Interview one child about his/her conceptions of a particular science concept. Record their responses and reflect on what you find about alternative conceptions of science. Choose your science topic carefully and create a list of questions to ask. When you interview the child, try to stay on the science topic while also being flexible to the directions the conversation takes. What is most important is to reveal the child’s own thinking about the topic, not what they think you want to hear or what they have learned in school. Try to get beyond that level to their own thinking.

--Assignment: Interview child about science concepts

--Hard to ascertain what kids really believe: Start with picture, thing, or situation; use open-ended questioning; don’t teach!!

--Don’t judge answers, try to get child’s concept: What do you think

--Balance open and closed questions; don’t lead with follow-up questions but stay open, get the reasoning behind the responses: why...?

--Repeat questions but don’t paraphrase; clarify answers

--Use wait time, but try not to have them guess what you want or look for the right answer

--Pick up on contradictions, but stay friendly, don’t be too pushy

--Use ideas for questions from article (pp. 80, 84, 89, etc.), text table 2.1, or your own ideas; have some notes of possible situations and questions, maybe props; record with video or tape recorder or notes immediately following.

--Write a 2 page paper describing the child’s key responses, what concepts he or she revealed, your reflections and insights on the interview process, and implications for teaching this science concept to children.

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