7 Meaningful Ways to Boost Science Skills this June Holiday!

June holidays are finally here! 👐🏻While our kids definitely deserve a good break, this month can be the perfect window to give them a fun and focused head-start in Science!

Here are 7 simple and meaningful ways to help your child build confidence in Primary School Science this holiday (PSLE included!):

1. Do "Everyday Experiment" at Home 🥽

You don't need fancy lab kits! Try simple hands-on activities like:

• growing green beans in cotton wool

• testing how salt affects the melting speed of ice

• making a mini water cycle using a plastic container and a cover

Tip: Let your child observe, record, and explain what they see - just like in the exam!

2. Explore Science Outdoor 🦀

Making learning comes alive!

• Visit Jacob Ballas Children's Garden or the Science Centre

• Look for plant parts, water bodies, insects and discuss habitats or cycles

Tip: Take photos and get your child to label and describe them in their very own Science Journal - great for observation and writing skills.

3. Start a "Science Book Hour" ⌛

Encourage reading fun Science books like:

• National Geographic Kids magazines

• Whiz Kid Science

This not only helps improve your child's general knowledge (who knows, they might even come across a future PSLE question!), but also exposes them to more science keywords. Learn how authors develop and describe scientific ideas too!

4. Review 2 to 3 Key Science Topics 📚

Some topics are tested more often than others. For instance, concepts from these topics are commonly seen in OE questions:

• Magnets

• Heat

• Light

• Water Cycle

• Plant reproduction

• Electricity

Spend 30 minutes every other day revising 1 topic with short notes, summary maps and MCQs. Manage bite-sized and it will be doable!

5. Practise Answering Open-ended questions 📑

Most students lose marks here!

• Grab a Science Practice Paper

• Focus on 2 to 3 structured questions at a time

• Get your child to explain clearly with Science keywords

Model a few good answers and guide them on phrasing. Use suggested solutions from past tutorials for keywords and answering techniques.

Tip: Work hand-in-hand with point (4) for maximising efficiency with better outcomes!

6. Sign Up for a Science Holiday Programme 🏕️

Look out for short booster classes.

• 3-day workshops on key concepts

• Hands-on Science camps (some in libraries and community centres)

These often reinforce concepts in a memorable and less "dry" way! (If you have not yet found a PSLE booster course, let me shamelessly introduce Genohouse PSLE Science Success Bootcamp! https://www.genohouse.com/courses)

7. Create a "Science Fun Calendar" 📅

Make it motivating! Plan 2-3 Science tasks per week:

• One experiment

• One revision quiz

• One real-world outing or video

Keep it fun, flexible and achievable - no pressure!

Final Thought 🐧

The key is to make Science part of their daily lives this June holiday. A little bit of practice, exposure and encouragement goes a long way. By July, your child will not only remember more, they'll enjoy Science a lot more too!

Have a fun, curious, and inspiring June break!

Pals & Particles @ Genohouse