What’s the best way to help our children learn to love and understand nature, to get a foundation in natural science? Naturally we want our kids to experience nature, which has to be done by taking them outside. But beyond that, to make sense of nature, kids need to know about the science of nature. I remember reading somewhere when my kids were younger that talking to kids about science and using scientific vocabulary is the best way to prepare them for an understanding of science.
I’m just guessing here, but I imagine most parents don’t go around having daily conversations about science and rhyming off vocabulary. When was the last time you were on the phone with a friend talking about ecosystems and the carbon cycle? I’m a Biology graduate and I know that I don’t do this, though arguably perhaps I should.
So, how are kids going to learn vocabulary and knowledge of natural science to build a foundation of understanding? I’m going to suggest that the best, and easiest, way is to read to your children about science. Search your library for books about nature, the Earth, plants, and animals. Stock a reference shelf at home with books such as encyclopedias, non-fiction picture books, and early level non-fiction readers. More importantly, read these books to your children. Stop after every paragraph and chat about what you just read. Can you relate it to the world around you and what you already know? Does what you read prompt more questions? Take a note of questions and later seek out books to answer them.
You don’t have to be a science graduate to help your children learn and love science. Take the journey with them. Start young. And if it’s too late to start young, start now anyway!
Adopt the Pace of Nature photo reproduced here under a creative commons license from Flickr. Copyright belongs to the original owner.
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