Head on! Week one

Choosing the topic of the experiment is by far the most important AND the most difficult step in the project.


Science isn't made up, it's based on life. 

Therefore the experiments(or original inventions) should:

1. Be chosen according to the child's interest.

2. Solve a problem.

3. Be useful to others.

Side-note

I highly recommend to steer clear of the project ideas before any thought process has started to happen. Trust me, it is the hardest part! Having helped with very successful investigations I bite my tongue not to share with the students what has been done. This is a trap for them to simply copy an idea. As a result they will fully depend on copying until the end of the experiment. IT IS AN EASY WAY OUT. Alas, the light of inquiry will be put out at that point. Yes, some may argue that without an experience it's the best way out. Perhaps so, yet it is also the easiest way to say "hey, there is no need for original thinking". If the goal is to empower a child - by all means, they need to have enough time and opportunity to think and brainstorm.

Brainstorming

My Year 3 students chose a whole class project. This may sound as an easy job but since I am not doing it FOR them but rather WITH them, it takes time and effort. I have consciously stopped all book work and will just get busy with the experiment for the next few weeks. 

 Step 1: Write ALL possible ideas. Then decide if that can be made inot an experiment AKA Can we change anything? Is there anything to test?

Step 2: (Lower primary option) Ask questions: Where? Why? Which& When? What? How?

Step 3: Eliminate the least popular questions and vote on the rest.

Step 4. Write the problem statement.

Well... It took us 2 lessons to get this far. Unfortunately, we still haven't decided on the question we will invetisgate... and yes! The homework literally says "think about it"!