How Do Young Children Learn Science?

 

  1. All children participate in different ways.
    1. Activities can be differentiated
    2. Science is for everyone, not just a few groups of students

 2.  Science connects to real life.

  1. Draws from children’s experiences.
  2. Explored directly by children.
  3. Explored deeply over time.

 

  1. Expectations are tailored to individuals.
    1. All children learn at different speeds.
    2. Realistic expectations for 3 to 5-year-olds.
    3. Made developmentally appropriate for each child.

 

  1. Children work together.
    1. Children learn from each other.
    2. Children help explain and teach at times.
    3. Children observe each other.

 

  1. The teacher is focused.
    1. Teachers take on specific roles including:
      1.  observing
      2.  parallel play
      3. facilitating learning from each other
    2. Teachers take active and supportive roles, but help students learn from each other instead of telling kids how to do it.