This year’s National Science Week theme is Seeds of Science: Nurturing knowledge for all. I love the idea of thinking about knowledge like a seed. Give it the right conditions and it can grow.
For children, one of those conditions is curiosity. That simple, “I wonder what would happen if...?” can be the beginning of an experiment, a conversation or a whole new area of learning. And food and nature provide endless opportunities for this.Try a “Grow it Again” experiment Have you ever wondered if you can grow food from your kitchen scraps? This is a wonderfully simple experiment to try at home or in the classroom. It doesn't require expensive equipment or a complicated science lesson – just some food scraps, a little patience and plenty of curiosity. Encourage your child to: Make a prediction. What do you think will happen? Observe. What changes can you see each day? Ask questions. Why do you think that happened? Record what you discover. Draw it, write it down or take photos along the way. The outcome isn't really the point. The process of wondering, observing and discovering is where the learning happens. I've created a simple Grow it Again worksheet that you can download and use with your kids at home or share with your school.
Download the Seeds of Science worksheet
This curiosity about plants has also had me thinking about some of the fascinating science happening inside the foods we eat. This week I listened to an episode of Nutrition Science Bites about polyphenols – naturally occurring compounds found in plants. It was a great reminder that there is so much more to plant foods than the vitamins and minerals we usually talk about.
Polyphenols are bioactive plant compounds that researchers are exploring for their potential roles in areas including gut health, inflammation and immune function. It made me think about just how clever plants are. They don't simply provide us with energy and nutrients. They contain an incredible variety of naturally occurring compounds that interact with our bodies in fascinating ways.
Nutrition science really is amazing. If you'd like to explore polyphenols a little further, you can listen to the podcast episode with Dr Erin Clarke here:
As parents, we don't need to have all the answers. In fact, sometimes it's better if we don't. When a child asks, “Why?”, instead of immediately giving them the answer, we can sometimes respond with: “Hmm... I wonder why?” Then explore it together. Look it up.
Try something.
Make a prediction.
Taste something new.
Grow something.
Observe what happens.
Because curiosity isn't just about learning facts. It's about developing a desire to understand how the world around us works. And food is a pretty wonderful place to start. So this National Science Week, why not encourage a little more curiosity at home? You never know where that one little “I wonder...” might lead.