When children are truly involved in the scientific process they gain understanding, knowledge, and life skills. They deepen their awareness of what's going on around them and how others contribute to their well-being.

Of course children benefit from positive feedback. But praise and rewards are not the only methods of reinforcement. More emphasisshould be place on appreciation--reinforcement related explicitly and directly to the content of the child's interest and efforts.

In cooperative learning, you have a purposeful, meaningful, and authentic context in which children can sharpen their communicative skills.

As you consider whether to move a child into formal academic training, remember that we want our children to do more than just learn how to read and write; we want them to learn in such a way that they become lifelong readers and writers. If we push our children to start learning these skills too far ahead of their own spontaneous interest and their capacity, we may sacrifice the long-range goal of having them enjoy such pursuits.

We are doing earlier and earlier to children what we shouldn't do later.

Children involved in project work are encouraged to serve the group needs and share responsibility for what's accomplished.

Curriculum should help children make deeper and fuller understanding of their own experience