by Cherie Levent DeVille

​

(Did we end up in your Spam folder? Please mark lbedpub@gmail.com as NOT SPAM to receive our newsletters in your Inbox. You won't want to miss anything! You can send us a message at that address as well.)

​

One of the more child-friendly definitions for science I have come across is from NASA on its Space Place website.

​

We all remember being in science class and the various scientific method posters. Depending on the grade level, they could have between 4 to 7 steps. Usually including at least these steps

​

• Question
• Hypothesis
• Observation
• Experiment
• Conclusion

The Importance of Observation

The foremost element of the scientific method is observation.

​

What does something look like, feel, sound, smell, and sometimes taste like? Starting from the broad descriptions, you can go deeper. If something is green, what kind of green? Look at its texture: is it rough, smooth, bumpy, or fuzzy? Being able to make attentive observations means that you are capable of making comparisons and noticing changes over time.

​

Even though observation is stated explicitly as a step, there isn’t a step within the method where you do NOT make observations. Questions don’t arise without observations. To be able to develop a question, you had to make note of something observed and base your conclusion on the observations of any experiments you conduct.

Go Outside and Strengthen Observational Skills

This summer, why not help to develop your child’s observational skills and go out on a nature bingo scavenger hunt? We’ve created a summer bingo game that you can print out. You and your child will be able to learn more about your local natural environment as well as learn how to look at the differences between plants and animals.

​

This is a great way to be outside together, and you can do this on vacation as well if you are going to a similar environment (if you are going from North America to many parts in Europe, for instance, you will see very similar plants and animals). If you and your child need a little help, use the SEEK app by iNaturalist ​​ or another plant identification app of your choice.
​

Preparing for the 2025 - 2026 school year

The upcoming 2025-2026 calendar products will be a digital download package of the following items:

• Monthly calendar posters of events,
• Presentations (in PDF) of the events from our calendars.
• STEM-related activities that complement the events on the calendar.
• Posters of selected events for each month
• Blank month posters so you can fill them in the way that you wish
• The products are for students ages 8 to 13.

​

Enrich your classroom or learning space with STEM posters of Black professionals, important science events, and other fascinating STEM facts. They are fun, colorful, and informative.

​

​

​See you in two weeks!

​

​

Cover photo by RDNE Stock project: https://www.pexels.com/photo/a-child-looking-afar-8082971/

​

​

​

​
​

​