Building Structures with Young Children
From playground equipment to skyscrapers, structures are everywhere. The second topic in the Young Scientist series, Building Structures with Young Children guides children's explorations to help deepen their understanding of the physical science present in building block structures—including concepts such as gravity, stability, and balance. Children will do the following:
- Learn to build with a variety of different materials
- Experience the ways forces such as gravity, compression, and tension affect a structure's stability
- Build an understanding about how the characteristics of materials affect a structure's stability
- Develop scientific dispositions including curiosity, eagerness to explore, an openmind, and delight in being a builder
For teachers who want children to do serious science—not just passively experience it—this resource-rich curriculum gives you all the tools you need. Subject areas in this curriculum correlate to the Head Start Child Outcomes Framework.
Building Structures with Young Children
Looking at science in a new way, this nationally field-tested curriculum supports children’s early development of important science inquiry skills such as questioning, investigating, discussing, and formulating ideas and theories through curriculum ranging from exploring and designing structures to building block creations.
Building Structures with Young Children, Trainer's Guide
This essential guide for trainers and administrators familiarizes staff to the Building Structures with Young Children curriculum—from planning to implementation. Features an introduction to scientific reasoning for adults, workshops to prepare teachers to use the curriculum, and strategies for supporting teachers over time through mentoring and guided discussions. Includes detailed charts, forms, and reproducible overheads for extended study and reflection.
Building Structures with Young Children, Training Video
A wonderful training companion to both the curriculum and trainer's guide, this full-color video contains real-life vignettes of this complete curriculum in action in the classroom. Perfect for staff training and development.
Download a PDF version of a sample section of Building Structures
The curriculum is available from Redleaf Press:
Redleaf Press
Phone: (800) 423-8309
Fax: (800) 641-0115
URL: http://www.redleafpress.org
