Pennsylvania · Family field notes
Philadelphia with Kids: A Pennsylvania ‘Explain It to Me’ Science Day
Use a Franklin Institute visit to practice explaining one observation clearly, then make a small instruction card somebody else can follow at home.
Choose one thing to understand well
Instead of collecting a long list of stops, ask each person which kind of question they want to bring: how something moves, how a shape works or how two things differ. Choose a first experience using the current museum information and keep other choices flexible.
Tell children the aim is to explain one observation, not to know everything. A careful description in ordinary words is enough. An adult can be a learner too rather than acting as the family’s permanent answer key.
Explain the steps in order
After an appropriate activity carried out as directed, ask what happened first, next and last. Which step would be confusing to someone who was not there? Consult the exhibit information when you need an explanation beyond what you directly observed.
Do not add a new action to an exhibit in order to test your story. Follow instructions and staff guidance. The family prompt is about organizing an explanation, not redesigning a public display or treating it as equipment for an independent experiment.
Look for the missing detail
Let another family member ask a gentle question about the account. Did you say where something started, what changed or how you could tell? Invite the speaker to revise the explanation without making the conversation a correction exercise.
If the group is tired, stop with one useful question still unanswered. A short note can preserve it for a library search later. Respect the venue’s rules for stopping, writing, photographs and keeping pathways clear.
Write instructions for an ordinary routine
At home, make a card for a harmless daily task, such as putting a glasses case back in its agreed pocket. Have another person follow the written sequence and tell you what was unclear. A useful instruction says where an item belongs, not simply ‘put it away.’
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