The Scientific Process, in Six Small Steps
Observe → Question → Predict → Test → Observe → Explain — at any age.
🧭 What parents can do
Whenever something interesting happens, walk the six steps out loud. Write the prediction BEFORE the test — then compare. Different results are discoveries, not failures.
🪜 Step-by-step
- Observe: what do you see?
- Question: why did this happen?
- Predict: what will happen if…?
- Test safely
- Observe again: what happened?
- Explain: what did we learn?
🏡 Try this activity
Prediction jar: before any activity — cooking, watering plants, bath time — ask "what will happen?" and check afterwards.
❓ Questions to ask
- “What do you think will happen?”
- “How could we test that safely?”
- “What happened? Was it what you predicted?”
- “Why do you think it happened?”
⚠️ Common mistakes
Treating wrong predictions as embarrassing. Every great discovery started with a wrong guess.
📚 Recommended EduManual lessons
🔗 Related articles
- Science at Home: Watch, Wonder, Ask — Plants, shadows and melting ice — the lab is your kitchen.
- Problem Solving at Home: State, Plan, Try, Check — A four-step loop for puzzles, chores and arguments alike.
Put it into practice today
One small step beats a perfect plan.