Teaching Scientific Method to kids

One of my goals for the kids is to know how to make a theory and test their theory using the scientific method.  In elementary school, they’re probably not going to make some earth-shattering discoveries, but they can learn about things we as adults take for granted. It makes a great science lesson in the midst of our and a fun Anatomy lessons.

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Hi! Future Ticia 2024 here, I’m updating this post, with my current logo, and well, some of the pictures are just bad, and the explanations are bad, so I wanted the post to be more useful for everyone. But, I forgot how amazing this lesson was and how much we learned from it. Now I return you to learning the scientific method and our carbohydrates experiment.

Supplies for carbohydrates experiment

iodine, glass eye dropper (iodine will stain rubber eye droppers, so get the glass ones, and it’s good for kids to learn how to use glass without breaking it), glass plate, small bowl for the iodine

Now let’s talk the foods we chose, you can choose different foods, but I would highly suggest making sure you have at least one food that has no carbohydrates in it, so cheese, meat, or something like that, and one that will test oddly, like the orange.

Tostitos, saltines, granola, marshmallow, bread, oranges

Using the scientific method with kids

Here’s how we are using the scientific method right now.  The full-on version has you making revisions in your hypothesis as you obtain results, but for simplicity’s sake, we didn’t do this.  We also added the step of discussing with “colleagues,” or in other words your siblings.

This experiment came about from a post, Phyllis over at All Things Beautiful shared a few years ago, a mystery series, in one of the evidence parts she referenced how to test for starch in foods.  I filed that away in my brain as something to do when we reached anatomy, but this was pre-Pinterest, so I didn’t remember much beyond that it was possible.  Fast forward to now, and we finally did this experiment as we reached the nutrition chapter in our textbook.

Tip 1 for teaching Scientific Method to kids, be patient

because kids are squirrely and will be distracted.

As we went through and formed the hypothesis I forgot a key feature, have the spelling ready for them to copy, which led to a bit of frustration, but just be PATIENT.  I was kind of surprised by some of their predictions on what would happen.

Tip 2 for teaching Scientific method to kids, use lined paper

because I didn’t, and this caused problems later on for the kids as their results were all mixed up.

Tip 3 for teaching Scientific Method to kids, give very specific instructions

especially if your materials can stain or cause problems

Before the kids got to try it out, I gave some very specific instructions on how to do this because iodine stains, and I want them to learn caution:

1. Stand up while doing this (for more control)
2. Fill the dropper very carefully, and then tap it on the edge of the container so there are no drops
3. carefully put 1-2 drops on the item you’re testing, and wait for results

Side note, can I just say I love Batman’s face as he’s looking at Superman writing down?

Tip 4 for teaching Scientific Method to kids, wait sometimes results take time

When we first tested the granola we weren’t sure we saw the results, but as the iodine was absorbed by the granola it turned a dark color that indicated the presence of starches.

And when you’re all done take the time to talk about what happened and why (and maybe enjoy a few silly laughs).

And finally, a few happy Mom pic’s that I liked.

*Glass eye droppers because plastic will stain, see my post on Hands-on Science for more supplies you could get