The Association for Science Education Book Award 2016, Finalist. Science in the early years is about more than developing understanding of key scientific concepts, it is about encouraging imagination, creativity and curiosity and nurturing key scientific skills to form a firm base for learning. Understanding how best to do this for young children aged 3-7 is the focus of the book. By concentrating on practical and naturally occurring experiences the authors look at meeting the needs of the curriculum with children at the centre of their own learning. Chapters look at how to work with children to: Find out and develop their own ideas Get them inquiring scientifically Use evidence to support their views This book will really help develop the whole child across the curriculum and make sure they have the skills they need for later learning.
The new third edition of this best-selling book focuses on early childhood education from birth through age eight. Based on theories of child development, this resource depicts how to integrate scientific concepts with music and movement, language arts, social studies, and art. The book uses a problem-solving approach to discuss constructive concepts along with a balance of naturalistic, informal, and structured activities and experiences. The importance of literature and writing in science education is emphasized. Also, the book describes how to use dramatic play and thematic projects as vehicles for integration. Key Features include: -- compatible with national standards and guidelines -- an emphasis is placed on problem solving -- a developmental sequence guides users in planning and instruction -- developmentally appropriate assessment, evaluation, and instructional strategies for the national movement toward authentic assessment
This book is a collection of ideas, activities and approaches for science learning, to support kids with learning differences aged 9+ to grow in confidence, recall and understanding. The multi-sensory and fun ideas and activities can be adapted to suit individual students' needs and skills, and curriculum stage. Written by an experienced science teacher, the book includes mnemonics, art, drama and poetry activities, board games, card games, and more. All of these strategies will aid neurodiverse students' science learning and memory through boosting their creative thinking, encouraging a play-based and exploratory approach to science. Whether you want to get creative, play a game or try out a fun experiment, you can dip in and out of the activities to suit your student's unique learning style. The activities in the book will help creative thinkers who learn differently to take alternative approaches to tricky topics, grasping a fundamental understanding of key scientific concepts, whilst gaining confidence as the scientists of tomorrow.
STEAM Lab for Kids is an art-forward doorway to science, math, technology, and engineering through 52 family-friendly experiments and activities. While many aspiring artists don’t necessarily identify with STEM subjects, and many young inventors don’t see the need for art, one is essential to the other. Revealing this connection and encouraging kids to explore it fills hungry minds with tools essential to problem solving and creative thinking. Each of the projects in this book is designed to demonstrate that the deeper you look into art, the more engineering and math you’ll find. Following clear, photo-illustrated step-by-step instructions, learn about: Angular momentum by creating tie-dyed fidget spinners. Electrical conductors by making a light-up graphite-circuit comic book. Kinetic energy by constructing a rubber-band racer car. Parabolic curves by creating string art with pushpins and a board. Symmetry by making fruit and veggie stamp paintings. And much more! Along with the creative, hands-on activities, you’ll find: Suggestions for taking your projects to the next level with “Creative Enrichment.” Accessible explanations of the “The STEAM Behind the Fun,” including cross-disciplinary related topics. Safety tips and hints. The projects can be used as part of a homeschool curriculum, for family fun, at parties, or as educational activities for groups. Many of the activities are safe enough for children as young as toddlers and exciting enough for older kids, so families can discover the joy of STEAM together. The popular Lab for Kids series features a growing list of books that share hands-on activities and projects on a wide host of topics, including art, astronomy, clay, geology, math, and even how to create your own circus—all authored by established experts in their fields. Each lab contains a complete materials list, clear step-by-step photographs of the process, as well as finished samples. The labs can be used as singular projects or as part of a yearlong curriculum of experiential learning. The activities are open-ended, designed to be explored over and over, often with different results. Geared toward being taught or guided by adults, they are enriching for a range of ages and skill levels. Gain firsthand knowledge on your favorite topic with Lab for Kids.
Giving early years practitioners and students the confidence to effectively support scientific exploration and investigation with young children, this book explains the science behind young children's knowledge and understanding of the world. Linking theory to good early years practice, the emphasis throughout the book is on recognizing young children as competent, creative thinkers and building on their ideas. The reader is encouraged to think carefully about the role of the adult in supporting child-initiated learning and discovery by providing open ended resources, asking productive questions and observing carefully. The authors provide essential background information for all the key areas of scientific knowledge supported by practical ideas suitable for babies, toddlers and children aged 3 to 5 years. For each of these ideas, practice and theory are linked by highlighting the skills, attitudes and dispositions to observe and the questions to ask to challenge young children's thinking and plan for the next stages in their learning. Chapters cover: - the place of science in early years curricula in the UK - the processes of science and the role of the adult in supporting young children's scientific learning - using open ended resources to create a science-rich environment - essential background knowledge, covering all areas of early years science - ideas to use as starting points for exploration and investigation, indoors and outdoors - pointers for observational assessment and planning - suppliers of resources and equipment By making clear links to practice, and providing ideas to use with babies and toddlers as well as with 3-5 year old children, this book enables the reader to fully exploit the potential for exploration and investigation in any early years setting. Pat Brunton and Linda Thornton are both Education Consultants based in Cheltenham. They run their own training and consultancy company alc associates, and edit Early Years Update.
What is science for a child? How do children learn about science and how to do science? Drawing on a vast array of work from neuroscience to classroom observation, Taking Science to School provides a comprehensive picture of what we know about teaching and learning science from kindergarten through eighth grade. By looking at a broad range of questions, this book provides a basic foundation for guiding science teaching and supporting students in their learning. Taking Science to School answers such questions as: When do children begin to learn about science? Are there critical stages in a child's development of such scientific concepts as mass or animate objects? What role does nonschool learning play in children's knowledge of science? How can science education capitalize on children's natural curiosity? What are the best tasks for books, lectures, and hands-on learning? How can teachers be taught to teach science? The book also provides a detailed examination of how we know what we know about children's learning of scienceâ€"about the role of research and evidence. This book will be an essential resource for everyone involved in K-8 science educationâ€"teachers, principals, boards of education, teacher education providers and accreditors, education researchers, federal education agencies, and state and federal policy makers. It will also be a useful guide for parents and others interested in how children learn.
