Be excited to hear questions from your child as much (or more than) you are to hear correct answers.
A child's question is a useful place to begin a STEM investigation, even when nobody knows the answer. Respond with interest and ask what made them wonder. Recording the question gives the family a way to return to it when there is time, information, or a suitable material.
Choose an approach that fits the question
Some questions invite a small test, such as which paper shape makes a stronger support. Others need repeated observation or a reliable explanation from a book or expert. Scientific inquiry uses several approaches, not one fixed sequence for every question. [1] Help your child decide what information would be useful.
Avoid turning every question into a quiz. You can acknowledge that you do not know, suggest a source, or help plan a manageable test. The Exploratorium's investigations offer starting points when a family wants an activity connected with a question. [2] Keep the child's own wording visible.
Create a question jar
Materials: A jar, envelope, or small box; paper slips; a pencil; and ordinary materials selected after the family chooses a question. Drawings or an adult's written notes can replace independent writing when that suits the child.
- Collect without ranking. Record questions as they arise during the day or week. Ask what prompted each one and include that observation on the slip. There is no need to decide immediately whether a question is easy or difficult.
- Choose one to investigate. Pick a question that fits the available time and materials. Write a prediction and decide whether to test something, observe a pattern, or consult a trusted source. Agree what evidence would help.
- Record and continue. Explore the question together and note what happened or what the source explained. Invite the child to describe what they now think. Add a new question or an unresolved point to the jar.
Return to the questions that remain
A useful investigation may end with a narrower question rather than a final answer. Keep the original slip beside the observations so the child can see how their thinking changed. Revisit one unfinished idea later, allowing new information to extend the conversation without requiring every question to become a project.
Resources
[1] UC Berkeley — How science investigates questions
[2] Exploratorium — Science Snacks for further investigation
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