Science activities and experiences teach young children three essential elements of science: to observe, to classify, and to communicate what they have learned.

Research shows that good first teaching and positive early experiences are linked to later school success. Adults who promote, encourage and support the development of science concepts early on for the children in their care are giving them a gift that will last a lifetime.

The four foundations of Science are listed below:

(To view a short clip from the video, click on the appropriate graphic):


The Nature of Science

Scientific Inquiry and Process

As children play, dig for worms and learn to tie their shoes, they begin to realize that we live in a world where questions can be asked and answered and knowledge can be uncovered. Parents, teachers, and caregivers who answer children's questions and arouse their interest and curiosity are setting the stage for future discoveries.

One of the ways in which adults can support children's attempts to learn about the world around them is by providing experiences that encourage exploration. Science areas in the classroom should contain a variety of materials and objects to touch, taste, smell, see and hear.





Scientific Thinking

Computation and Estimation

Numbers are an important part of science. We us them to count, measure, classify, and compare. As children manipulate and explore objects and materials, adults will observe them counting, sorting, grouping, weighing and measuring objects. Adults can support children's investigations by providing access to a variety of materials and objects and organizing the environment in ways that encourage counting and sorting.





Information about Shapes and Symbolic Relationshipsis also included in the video.


Environments

The Physical Setting

Young children need to learn about the world by using all of their senses. An environment that stimulates "scientific thinking" is one that contains objects and materials that children can explore and observe. Simple cooking exercises offer children the opportunity to learn about words such as liquid and solid, and how objects can change from liquid to solid, depending on whether they are cooled, heated or mixed until they dissolve.





The Living Environment

Information about The Living Environment is also included in the video.


Communication

Communication - Sharing Observations and Discoveries

As young children explore, manipulate, observe, and discover, they will enthusiastically share their findings. Knowing words such as melt, float, liquid, and solid will help children describe their observations. Adults can provide materials such as glue, paper, scissors, markers, camera, and blank books and demonstrate the ways in which graphs, charts and drawings can be used to record observations.

One way to support the language development of children who are not yet proficient in English is to partner them with peers whose first language is English.