Doing Science Every Day

Science is far more than a set of concepts about properties, pushes and pulls and living things. It is a dynamic, creative and collaborative process that helps us understand the world and how it works. It incorporates asking questions, doing investigations, recording findings, constructing explanations, obtaining information from multiple sources and communicating with others.

Seven-year-olds are full of questions about their environment and are beginning to independently formulate questions and carry out investigations. They can describe their findings and are increasingly consistent about basing their ideas on evidence. They can consider information from various sources including direct experience, books, videos, photos, charts and other people. They are also intrigued by phenomena outside of their immediate environment such as volcanoes, space travel and sea creatures. They can collect information using many standard tools — like hand lenses, rulers and thermometers — and they can record and represent information in a variety of ways and in detail including drawing, writing and charting. Many of children’s science explorations at this age also incorporate engineering — a related discipline. Doing science is about asking questions and investigating to find answers, and engineering is about identifying problems and investigating to find solutions.

Opportunities for seven-year-olds to do and learn science are everywhere, from the time they wake up in the morning until they go to bed at night. But they need your support to take advantage of these opportunities. Remember, nobody knows your child like you do. That makes you the best person in the world to help your child do science every day!