West outlines the scientific method as a proven problem-solving method for young children across the curriculum and in all areas of life and learning. She emphasizes that doing, thinking, and talking with peers when problem solving are as important as writing conclusions. The article walks readers through a second grade class's experiment in social problem solving using the scientific method: these children become experts in violence in children's tv programming. Rather than writing about their findings, children can represent them according to their strengths and skills, per Gardner's eight intelligences. West gives examples of other topics for a social problem-solving investigation. A sidebar explains and characterizes optimal discovery learning.