Here at Growing With Science, we’re entering our fourth year of promoting “informal science,” and so we were pleased to see A Special Report on Informal Science Learning from the April 1, 2011 Education Week that discusses how important it can be. (You may read the Overview without registering by going here.)

Informal science is any opportunity to explore science outside of the traditional classroom setting. As the author of the article writes, it may be a trip to the zoo, a science competition, or an after school robotics club.

That’s all very good, but let’s consider another factor. The best way to inspire future scientists and science literate citizens is to make sure the child is allowed to follow his or her own interests and passions in these informal settings. Learning is more likely to stick if the child is allowed to explore his or her personal questions. Here’s a few reasons why:

  1. Following a child’s interest allows the child to place any answers discovered into a relevant conceptual framework. Sometimes “experiments” today are demonstrations given randomly, out of context and with little explanation. Following the child’s questions allows him or her to add inner context.
  2. Child-led exploration builds the child’s confidence in his or her ability to generate and test pertinent questions. Letting the child be the “chief scientist” will often lead you to astonishing places.
  3. It is always easier to work hard at something that interests and excites you.

If you ask a given scientist what led him or her to pursue a scientific career, you will often find the answer is that having free time to explore interests as a child was a big, and often critical, factor. For example, one scientist I know made an insect collection in his spare time as a child, with little or no guidance from adults. His achievement gave him the confidence to consider science as a career. Another scientist admits finding some dusty old meteorites in a museum as a child that sparked his interest in becoming a geologist. That isn’t to say that their career choices weren’t molded by mentors in later years, but the initial trigger is often an opportunity to explore during childhood.

Are you ready to take off with some informal science?

These are just a sample of the numerous resources available:

Try Scientific American’s – Bring Science Home
 Home projects for children and parents using household items – more added throughout the month.

You might also want to go to the Scientific American homepage and visit the education tab and Citizen Science for older children/young adults.

Teacher Network has an informative article about Starting a Science Club.

Check out the Association of Zoos and Aquariums for a list of accredited zoos and aquariums to visit, and then click on the Education tab for more ideas.

Edit:  Just found Hands-On Science Activities at Exploratorium After School.

Have you heard about the World Science Festival being held in New York City June 1-5, 2011? Should be plenty of opportunities to learn about science there. You will need to go to the website and order tickets. The regular prices are adult – $30, student/youth – $15, but there seem to be many promotions and group rates, so shop around.

And if you are interested in finding out more about raising a scientist, Dr. Biologist at “Ask A Biologist” has a series of podcasts of interviews with scientists. He usually asks the interviewees how they got their start towards the end of each interview.

Please let me know if you have any ideas, questions, comments or additional resources you would like to share.