Friday, September 4, 2026
Science

Even second graders can reason like scientists—if we ask them the right way

When a child asks "Why does a blowfish puff up?" we often jump in with facts. But what if we paused and suggested that they ask instead, "How does a blowfish puff up?" It may seem like splitting hairs, but this small shift in phrasing could help reshape future generations' capacity for reasoning and...

Even second graders can reason like scientists—if we ask them the right way
Image: Phys.org
When a child asks "Why does a blowfish puff up?" we often jump in with facts. But what if we paused and suggested that they ask instead, "How does a blowfish puff up?" It may seem like splitting hairs, but this small shift in phrasing could help reshape future generations' capacity for reasoning and critical thought in science and beyond.

Originally published at Phys.org

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