Study Smart:Science Study Tips

Brain Food -- It's a Fact

Before you study science or math, or take a test, eat some of these foods! It's been proven to make you smarter and remember more if you eat anyone of these: apples, pears, grapes, peaches, peanuts, turkey, fish, lean beef, broccoli and nuts, especially peanuts. You can also drink lowfat milk and eat lowfat yogurt.

Kate.c, 15, Colorado.

Tackle Your Science Book

• Get a pen and paper and get ready to survey your reading.
  
  
• Read your science book very carefully. Don't try speed reading or skimming.
  
  
• Stop at a new concept. Write it down. Puzzle it out.
  
  
• Don't be surprised if you don't get a new concept after two or three readings. Hey, it's new!
  
  
• Look at the topic and chapter headings.
  
  
• You can usually get the main idea by reading these, and looking at any boxes that highlight information.
  
  
• Most science texts are like a pyramid - one fact builds on top of the last fact.
  
  
• Don't get behind in your reading. Studying science is like learning to play soccer. Skills (and ideas) build every day. Don't try cramming.
  
  
• Write down any terms you don't understand. Find out their definitions or ask the teacher if you don't get a concept.
  
  
• Pay close attention to anything in bold or italics. The author is trying to get your attention.
  
  
• Dig through the diagrams and charts. Try to get what point they are making.
  
  
• Don't skip any diagrams, charts or illustrations. They usually point out an important concept you'll need.
  
  
• To remember more, close your eyes and see if you can picture the chart in your mind. That will help you remember the information.
  
  

Before Class Starts

• Scan over what you read the day before.
  
  
• Look ahead at the chapter that is next. Get an idea of what the new topic is.
  
  
• If your teacher hands out a syllabus (class schedule), glance at it to see where this info fits in.
  
  
• Daydream for a moment. Do you already know something about this topic? What do you know?
  
  
• Look at the chapter headings, charts and pictures.
  
  
• Get a picture in your mind of what the new chapter is all about.
  
  
• Do the homework, even if you don't have to turn it in.
  
  
• Write down any concepts your teacher put on the board. You'll need to know these for the test!
  
  
• If your teacher gives you problems to solve, look back over your notes.
  
  
• Ask yourself: which concepts, rules or formulas were covered in class? Will any of them help solve this problem?
  
  
• Make up your own practice tests from your notes.
  
  
• If you get lost, don't wait. Immediately ask your teacher for help!
  
  

Science Homework Help

• Schedule time to look over your class notes every day.
  
  
• Make notes on any new concepts and formulas you just learned.
  
  
• Read over any new chapters or material.
  
  
• Plan to take a ten minute break for every hour of study.
  
  
• Stop if you feel overwhelmed. Give yourself time.
  
  
• Getting lost or bored? Talk to yourself! No kidding...stop at the end of each paragraph to say out loud what it was about.
  
  
• Use your reading to fill in any important facts missing from your class notes.
  
  
• Don't highlight or underline bunches of text. Not everything is of major importance.
  
  
• Redraw the diagrams and charts yourself. That helps you remember them.
  
  
• Stop and review your classnotes at least once a week.
  
  

Start a Science-busters Study Group

• Put together a study group. Make friends with people who seem to really like science.
  
  
• Get together once a week for a Science-pizza party. Go over the concepts. Do your homework together. Then reward yourself with a pizza party!
  
  
• Pretend that you're doing your own Dr. Science show.
  
  
• Get a blackboard. Use an empty classroom if possible. Have each person in the group demonstrate a concept.
  
  
• Think up your own experiments. Write them down and ask your teacher if she/he thinks they would work.
  
  
• Borrow (age-appropriate) science-experiment books from the library.
  
  
• Ask an adult to supervise, and then try the experiments in them.
  
  
• If you don't think the person is doing the experiment right, say something!
  
  
• If you have a question, ask!
  
  
• Use flashcards and fake game shows to help everyone memorize key formulas and ideas
  
  
• Make everyone in the study group do an experiment or answer a homework question.
  
  
• Cheer them on! (No slackers!)
  
  
• Don't forget to tell your teacher about your group. Ask for extra homework or reading or experiments for your stud! group to do. Your teacher won't forget you when grade time comes around!
  
  

Tips and Tricks from Future Scientists Like You!

My favorite lunch to pack: I LOVE pbj's! Brain boosting peanuts and jelly They're really easy to make, and really good! --Monica.m

If you don't understand something or if you don't get anything you're learning about, this tip is for you. Bring your science book home. Write down problems and have your parents or guardians check it. Tell your teacher about what you don't understand. Another tip is to get a CD ROM program like "The Way Things Work" or " Math Blaster" or "Jump Start". --Kara, 10, Colorado

Contributors of ideas to this page were: Paige.c, Francia.r, Angela.s, Kenia.v and Ashley.c