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Your statement really resonate with me as a scientist (phd) and a father. I want my kid to learn science at an early age (not baking soda volcano). But more ho

by skyde 5y ago

Your statement really resonate with me as a scientist (phd) and a father. I want my kid to learn science at an early age (not baking soda volcano). But more how would you go about testing an hypothesis (design of experiments) how do you know if the result are statistically significant? if it’s statistically significant is it enough to say it’s true (light can behave like a particule and like a wave so is it both or neither ...)

kilburn 5y ago
You want your kids to learn the scientific method [1], not "science" ;) [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scientific_method https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scientific_method
- skyde 5y ago
  exactly! I think most teacher just teach random fact about plants weather molecule ... and think they did a great job. But they rarely teach the scientific method.
MarcScott 5y ago
Don't knock the baking soda volcano. I made one with my son when he was about 7 or 8. There's a little engineering that goes into constructing the paper mache structure. A little art in painting it to look realistic. Some chemistry in understanding the release of carbon dioxide from acid-base reactions. Then there's the filming/presentation of the project, for a little media savvy. +1 if you can get your hands on some ammonium dichromate for an even more impressive, but more dangerous demonstration. These types of "experiments" are less about teaching science, and more about impassioning a love and interest for science.
- skyde 5y ago
  "chemistry in understanding the release of carbon dioxide from acid-base reactions." This is exactly the part I think is less important. My goal is not for my kid to learn a subset of chemistry theory from the explanation in a book or some fun experiment. Instead my goal is for them to understand why the human race now have this knowledge. How did the first chemist came up with the theory, how did they verify the theory was correct ... why do we now believe this is how atoms work.

by skyde 5y ago

kilburn 5y ago

You want your kids to learn the scientific method [1], not "science" ;) [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scientific_method https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scientific_method

skyde 5y ago
exactly! I think most teacher just teach random fact about plants weather molecule ... and think they did a great job. But they rarely teach the scientific method.

MarcScott 5y ago

Don't knock the baking soda volcano. I made one with my son when he was about 7 or 8. There's a little engineering that goes into constructing the paper mache structure. A little art in painting it to look realistic. Some chemistry in understanding the release of carbon dioxide from acid-base reactions. Then there's the filming/presentation of the project, for a little media savvy. +1 if you can get your hands on some ammonium dichromate for an even more impressive, but more dangerous demonstration. These types of "experiments" are less about teaching science, and more about impassioning a love and interest for science.

skyde 5y ago
"chemistry in understanding the release of carbon dioxide from acid-base reactions." This is exactly the part I think is less important. My goal is not for my kid to learn a subset of chemistry theory from the explanation in a book or some fun experiment. Instead my goal is for them to understand why the human race now have this knowledge. How did the first chemist came up with the theory, how did they verify the theory was correct ... why do we now believe this is how atoms work.