What are examples of scientific investigation?

Kids question the world around them every day and there is so much to learn through experimentation with simple materials. You can absolutely begin using the scientific method with young kids. Below we’ll share with you, how and when to introduce the scientific method for kids. There are so many different ways to enjoy science activities and the key is choosing the right one for your kids!

USING THE SCIENTIFIC METHOD FOR KIDS!

WHAT IS SCIENCE AND WHY LEARN IT?

The word “science” comes from the Latin word that means knowledge. So we can think of science as a way to gain knowledge of the world around us!

The word “method” comes from the Greek word that means road. If you put the words “science” and “method” together, you get something like the road or path to gaining knowledge.

This is called the scientific method! A way to figure things out or a process to gain knowledge.

WHAT IS THE SCIENTIFIC METHOD FOR KIDS?

The scientific method is a process or method of research. A problem is identified, information about the problem is gathered, a hypothesis or question is formulated from the information, and the hypothesis is put to test with an experiment to prove or disprove its validity.  Sounds heavy…

What in the world does that mean?!? The scientific method should simply be used as a guide to help lead the process. It’s not set in stone.

You don’t need to try and solve the world’s biggest science questions! The scientific method is all about studying and learning things right around you.

As children develop practices that involve creating, gathering data evaluating, analyzing, and communicating, they can apply these critical thinking skills to any situation.

WHAT IS A SCIENTIST FOR KIDS?

A scientist is someone who starts with questions, so kids make great scientists! As kids explore the natural world they have questions just like real scientists.

Scientists build on facts and obtain new knowledge in regard to their question. They often work in small steps to slowly add to their understanding.

CAN YOUNG KIDS USE THE SCIENTIFIC METHOD?

Kids are great scientists at any age and can use the scientific method or science practices in context to what they are learning. It can be adapted for any age!

The scientific method is a useful tool for introducing kids to a logical way to solve scientific problems.

Scientists use the scientific method to study, learn, and come up with an answer!

The scientific method is a process that helps double-check that answers are correct and the correct results are obtained through careful planning. Sometimes the guesses and questions change as you run your experiments.

Kids can use the scientific method too on questions that are relevant to them!

Let’s break the scientific method for kids down into 6 parts, and you can easily see how each of these parts can be incorporated into your next science experiment. Soon we will be adding more on what is now referred to as best science practices for use with NGSS.

You can also choose to use the principles of the scientific method in a way that makes sense depending on the ages and abilities of your kids.

Looking for easy to print activities, and inexpensive science experiments? 

We have you covered…

Click below to get your quick and easy science activities. 

The Scientific Method Includes…

1. Making initial observations,
2. Coming up with a question of interest that is based on the observations
3. Developing a hypothesis or prediction to go along with the question
4. Experimenting and testing
5. Gathering and recording results of tests and experiments and drawing conclusions
6. Sharing and discussing results

Whoa… Wait A  Minute! That sounds like a lot for a young kid!

You are absolutely correct. Depending on your kid’s abilities, following all 6 steps precisely is just not going to go well. Someone is going to get frustrated, bored, and turned off from just how cool science can be. We definitely do not want that to happen!

The Scientific Method For Preschoolers

Use the 6 steps of the scientific method as a guideline in the back of your mind. You can actually cover most of the steps pretty well just by talking with your kids about…

• what they think will happen
• what is happening
• what actually happened compared to what they thought would happen.

No writing required! It’s also best to pick some pretty straight forward ideas that aren’t overly involved or complicated to set up and test. In fact, kids always have burning questions and “what if’s”.

See if you can tackle their next “what if” using the scientific method by listening carefully to their conversations. You can even have them keep a journal with their “what if” questions for your next science time.

YOU MAY ALSO LIKE: Science Activities For Preschoolers

SCIENTIFIC METHOD STEPS

The 6 steps to using the scientific method are outlined below and are great for science at home with your kids or in the classroom! We have also included simple scientific method experiments.

You can download our FREE Scientific Process journal pages and check out our NEW Quick STEM Activities Design Process starter pack below!

Ice Science Experiments are perfect for this! Try these 3 today.

