​Science is all around us, we are made of science; the cells that form us, the air that we breathe, the food we eat, the transport we drive…all science. If we use this ‘every day’ context to teach science to our children, then it is no longer viewed as a scary world of scientists in white coats, making experiments and explosions and it becomes accessible and easy to understand.

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By starting from the point that the child is at, with things that are familiar to them, we build on their knowledge and avoid many of the misconceptions that even adults hold, because they were not allowed to explore science for themselves. The best way to find out where a child is with their knowledge of a concept, is to ask them. Write it down so that you can identify any misunderstandings and gaps in their knowledge, as well as seeing for yourself what they already know. You might be surprised!

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One of the best things about science is the questions it generates, and by its very nature, it will often generate more questions than answers. The beauty of science is that we don’t have all the answers and by empowering children to investigate and observe for themselves, we are encouraging a generation who are not only confident in questioning how things are, but who are also able to offer ingenious and useful solutions to problems.

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