Science in Early

Childhood
Education
(ECED 33)
 Science in early childhood is
about providing experiences that can
stimulate young children's curiosity and
motivate them to become interested in
their environment and in the mechanisms
of nature.
 Scientificthinking and the desire to
explore and investigate can be used to
your advantage in the classroom. You
can use children's natural curiosity to
teach any one of your curricula learning
intentions
Why is science important in
early childhood education?
 Science encourages and teaches
children how to discover and wonder
about everything in the world around
them.
Why is teaching science
important?
 Itis important to teach science because
of the following: Science is a significant
part of human culture and represents one
of the pinnacles of human thinking
capacity. It provides a laboratory of
common experience for development of
language, logic, and problem-solving skills
in the classroom.
What is science concept in
early childhood education?
 Theconcept of science in early childhood
programs is an abstraction that represents
objects, events, activities or relationships
that have the same sign that is related to
scientific knowledge (science).
What is the importance of
science in education?
 Science instills a sense of intrigue and
enables students to develop
understanding and form questions based
both on the knowledge they already have
and the insight they wish to gain in the
future. Students who excel in science
lessons are likely to develop a strong
ability to think critically.
 Science Increases our Fundamental
Knowledge.
 New Technology.
 Creates New Applications.
 Science Allows us to Share Ideas.
 Helps us Understand Our World Even
Better.
 Importance to School Students.
 Learning Science: The Benefits
What are the components of
science in early childhood
education?
 It proposes four basic ideas:
 (1) doing science is a natural and critical part
of children's early learning;
 (2) children's curiosity about the natural world
is a powerful catalyst for their work and play;
 (3) with the appropriate guidance, this
natural curiosity and need to make sense of
the world become the foundation for
beginning to use skills of inquiry to explore
basic phenomena and materials of the world
surrounding children; and
 (4) this early science exploration can be a
rich context in which children can use
and develop other important skills,
including working with one another, basic
large- and small-motor control, language,
and early mathematical understanding.
How do you explain science
to a child?
According to Elaine Duncan (September 23, 2020)
I love talking to other people about science! As a STEM Ambassador, I’m
passionate about going into local schools and encouraging the next generation
of drug discovery scientists. However, explaining scientific research to children and
young people can be really, really challenging! Check out this ebook, Jill & Doug
and the Whompwhompoulus Bug, which talks about the process of how
medicines are discovered, tested, and approved.
However, explaining scientific research to children and young people can be
really, really challenging!
...
Here's my Top 5 tips for talking to kids about science:
 Ask questions. ...
 Don't oversimplify the science. ...
 Choose your words wisely. ...
 Make it relatable. ...
 Be prepared for difficult questions
1. Ask questions.
 I wholeheartedly believe that being a good
scientist is not necessarily about what you know,
but about how you think. Science is a practical
and creative subject – of course learning the
theory is important, but being inquisitive and
knowing how to solve problems are requirements
of the best scientists. Rather than simply telling the
child about the research, ask questions to
encourage them to work things out for themselves.
If something is wrong, provide additional
information to guide them in the right direction.
Encouraging curiosity and letting conversations be
driven by the child’s interest are key when
increasing engagement with science.
2. Don’t oversimplify the
science.
 Every year in chemistry class at school, we
were told that something we’d learned the
previous year was incorrect. Children are
often willing to accept the most complex
scientific principles, so try to clearly explain
the underlying theory and take-home
messages of your work without oversimplifying
the science. Getting the right balance is
tricky, but if you start simple and are checking
their understanding as you go, you soon get a
feel for the appropriate level of complexity.
3. Choose your words wisely.
 Often it’s not the science that’s
inaccessible to young minds, but the
endless jargon and complex vocabulary
used in research. Even experienced
scientists can struggle to read a paper in
an unfamiliar field! Make sure to clearly
explain any unfamiliar terms and avoid
using them if possible!
 That being said, it’s still important to introduce
the language we use. My personal favorites
when running kitchen science experiments
are to ask what the child thinks will happen
(“what’s your hypothesis?”) and then whether
they were right (“what’s your conclusion?”).
Combining technical terms with their non-
scientific equivalents (“making observations”
vs “what does it look like?”) is a great way to
introduce the right vocabulary without
making the child overwhelmed.
4. Make it relatable.
 Research has shown that engagement in
scientific subjects is increased when children
can directly relate to the scientific principles
being taught and see their impact in their
day-to-day lives. I love hearing about
engineers who talk about the structural
integrity of different chocolate bars, and
physicists who talk about the forces involved
in wearing different shoes for different sports.
Demonstrating the applications of the theory
is important in showing young people that
science is everywhere!
 It’s hard to visualize abstract scientific
concepts, especially when talking about
things we can’t see with the naked eye,
so use analogies! Build on existing
experiences the child has from everyday
life, and think about linking the science
you’re discussing to anything they’ve
recently learned at school.
5. Be prepared for difficult
questions.
 When I asked a class of 11-year olds how they
think medicines are made, I will never forget
the strong-minded answer from one girl: “You
test them on animals which is WRONG!” The
hardest questions I’ve ever had to answer
about my work have come from non-
scientists. In drug discovery, care of our
animals and their responsible use in research is
our priority, and conveying this message to
the general public is also part of our
responsibility as scientists.

