Science for young children begins with wondering
and questioning.
Children are invited to express their innate curiosity about the living
things, objects and materials, and events in the world around them.
They are encouraged to wonder, predict, and generate their own ideas.
Science for young children invites all children
to participate.
ALL children, including girls and boys, children from different cultures
or ethnic backgrounds, children with disabilities, and children with
varying interests, abilities, and learning styles have opportunities
to engage in doing and learning science. For example, a child with vision
impairment is invited to explore using his senses of hearing and touch.
Science for young children focuses on direct experience.
Children have many opportunities to directly observe and explore the
living things, objects and materials, and events in the world around
them. For example, as they learn about animals, children observe the
birds, worms, snails, and insects in their own backyards and playgrounds.
Science for young children is an active process.
Children participate actively in science inquiry - the process of finding
out. They have space, time, and encouragement to ask questions, make
observations, try things out, develop and test their ideas, collect
information, and think about what happened.
Science for young children includes many varied
experiences about an idea.
Children have lots of opportunities to observe and investigate a particular
idea so as to gradually develop their science understanding. For example,
while learning about the life cycle of plants, children plant seeds,
observe and measure plant growth, and compare the growth of different
plants. They also look at plants around their neighborhood and visit
a local plant store or nursery.
Science for young children includes many opportunities
for them to communicate what they are doing, noticing, and finding
out.
Children are invited to think and talk about their explorations and
ideas with others. They have materials available to represent their
ideas through drawing, painting, and/or making 3-D models.
