| Here is a clever way to teach your young child about | | | | "Well, now I know the result of Spot scratching at my |
| the scientific method and just work it into your | | | | door in the morning. It means she needs to go outside." |
| everyday life. You basically are creating your own one | | | | When the story is over, do a quick review with your |
| day science fair project! First, you tell a story using the | | | | child. "What hand signal did we use first?" Using the |
| following terms: observe, question, hypothesis, | | | | hand signal, together say, "Observe!" Let your child tell |
| experiment, result. As you tell this story, over | | | | you in their own words what Susie observed. Continue |
| emphasize the target word. Then make up some kind | | | | through each hand signal and term in this same way. |
| of hand signal to use while you say the word. | | | | Once you have retold the story using hand signals and |
| Here is an example story: | | | | terms, your parent's one day science fair project |
| One day Susie woke up and observed that her dog | | | | should end with a review by asking the child just to |
| Spot was scratching at her bedroom door. So, she | | | | say just the steps to the scientific method using only |
| questioned, "Why is Spot scratching at my door this | | | | the terms and hand signals. |
| morning?" Well, after Susie sat up in bed, she came up | | | | From this point on, anytime some sort of problem |
| with a couple of hypotheses. Maybe Spot needs to go | | | | arises around the house, you can use what you |
| outside, may-be her food bowl is empty, or may-be | | | | learned from this parent's one day science fair project |
| she just wants to come in the room and get a hug. So, | | | | by using these terms in natural conversation. "Oh, and |
| Susie first experimented by letting Spot in and giving | | | | so you observed the printer was not working."or |
| her a hug. Although Spot was happy to get a hug, she | | | | "What was your hypothesis when you heard your dad |
| still was ancy and seemed to want Susie to do | | | | call you immediately out to the driveway before he |
| something else. Next, Susie ran downstairs and looked | | | | even got out of the car?"and "What was the result |
| at the food dish and saw that there still was some dry | | | | when you put new batteries in your flashlight?" You will |
| food in her dish. Finally, Susie went to the door, with | | | | find you start to use these terms naturally, as part of |
| Spot at her heels, so Susie let the dog out into the | | | | everyday conversation, and your child will grow to |
| fenced in yard to do her business. Susie then says, | | | | have a good understanding of the scientific method. |