今天去参加了孩子小学的 Science Fair ，有感而发，写这篇小博文与大家分享。 在美国大多数中小学，甚至包括幼儿园每年学校都要举办一次 Science Fair ，在我孩子的通知书上写到， Please remember, the Science Fair Project is mandatory for all students. 学生们可以根据自己的兴趣来自由选择课题，包括化学，生物，地球，环境，物理，医学健康，数学，甚至电脑等。学校给学生发了实验要求，方法和评分标准，先是班级评选好的，参加学校展览，然后学校再评选出优秀的参加地区学校的科学汇展。不知现在国内的小学是否有类似的活动，至少在我们那年代还没有。 看到小学生们还包括幼儿园小朋友们的作品，也不禁感叹起他们的动手能力，及想象能力，虽然和我以往每年参加的美国内分泌学会 POST 不能同比，但童心之作，也充满了憧憬和可爱。回来的路上我和孩子聊天说，“学校举办这个活动，就是要你们不仅要读书成绩好，更重要的是要学会自己动脑子，善于观察，有创新精神和动手能力。”望着孩子天真的笑容，也感到我们的一份骄傲。目前，海外华人的孩子在世界各地学校中，平均成绩都是较为优秀居上，并且音乐，体育也并不落后。世界是属于他们的。当然，科学是不分族裔和国界的，科学是属于全人类的。 下面我转载一下小学的科学实验要求，不知对正在从事实验和写论文的大学生或研究生是否也会有些帮助。 The Scientific Method The scientific method is a step-by-step approach that helps scientist find solutions to problems, and explains things they don’t understand. A scientist uses the same steps each time he wants to find an answer, no matter what type of problem it is. These steps are 1. Purpose – What do you want to learn? 2. Research – Find out as much about your topics as you can. 3. Hypothesis – Predict the answer to the problem. 4. Experiment – Design a test to confirm or disprove your hypothesis. 5. Conclusion – Was your hypothesis correct? Purpose All scientific approaches begin with the question, “What do I want to find out?” Questions might arise from reading an article in a book or a magazine, an interesting observation, or an intriguing thought about a scientific phenomenon. Many times the problem grows out of the conclusions from another experiment. Use these guidelines to help your students choose their problems: 1. Keep the problems statement specific and focused. General statements make it hard to find answers. 2. Rewrite your statement until it says exactly what you want it to say. 3. When your statement is finished, be sure it makes sense and makes sure you can find enough research materials to answer your question. Research Research is critical to the scientific method. The student will find information in various materials to help him form hypotheses and make a logical guess about the experiment’s outcome. Without research, predicting the outcome of the experiment is impossible. Students should start their research by investigating these and other sources: 1. Written materials (books, pamphlets, etc.) 2. Experts (The student should consider contacting the expert either by phone, or by sending a letter. With a little luck, the possibility might exist for a personal interview.) 3. Conferences or lectures (Teachers can help with this information.) 4. Libraries associated with various laboratories, universities, or companies that might be involved with the manufacturing of a material related to a particular experiment. Hypothesis After the student conducts thorough research, he or she can turn the problem into an answer to the original question based on research gathered. The student can say, “This is what I think will happen”. All hypotheses should include these parts: 1. The focus of the experiment 2. What’s being measured 3. Conditions 4. Expected results Experiment The student now tests the hypothesis to see if it is correct. The student can ask, “What kinds of test will I design to confirm what I think will happen?” Analysis In this step, the students need to ask, “What happened?” It is necessary for the students to have a notebook for a log so they can record the following: 1. Data collected 2. Observations made during the experiment( for comparison when you repeat experiment.) 3. Event and any changes throughout the experiment. 4. Errors noted 5. Tentative conclusions Conclusions At the conclusion of the experiment, the student should ask, “What did I find out?” Here is a chance for the student to tell what was learned from the experiment. The conclusion should be as brief as possible. The student can ask the following question to see what experiment conform my prediction. 1. Did the results of the experiment confirm my prediction? 2. Did the results deny my prediction? 3. Are there any questions that remain unanswered? 4. Are there any changes that could have been made? 5. As a result of the experiment, are there any suggestions or new questions to test? 6. Was this experiment important? Why or shy not? 小学科学展 小孩做的挺像样的 纸箱做的宇宙 研究火箭和太阳能汽车 研究火山爆发的
标签: 儿童教育
