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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-----Original Message-----
From: Lou Papai 
Sent: Friday, April 14, 2006 3:00 PM
To: Informal Science Education Network
Subject: Definition of Science for 7 and under


ISEN-ASTC-L is a service of the Association of Science-Technology Centers
Incorporated, a worldwide network of science museums and related institutions.
*****************************************************************************

Ok,
	This should generate some interesting responses.  I know it has around here.

	We have a Word Wall that was put together as a collaborative project between us and a local universities early childhood program.  They came up with 53 vocabulary words that can be or are reflected in our Kids Central area designed for ages 7 and under.  What we did was put them all up on a really cool backing on the wall and then down lower on a separate wall by the entrance is the 'Word of the Week'.  Along with the word is its definition, a list of "I wonder..." questions centered around the word, and then a list of additional words the parents can use to extend their exploration of the main word.

	Here's where the fun comes in.  A month ago, we had a comment card that said our definition of the word Science wasn't correct or poorly written.  We passed it around the staff and even polled our Educator Advisory Committee just for fun.  We can't believe how HARD it is to come up with a simple enough definition that a parent of a 7 or younger age child could understand and use for the word science.

Here's what we had up:  A branch of knowledge or study that investigates and explains everything in our universe.

So, now we ask you all.  Can you helps us come up with a simple, yet effective definition of the word science for ages 7 and under?



Lou Papai
Education & Public Programs Manager
Science Central
1950 N. Clinton St.
Fort Wayne, IN  46805
(260) 424-2400, ext. 442
[log in to unmask]
www.sciencecentral.org
Latitude: 41 05' 31"
Longitude 85 08' 22.9"

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More information about the Informal Science Education Network and the
Association of Science-Technology Centers may be found at http://www.astc.org.
To remove your e-mail address from the ISEN-ASTC-L list, send the
message  SIGNOFF ISEN-ASTC-L in the BODY of a message to
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