MySci's Ann McMahon writes:

We in Missouri are lucky to experience all four seasons. I love the fall and spring because these seasons are filled with changes that stir my wonder and curiosity.

When I think about how to inspire the next generation of scientists, I know that children’s wonder and curiosity are powerful motivators. We can harness that wonder and curiosity to help children learn to observe and describe the many changes that nature offers us in the fall – leaves that change color and drop from the trees, cooler days that cause us to wear warmer clothes, acorns and walnuts that fall to the ground where busy squirrels gather them, and birds that fly southward.

Encourage young children to notice what is the same and what is different around them during the fall and to use their words to talk about the changes. Encourage them to draw pictures and label them with descriptive words. Put these away for spring, and compare them to their new pictures of the changes that happen in nature then.

Scientists are good observers and describers. Before scientists can answer questions about why something happened, they need to have a solid understanding about what happened. Answering the what questions means observing and describing – the very skills that young students can practice as they experience the changing seasons. So as you’re noticing the chill in the air or the brightly colored leaves on the trees, call your students’ attention to them. Make the everyday moments of recess an opportunity to have a conversation with – and about – nature. Now that’s inspiring!

MySci's Ann McMahon writes:

We in Missouri are lucky to experience all four seasons. I love the fall and spring because these seasons are filled with changes that stir my wonder and curiosity.

When I think about how to inspire the next generation of scientists, I know that children’s wonder and curiosity are powerful motivators. We can harness that wonder and curiosity to help children learn to observe and describe the many changes that nature offers us in the fall – leaves that change color and drop from the trees, cooler days that cause us to wear warmer clothes, acorns and walnuts that fall to the ground where busy squirrels gather them, and birds that fly southward.

Encourage young children to notice what is the same and what is different around them during the fall and to use their words to talk about the changes. Encourage them to draw pictures and label them with descriptive words. Put these away for spring, and compare them to their new pictures of the changes that happen in nature then.

Scientists are good observers and describers. Before scientists can answer questions about why something happened, they need to have a solid understanding about what happened. Answering the what questions means observing and describing – the very skills that young students can practice as they experience the changing seasons. So as you’re noticing the chill in the air or the brightly colored leaves on the trees, call your students’ attention to them. Make the everyday moments of recess an opportunity to have a conversation with – and about – nature. Now that’s inspiring!