With so many amazing scientific advancements in our world today, it’s easy for us to lose sight of the basics. On this edition of Home School Heartbeat, Mike Smith and Dr. Arthur Robinson talk about how to set up a good science foundation in your children.
Mike:
Dr. Robinson, what critical concepts do you believe all children should learn about science? For instance, is it important that our science curriculum teach scientific method?
Dr. Robinson:
Well, it’s very important that it teach scientific method, and that primarily is problem solving. The basics that a child needs to have are superb problem solving abilities, both the ability to do it and the self-confidence to know they can. That starts with the earliest learning of arithmetic and continues right through physics and chemistry. The basic science that’s needed is not changed. It’s the same basic science that would have been taught, was taught to children 50 years ago. Children before the age of 18 are not ready to solve problems on the leading edge of science. They need a firm grounding in mathematics, the language of science; physics; and chemistry. And those things are primarily problem solving. The child is going to solve thousands and thousands and thousands of problems by himself. If he has high quality texts, good study habits, a good study environment, and learns to solve problems in these subjects, he will have the basic training that he needs.
Mike:
Well, thank you, Dr. Robinson. And please join us tomorrow when we’re going to find out how your child can participate in science fairs.
