Tips for...KINDERGARTEN
As a parent, you might ask “Is my Kindergartner too young to participate in science fair?” or “What kind of science can my Kindergartner really do?” As you know, they are naturally curious about the world around them. They are capable of making meaningful observations and asking meaningful questions. Therefore, they most certainly can participate in science fair by conducting their own science investigation—with your help, of course!

Where to begin? Start with your child’s own observations and curiosity. What do they NOTICE and what do they WONDER about? From backyard critters to household pets, animals can be great subjects for youngsters to begin to learn how to ‘do’ science. Living in San Diego, we have a plethora of unique habitats and hundreds of unique species of life (in fact, we are considered a world “biodiversity hotspot”). Take advantage of our natural resources—take your child on a hike or on a trip to the tidepools to inspire ideas for their project.

For more ideas, one may look to what Kindergartners are expected to learn at school this year. Both National and State Science Standards emphasize process skills and content—Kindergarten students should use their five senses to observe, measure, compare, contrast, describe, identify, and predict a variety things. These things range from living things (plants and animals) to non-living objects (physical properties) to the natural world around them (ocean, desert, mountains, weather, earth’s resources, etc.). Below is an abbreviated version of the California Science Content Standards for Kindergarten. For more full info, go to http://www.cde.ca.gov/BE/ST/SS/documents/sciencestnd.pdf

Encourage your child to make drawings to record their observations, and you may help them write to record what the observe (“I Notice”…) and what they are curious about (“I Wonder”…). When it comes time to prepare the presentation for the Science Fair, include these images and information in the poster. (More information to come!) Please post any comments/questions that you have here on the blog—your questions will be answered and will be available for others to see as well! Check out these websites for Kindergarten specific ideas:

http://www.easy-science-fair-projects.net/kindergarten-science-fair.html

http://www.kindergarten-lessons.com/science-fair-projects.html

CA SCIENCE CONTENT STANDARDS (abbreviated)

Physical Sciences: Properties of materials can be observed, measured, and predicted.

• Describe objects in terms of material they are made of (e.g., clay, cloth, paper) and their physical properties (e.g., color, size, shape, weight, texture, flexibility, attraction to magnets, floating, sinking).
• Water can be a liquid or a solid, can be made to change back and forth from one form to the other, and water left in an open container evaporates (goes into the air) but water in a closed container does not.

Life Sciences: Different types of plants and animals inhabit the earth.

• Observe and describe similarities and differences in the appearance and behavior of plants and animals (e.g., seed-bearing plants, birds, fish, insects).
• Identify major structures of common plants and animals (e.g., stems, leaves, roots, arms, wings, legs).

Earth Sciences: Earth is composed of land, air, and water.

• Characteristics of mountains, rivers, oceans, valleys, deserts, and local landforms.
• Changes in weather occur from day to day and across seasons, affecting Earth and its inhabitants.
• Identify resources from Earth that are used in everyday life and understand that many resources can be conserved.

Investigation and Experimentation: Scientific progress is made by asking meaningful questions and conducting careful investigations.

• Develop questions and perform investigations.
• Observe common objects by using the five senses.
• Describe the properties of common objects.
• Describe the relative position of objects by using one reference (e.g., above or below).
  Compare and sort common objects by one physical attribute (e.g., color, shape, texture, size, weight).
• Communicate observations orally and through drawings.