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Date: | Wed, 19 Apr 2006 18:06:47 +0100 |
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ISEN-ASTC-L is a service of the Association of Science-Technology Centers
Incorporated, a worldwide network of science museums and related institutions.
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At 17:53 17/04/2006, Kevin Hollis wrote:
>One way of playing with the world to try and find out how it works.
That's fairly concise, accurate and comprehensive. We're describing
'science' to a child, remember. Building on this one, I'd say:
"Science is playing with everything to find out how it works. Though most
grown-ups prefer to call it experimenting. When they do it. When kids do
it, they call it messing about."
I also find it helpful to tell children what science ISN'T:
* Science doesn't just belong to grown-ups.
* Science isn't only about learning stuff: it's mainly about experimenting.
* Experimenting isn't something that can only happen when a grown-up is in
charge. In fact children spend more time experimenting than most adults.
Children are also better at making observations (noticing things) and
better at being surprised by unusual observations.
* Science does not just advance when experiments turn out as predicted, it
advances more when experiments do NOT turn out as predicted.
* Science doesn't only happen in laboratories and textbooks: it also
happens on your kitchen table, in the playground and in the street.
[log in to unmask] * http://www.interactives.co.uk
*
Give people facts and you feed their minds for an hour.
Awaken curiosity and they feed their own minds for a lifetime.
*
Ian Russell
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