{"id":23514,"date":"2024-03-14T10:35:27","date_gmt":"2024-03-14T10:35:27","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/staging.avdheshsharma.com\/beyond-the-textbook-making-science-fun-and-accessible-for-kids\/"},"modified":"2024-07-31T04:57:55","modified_gmt":"2024-07-31T04:57:55","slug":"beyond-the-textbook-making-science-fun-and-accessible-for-kids","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/insights\/beyond-the-textbook-making-science-fun-and-accessible-for-kids","title":{"rendered":"Beyond the textbook: making science fun and accessible for kids"},"content":{"rendered":"

I remember the 28th of February very fondly from my schooldays. Our school, along with the rest of India, celebrated this day as National Science Day<\/a>. The morning assembly on this day would be full of delightful science experiments that left all of us awed. I remember being mesmerized by a volcanic eruption caused by mixing baking soda and vinegar, burning a piece of wood by concentrating sunlight through a magnifying glass, and looking at cells from an onion under a microscope. <\/p>\n

In hindsight, I believe these experiences contributed significantly in sparking my interest in science \u2013 I got a Master\u2019s degree in Biochemistry, followed by being in the research field for four years. As a researcher, I often got the opportunity to talk about my work with school children through open days arranged by the institute. During these open days, I realized the immense power I held. These introductions to young children could be a crucial turning point in either fanning or extinguishing children\u2019s interest in science. To communicate my science to kids more effectively, I realized that I first needed to understand the importance of communicating science to children. <\/p>\n

Why communicate science to kids <\/strong><\/p>\n

Sharing scientific knowledge with children can positively impact several aspects of their lives. Communicating scientific results and the way they were achieved can encourage kids to be curious and creative. This can help develop their analytical thinking, and critical and logical reasoning skills, which can eventually promote self-confidence. In addition to improving these important life skills, it sets up kids for future careers in science, inspiring the next generation of scientists. <\/p>\n

Aside from the obvious positive effects on children, I realized that communicating about science made me a better researcher. One of my professors used to say, \u201cYou don\u2019t understand your research well enough if you can\u2019t explain it to kids.\u201d His words have stuck with me. Breaking down complex concepts to communicate them to school students helped me understand my research even better, giving me novel ideas on ways to address the research problem. Children also love asking questions. I have often received questions from kids that have made me pause, think, and re-strategize my workflow. <\/p>\n

Getting kids interested in science <\/strong><\/p>\n

To ignite other children\u2019s interest in science, I relied on methods that got me wondering more about the world of science. Some of the practices that helped me communicate science effectively to children include: <\/p>\n

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Drawing them in <\/strong>
\nSkipping the conventional slideshow lectures and poster presentations to make way for live demonstrations can go a long way. What I remember the most from my childhood morning assemblies on National Science Day is the visuals of the experiments my seniors would do. Only later did I learn the science behind these experiments, but what stayed with me was seeing what happened. I also vividly remember my high school biology teacher getting an animal\u2019s brain to class for a lesson in brain anatomy. To this day, I remember the different parts of a brain because of her \u201cshow and tell\u201d approach to the lesson. <\/p>\n

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Break down and simplify <\/strong>
\nKids don\u2019t need to learn the nitty gritty details of the scientific problem and research methodology. They are more likely to lose interest if exposed to unnecessary information and scientific jargon. Instead, focus on the key details that they might find interesting \u2013 something that will make them go \u201cWow!\u201d  <\/p>\n

However, at the same time, it is important that you don\u2019t oversimplify the concept, or that the science doesn\u2019t get lost in breaking it down. <\/p>\n

I remember my high school physics that would haunt me. When I got a chance to teach the same syllabus to children, I made sure to simplify and explain the theory before proceeding to use the concepts for solving questions. I realized that simplifying science without it losing its essence in this manner can make children overcome their fear of the subject and make them realize that they don\u2019t have to be scared of science.  <\/p>\n

Use analogies <\/strong>
\nAligning your subject with something that the kids are familiar with can help them build a connection. Giving relatable examples can help children understand the scientific message better. For example, Rachael Bonoan<\/a>, a nutritional ecologist studying insect pollinators has explained bee foraging behavior (where bees venture out of their nest to search for food) to children by comparing it with a trip to the grocery store<\/a>.  <\/p>\n

Engage the senses <\/strong>
\nChildren learn in different ways. Not everyone is an auditory or visual learner. For example, according to a blog post<\/a>, Dr. Bonoan mixes up all senses and gets children involved in her outreach practices: <\/p>\n