Science experiements can be fun when you learn with your child.
Science is important. Parents are bombarded with that message in books and magazines, on television and the Internet. Politicians and professional educators all emphasize the fact. Yet when it comes to teaching science at home or reenforcing science lessons the kids got at school, many parents feel inadequate to the test. Fortunately there are lots of great homemade science experiments parents can do with that kids that will encourage a love for science in both parents and children.
Ask a Question
There are six basic steps to the scientific method; the first is to ask a question. The question should be about something your child has observed. The question should include such issues as who, what, when, where, why and how. In order for the scientific method to work the question must be about some observable phenomenon--it won't work for metaphysical inquiry type questions such as the existence of God. In order for the scientific method to answer the question the results must be observable; an example might be, "How does milk turn into butter?"
Do Research
There is an old saying that there is nothing new under the sun. Chances are, if you or your child is asking a question, someone has asked that question before. There are plenty of resource at your disposal to keep you from reinventing the wheel. Do an Internet search on the process of butter making, or go to the library and check out books on dairy farming or schedule a field trip to a local dairy processing plant for a tour.
Construct a Hypothesis
Once the research has been concluded, have your child formulate a hypothesis. A hypothesis is just a fancy word for an "If/Then" sentence. In the case of making butter the hypothesis could be, "If cream is placed in a closed container and shaken for a period of time, then the milk solids will gather into a lump of butter."
Test the Hypothesis with an Experiment
By conducting an experiment your child can discover whether his hypothesis is true or false. In order to prove the hypothesis the experiment must be repeatable. In other words, if the same experiment is conducted many times under the same conditions, then the same results should occur. In the butter scenario you should first gather your ingredients: cream, a Mason-style jar, a secure lid. Next, fill the mason jar 1/3 full of cream and tighten the lid securely. Shake the jar up and down. As the butter separates from the whey you can feel a difference in the consistency, and because the glass jar is clear you will be able to see the butter form. Do this process once with warm cream and once with cold cream to see if this affects the results.
Analyze Data and Form a Conclusion
Once your experiment is complete it is important to have your child analyze the information she has observed and to reach a conclusion about her observations. In the case of the butter experiment she could have observed how warm or cool the cream was at the beginning of the process. She may have observed how long it took for the butter to form. She may have observed how much liquid (whey) was left over. From this she may may conclude that warmer cream produces butter at a faster rate than cool cream.
Publishing Results
No scientific experiment is complete until the results are made public. In the case of our homemade science experiment, the child could write a paper about the process of making butter and what results were achieved. Regardless of the experiment being conducted, the six steps of the scientific method will help your child understand the phenomenon being observed.
Tags: your child, scientific method, have observed, butter form, cool cream, experiment complete