Young Scientist Series
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The Young Scientist series is a science curriculum for children three to five years old. The series, developed with funding from the National Science Foundation, makes science the work and play of exploring materials and phenomena, while providing opportunities for children to learn from that experience. Young children may do this as they engage in fantasy and dramatic play—creating magic potions at the water table, building a home for the make-believe turtle in the block area, or becoming a young naturalist. They may do science as they challenge themselves or invent a game. "Who can build the highest tower or empty the water bucket the fastest?" They also may engage in exploration as young scientists, wondering and questioning and seeking to make sense of the world. "What would happen if I rolled the ball from the very top of the ramp? Where does my worm need to live? I wonder if I can find an anthill near the one we found yesterday? As they explore and interact with one another, young children try to make sense of what they see and do. They develop early theories about why things are the way they are, act the way they do, and how they relate to one another. As their experience broadens and their thinking deepens, their ideas and theories become more and more plausible and closer and closer to current understandings in science.
The Young Scientist series consists of three teacher guides and three comprehensive professional development packages, including a video. The titles in the series are
- Discovering Nature with Young Children
- Building Structures with Young Children
- Exploring Water with Young Children
Discovering Nature with Young Children guides teachers through an inquiry based curriculum that builds on children's natural curiosity about the living world around them. Building Structures with Young Children helps teachers guide children's explorations to deepen their understanding of the physical science of building structures. Exploring Water with Young Children helps teachers guide children's explorations to deepen their understanding of liquids and the properties of water. For teachers who want to do serious science in their preschool classroom, these resource-rich curricula give you all the tools you need. A comprehensive Trainer's Guide and Training Video are companions to each curricula and provide detailed plans for training teachers in the use of the curricula.
The basic principles behind the Young Scientist series include
- All three- to five-year-olds can successfully experience rich, in-depth, scientific inquiry.
- The content of the science learning draws from children's experiences; is interesting and engaging and can be explored directly and deeply over time. Expectations are developmentally appropriate; that is, they are realistic and tailored to the strengths, interests, and needs of individual children.
- Discussion, expression, representation, and reflection are critical ways in which children make meaning and develop theories from their active work. Children learn from one another.
- Teachers take on specific roles and use particular strategies to actively support and guide children's science learning.
The Young Scientist series is published by Redleaf Press.
Worms, Shadows, and Whirlpools can complement this series. This book identifies important science inquiry skills and concepts appropriate for young children. It uses classroom vignettes and children's work with commentary highlighting particular teaching strategies and child learning to illustrate what good science teaching and learning looks like for preschoolers. Worms, Shadows, and Whirlpools is published by Heinemann.
This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation under Grant No. 9818737.
Any opinions, findings and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation (NSF).
