and experiments that you have completed. | | | | unaware that they had. And by picking a project that |
| By basing each science project on the scientific | | | | you are both interested in you can have fun while |
| method you are providing your child with an organized | | | | learning about something new. And kids have an |
| project that will help them develop important skills later | | | | endless thirst for knowledge, so giving them all of |
| in life. Depending on the exact project you are doing | | | | these opportunities to learn is a great way to quench |
| you might not have to use all of the steps in the | | | | that thirst. |
| scientific method and also depending on the age of the | | | | |