When I moved to Hong Kong, I was very surprised to learn that science is not a core subject for younger students. In my UK primary school, we were encouraged to observe the world around us and get hands-on with experiments. This developed a love of science that never left me, and even led to me studying Biomedical Science at UCL. Throughout my time studying science, I learnt a range of important skills that help me to this day.

Why is studying science important?

Studying science encourages curiosity, especially about how things work. Students are encouraged to ask questions such as why do the leaves turn red in autumn? To find the answer, young learners need to think methodically, going from hypothesising to experimenting to analysing their results. Science also develops students’ critical thinking as they have to think logically and connect disparate ideas to explore unfamiliar topics.

Developing your child’s interest in science now will also better prepare them for a technologically and scientifically advancing world. Studying science opens up opportunities for a range of important careers, such as engineering, dentistry, medicine, pharmacy, computer science and maths.

How does learning science help my child in other subjects?

Science is connected to many other subjects, and performing well in science can help students in other school subjects. For example, seeing the application of graphs and charts in lab reports supports students’ Maths learning and builds their quantitative skills. Presenting findings and expressing complex scientific concepts also boosts students’ communication skills in both speaking and writing. Meanwhile, studying topics like the water cycle builds on students’ learning in Geography. Students may also find it interesting to know that a lot of scientific and medical terminology comes from Latin, which may prove useful when studying Romance languages! Ultimately, students will be able to apply their scientific skills and knowledge in other areas of study and will enjoy the application of science in everyday life.

What should I do now?

Young children are naturally curious about the world around them, making science and STEM exposure at this stage valuable and also fun. Help nurture a love of learning and develop your child’s interest in science. Explore some STEM resources at home with your child to arouse their interest or join our seasonal STEM and Science Camps to boost your child’s Science and English. We also hold Science classes at i-Learner. Contact us on 3113 8815 for more information.