| Children live in a world in which
science has tremendous importance. During their lifetimes it will affect them
more and more. In time, many of them will work at jobs that depend heavily on
science--for example, concerning energy sources, pollution control, highway
safety, wilderness conservation, and population growth. As taxpayers they will
pay for scientific research and exploration. And, as consumers, they will be
bombarded (受到轰击) by advertising, much of which is said to be based on
science. Therefore, it is important that children, the citizens of the future, become functionally acquainted with science--with the process and spirit of science, as well as with its facts and principles. Fortunately, science has a natural appeal for youngsters. They can relate it to so many things that they encounter--flashlights, tools, echoes, and rainbows. Besides; science is an excellent medium for teaching far more than content. It can help pupils learn to think logically, to organize and analyse ideas. It can provide practice in communication skills and mathematics. In fact, there is no area of the curriculum to which science cannot contribute, whether it is geography, history, language arts, music, or art! Above all, good science teaching leads to what might be called a "scientific attitude". Those who possess it seek answers through observing, experimenting, and reasoning, rather than blindly accepting the pronouncements of others. They weigh evidence carefully and reach conclusions with caution. While respecting the opinions of others, they expect honesty, accuracy, and objectivity and are on guard against hasty judgments and sweeping generalizations. All children should be developing this approach to solving problems, but it cannot be expected to appear automatically with the mere acquisition of information. Continual practice, through guided participation, is needed. |