Think Like A Scientist

When was the last time you stopped and observed the subtle changes in the natural world around you? Probably not recently. Unlike adults who are often too busy to stop and take notice of the wonders of nature, children are not. Children are at awe with the natural world around them. Children are innately interested in the natural world, they want to explore, discover, and investigate all that is new to them . I strongly recommend that parents and teachers of young children provide daily opportunities for the child to explore the natural world around them using a magnifying glass. A child should have their own magnifying glass at home to use for daily explorations. Classrooms should have enough magnifying glasses and age-appropriate microscopes so that every child  has plenty of opportunities to make observations and discoveries about the natural world in both guided and free-exploratory experiences. During the teacher training workshops I conduct, the use of magnifying lenses and microscopes are an integral component.  Throughout the years I’ve observed how excited and intrigued even the most seasoned teacher becomes when they use magnifying lenses and microscopes to explore the natural world. I know that if I can reignite the excitement of observing the natural world up closely with the teachers that attend my teacher training workshops. That those teachers are certain to go back into to their own classrooms and create a learning environment that will foster a love of science and the natural world in the children they teach.