Coming from a liberal arts background the phrase “scientific observation” was slightly intimidating. However, when I began to understand that scientific observation can take the form of a sweet child wandering around her yard looking for evidence of fairies I was heartened.
As an elementary teacher I can create activities that encourage my students to use all of their senses (maybe minus taste) to observe the world around them.
Here is an activity I learned in my Science Curriculum class that illustrates this exactly. To play, the teacher divides the class into 6 groups. Each group has a recording sheet and a numbered box. The group members use their senses to observe and predict what is inside the box. After each group has had each box the teacher reveals what is inside each box. This is a great game to play with all ages as I fully enjoyed it as an adult.
This game also engages the Core Competency of Critical and Reflective Thinking perfectly as students have to analyze and make judgements. Furthermore, they have to work as a team to make a singular prediction which touches on Social Awareness and Responsibility.
I still wonder how I can encourage curiosity and wonder, use Indigenous ways of approaching nature, and teach all that I need to teach in the Science Curriculum. Sometimes I feel like I am ill equipped. I imagine this is why we lean on one another as teachers, using ideas like those above, and become friendly thieves and generous givers.