by Alix Tonsgard
Approaching the topic of science with young children can be daunting to those with little science background, or for those who may not have had the most positive experiences with science in their own childhood.
Here at the Museum, we strive to empower caregivers to see that you don’t need a degree in chemistry or physics to engage children in ways that will build their scientific knowledge. What it takes is a shift in perspective, the ability to be the children’s partner in the learning process, and recognizing that you are not only the teacher, but also the learner, discovering the limitless learning possibilities with children. It is about embarking on a mission of learning where the goal is not to find the right answer, but rather to explore the possibilities.
We know that early experiences with basic activities around physical science promote children’s understanding of physics concepts, in particular the movement of objects, the changes in objects, and the interaction between the two.
For example, the exhibit, Make It Move, was intentionally designed to present children with exactly these types of opportunities. As children explore the movement of objects (i.e. pushing, rolling, throwing, dropping, kicking), they are making a direct connection between their actions and physics concepts. Through this active exploration, they are formulating theories about the relationships among objects, and classifying the similarities, and differences in the properties of objects. The other day I observed a group of children working together at the Archimedes Screw (see photo). As a result of their investigation, they were able to come to the conclusion that the whiffle balls were slower because they had holes in them, the wood balls were faster, and that the golf balls were the fastest because they were heavy. This is a testament to how children actively construct an understanding of the physical world when presented with the right opportunities and materials.
Alix Tonsgard is an early learning specialist at the DuPage Children’s Museum.
