Research on science learning in young children indicates that experience with science inquiry in preschool can build a foundation for complex reasoning that benefits students in later years. The U.S. Department of Education has funded research to learn how to improve pre-kindergarten science instruction for low-income students. This work has shown that a combination of direct instruction and mentoring in scientific content and inquiry-based methods can help teachers improve classroom instruction.

Science in Pre-K began as a cooperative effort between the National Air and Space Museum and DC Public Schools, supported by PNC Bank’s Grow Up Great with Science. It was a small professional development program that has expanded to a national audience through our website.

The goal of the Science in Pre-K website is to provide you with a foundation in science content and teaching methods for science inquiry in a preschool environment. We hope that Science in Pre-K will provide you with more confidence in your ability to design ongoing learning experiences for young students to explore scientific subjects