Think Like a Scientist: A Kid's Guide to Scientific Thinking
#2 of 3 in Adventures in Thinking Series
on Goodreads (23)
What’s inside...
Think Like a Kid's Guide to Scientific Thinking is an interactive children's book by David Pakman that introduces young readers to the scientific method. It covers forming hypotheses, designing experiments, and drawing conclusions to encourage a scientific mindset. With vibrant illustrations and real-world examples, the book makes scientific concepts relatable and understandable for children. It serves as an excellent resource for any child eager to explore and understand the world of science.
Discussion points
What do you think makes a good scientist?
Can you think of an experiment you'd like to try? What would you want to learn from it?
How do you think scientific thinking can help you in your daily life?
Why do you think it's important to ask questions about how things work?
Which scientific idea from the book did you find the most fascinating and why?
Tip: Role play these questions
Encourage your child to relate the scientific concepts to their everyday life and experiences. This helps solidify understanding.
Use everyday objects around the house to recreate simple experiments mentioned in the book, making the concepts more tangible.
Emphasize that it's okay not to know everything and that part of thinking like a scientist is being curious and open to learning.
After your child answers a question, ask them to explain their reasoning to encourage deeper thinking and communication skills.
Key lessons
Example Lesson: The importance of curiosity
Explanation: Throughout the book, the character demonstrates curiosity by asking questions and exploring their world which leads to scientific discoveries.
Real-World Application: Children learn to ask questions about their surroundings and explore various outcomes, encouraging lifelong learning.
Example Lesson: Critical thinking
Explanation: The book illustrates how the protagonist uses evidence to make reasoned decisions rather than jumping to conclusions.
Real-World Application: Kids can apply critical thinking to solve problems at school or at home by evaluating information before making decisions.
Example Lesson: The value of experimentation
Explanation: In 'Think Like a Scientist', the character conducts experiments to test hypotheses which is a core part of scientific methodology.
Real-World Application: Children learn the significance of trial and error and understand that making mistakes is a part of learning and discovering new things.
Example Lesson: Persistence in problem-solving
Explanation: Despite facing challenges, the book's protagonist continues to seek solutions, demonstrating the scientific spirit of persistence.
Real-World Application: This teaches children the importance of perseverance when facing difficult tasks or understanding complex concepts in their daily activities.
Example Lesson: Importance of sharing knowledge
Explanation: The character shares their scientific findings with friends and family, highlighting the communal aspect of science and learning.
Real-World Application: Children learn to value teamwork and the importance of communicating their ideas and discoveries with others.