1: Make Observations

There are tons of everyday activities that would make cool science experiments using the scientific method. Listen to what your kids talk about and see happening. My son noticed that ice melted pretty fast in his water.

You can also use this one: What Dissolves In Water?

2: Come Up With A Question 

Your kids’ observations should lead to some sort of question. For my son and his ice observations, he came up with his own question. Does ice melt faster in different liquids? His curiosity on what happens to the ice in liquids is a simple science experiment perfect for using the scientific method.

Next! Do Some research and come up with ideas!

3: Develop a Hypothesis or Prediction

• You have made your observations…
• And you have your question…
• Now you need to make a prediction about what you think will happen.

A hypothesis is not simply a guess! It’s a statement of what you believe will happen based on the information you have gathered.

My son thinks that ice will melt faster in juice than it will in water. Maybe he just wants to get a drink of juice out of it.

4: Conduct An Experiment

We made a prediction that ice will melt faster in juice than it will in water, and now we have to test our hypothesis. We set up an experiment with a glass of juice, a glass of water, and an ice cube for each.

For the best experiments, only one thing should change! Here, we are changing the type of liquid we use but keeping the ice cube, the temperature, and measurements of the liquid the same. If too many factors change at once, you can not accurately state what the results are.

The liquids should be roughly the same temperature (as close as possible) and measured to the same amount, so we left them out to come to room temperature. This could also be tested right out of the fridge!

Set up a stopwatch or set a time limit to observe the changes!

5: Record Results and Draw Conclusions

Make sure to record what is happening as well as the results. Note changes at specific time intervals or after one set time interval.

• Note when each ice cube is completely melted.
• Add drawings if you wish of the setup up and the end results.
• Was your prediction accurate? If it was inaccurate, record why.
• Write out a final conclusion to your experiment.

6: Results

This is the opportunity to talk about your hypothesis, your experiment, your results, and your conclusion!

ALTERNATIVE IDEAS: Switch out an ice cube for a lollipop or change out the liquids using ones like vinegar and cooking oil.

SCIENTIFIC METHOD FOR YOUNGER KIDS!

As I discussed briefly above, even kindergarten and preschoolers can get practice using the scientific method with help from the participating adult. You can achieve this simply through conversation during a science experiment! (Separate printable sheets below too!)

Get the kiddos thinking and asking questions through your prompts, and they will be well on their way to mastering the scientific method!

SCIENTIFIC METHOD EXAMPLES

What’s magnetic and what’s not or what sinks and what floats types of experiments are great practice for using the scientific method.

STEP 1: Your kid notices that something has sunk in a bowl of water.

STEP 2: He asks if all things sink in water.

STEP 3: You ask what he thinks will happen if he puts different things in the water. He thinks they will all sink because they are to heavy.

STEP 4: You set up a container of water and an assortment of objects that will either sink or float {best to have a good mix}. With each item your kid picks up, have him/her tell you whether it will sink or float before letting go of the item.

STEP 5: Your kid will immediately draw a conclusion about each individual object. Then he can also draw a final conclusion based on his initial prediction that all things will sink in the water because they are to heavy. Do all things sink in water?

I still can remember back to that very first baking soda and vinegar science experiment, the wonder in his eyes, and the way he giggled with each reaction. The amazement that came from a simple chemical reaction {that pretty much anyone can try} was awesome!

That single experiment has fueled his love of science and together we are using the scientific method in our science activities every time we set up a new experiment.

SUGGESTED BOOKS:

Ada Twist, Scientist by Andrea Beaty

How To Think Like a Scientist: Answering Questions by the Scientific Method by Stephen P. Kramer (older kids)

Investigating the Scientific Method with Max Axion, Super Scientist (Graphic Science) by Donald B. Lemke (older)

11 Experiments that Failed by Jenny Offil and Nancy Carpenter

Mad Margaret Experiments with the Scientific Method (In the Science Lab) by Eric Mark Baum

What is Science? by Rebecca Kai Dotlich (younger)

Zoe and Sassafrass Series by Asia Citro

SCIENTIFIC METHOD EXPERIMENTS

For more ways to use the scientific method for kids, click on the links below.

Looking for easy to print activities, and inexpensive science experiments? 

We have you covered…

Click below to get your quick and easy science process pack to add to your next science activity.