Pre-visit Activities
Why Use Pre-Visit Activities?
The most fundamental skill in the study of
science is observation. As students learn to make and
record more careful observations, they develop a framework
from which to begin to ask testable questions and lead
scientific investigations. In preparation for your trip
to the Exploratorium, students will benefit from practicing
their observation skills. The pre-visit activities are
designed to help students to begin noticing more details
about familiar things and to discern observation from
inference. These activities encourage students to slow
down and take a closer look—preparing them for
a richer experience with the Exploratorium exhibits.
The California State Science Standards include observation
skills as building blocks to scientific investigation
for grades K-12.
We have two pre-visit activities:
In Which One?
students use observations to tell their pencil apart
from others.
In What Happened? students
watch a film clip and learn to discern observations
from inferences.
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