The Prediction Game – A Fun Science Activity for Kids
The Prediction Game – A Fun Science Activity for Kids
As the planet’s newest inhabitants, discovery, play, and learning is every kid’s job. Encourage this with a fun science activity for kids! Without knowing it, children follow the scientific method in their everyday activities:
- First they make an observation: “Whenever I drop my sippy cup on the ground, mom picks it up.”
- Then they formulate a hypothesis: “Mom thinks it’s fun to pick stuff up off the ground.”
- Now for the prediction: “If I drop my plate of spaghetti on the ground, mom will pick that up too.”
- To test the hypothesis: “let’s give that plate of spaghetti a little shove!”
- Finally, observations are made and the hypothesis is revised: “Oh, mom howled and the dog ate my spaghetti. Not exactly what I expected – but that was fun for me!”
Try the “The Prediction Game” to stimulate your kid’s sense of discovery and train them to follow the scientific method. It’s pretty simple – Ask a question about the world that is immediately testable. Then each person in the room formulates their own prediction about the potential outcome. Test it and see whose prediction is closest to correct. Some example questions are:
- What color will we get if we mix red, yellow, and blue together? (Try various color combos)
- Will that fridge magnet stick to the kitchen wall? (Magnets are awesome)
- Do peas float or sink in water? (This is a fun test for lots of different objects!)
- Hold a yo-yo at the end of its string and let it swing back and forth. If you shorten the yo-yo’s string, will it swing faster or slower than before?
- Will the ice melt faster on the sink or in the fridge? (or in your mouth)
- How many licks does it take to get to the center of that tootsie pop? (Three of course)
It’s really interesting to ask why they are predicting a certain outcome. The answer to the “why” question is essentially their working hypothesis. “Dad, the peas will sink because all green things sink in water.” Interesting. Further testing is needed.
Please, comment below and leave your ideas for cool questions to ask kids when playing The Prediction Game!
Makes me think of our household when the girls were young. Their dad was a science teacher and what is more fun for kids than science as a game!