Children are natural scientists, very interested in the world around them. Helping them enjoy science can be easy; there’s no need for a lot of scientific terms（科学术语）or modern labs. You only have to share your children’s interests.
Firstly, listen to their questions. I once visited a classroom of seven-year-old children to talk about science as a job. The children asked me “textbook questions” about schooling, the money I got and whether I liked my job. When I finished answering, we sat facing each other silently. Finally I said, “Now that we’ve finished with your lists, do you have questions of your own about science?” After a long wait, a boy put up his hand, “Have you ever seen a rabbit eat? When I try eating grass like that, I get ill. Why?” This began a lot of questions that lasted nearly two hours.
Secondly, give them time to think. Studies over the past 30 years have shown that, after asking a question, many teachers usually wait only one second or less for an answer, no time for a child to think. When teachers increase their “wait time” to three seconds or more, children give better answers.
Thirdly, watch your language. When the child is having a science discussion, don’t jump in with “That’s right” or “Very good”. These words work well when it comes to encouraging a child to help others. But in talking about science, these words make a child think that the discussion is over. Instead, keep things going by saying, “That’s interesting” or “I’ve never thought of it that way before”, or coming up with more questions or ideas.
Lastly, show; don’t tell. Let children look at their hands through a microscope, and they’ll understand why you want them to wash before dinner….
1. To help children enjoy science, the most important thing for teachers to do is ______.
A. ask them to see the world around B. give them modern labs to study in
C. tell them the difficult terms on science D. share the children’s interests
2. In the last sentence of the second paragraph, the words “your lists” mean ______.
A. your answers to the questions B. your own questions about science
C. your questions from textbooks D. all the questions of your own
3. According to the passage, children can give better answers to the questions if teachers _____.
A. ask them to answer quickly B. wait at least three seconds after a question
C. tell them to watch their language D. wait for one or two seconds after a question
4. The writer talks about all of the following ways except that teachers should ______.
A. tell their children stories instead of telling them to remember facts
B. offer their children chances to see things for themselves
C. allow enough time for their children to find answers to the questions
D. encourage their children to ask questions of their own