Anyone involved with scientific engagement
will tell you that talking to children is one of
the most difficult yet rewarding experiences
we have. Children are often very imaginative
and can provide welcome inspiration to
solving your own scientific projects. More than
anything, it often reminds me why I decided
to be a scientist in the first place – to be
curious and have fun!
1. Curiosity of Children
 How is curiosity related to science?
 Science curiosity is a desire to seek out
and consume scientific information just for
the pleasure of doing so. People who are
science-curious do this because they take
satisfaction in seeing what science does
to resolve mysteries.
Why is curiosity so important?

 1. It makes your mind active instead of

passive Curious people always ask
questions and search for answers. Their
minds are always active. Since the mind is
like a muscle which becomes stronger
through continual exercise, the mental
exercise caused by curiosity makes your
mind stronger and stronger
What are the advantages and
disadvantages of curiosity?

 Itwidens our knowledge and helps our

brain functions better. However, you
should keep in mind to limit your curiosity
because being too curious or asking too
much can lead to nosiness which in turn,
people will refer you as annoying instead
of intelligence
Why does curiosity influence
science discovery?
 Thatcuriosity allows us opportunities that
we wouldn't have if we just accepted the
results and never asked “why?”. When we
look at the reasons behind a process and
think about the ways in which we could
apply this elsewhere, we begin the
process of discovery and invention.Oct
25, 2017
Is curiosity a value?

 Usingcuriosity in our lives is a way for us to

reduce moments of uncertainty and
ambiguity, by gathering information and
knowledge. And learning new things can
also be perceived by our brains as a
reward that we are highly motivated to
received.Oct 27, 2020
What is the meaning of curiosity in
science?

 the desire to seek information

 What Does Scientific Curiosity Look Like?
Curiosity is defined here as the desire to
seek information to address knowledge
gaps resulting from uncertainty or
ambiguity (Loewenstein, 1994; Jirout and
Klahr, 2012). Curiosity is often seen as
ubiquitous within early childhood.Jun 23,
2020
Does curiosity lead to
discovery?

 When humans explore, this triggers

curiosity. This then raises questions – what,
why, how etc. These questions then lead
to discoveries. Curiosity inspires, discovery
reveals.
How can science improve
curiosity?

 According to Kenna Worthington

 How to promote curiosity in your science classroom
 Hook them in with power facts. Don't be afraid of giving
children facts. ...
 Encourage questions. Encourage children to develop more
'scientific' questions that can then be turned into an
enquiry.
 Enable play. Play is a curious word in primary education.
 Develop autonomy.

Piaget claimed that for a child to have intrinsic desire to drive

their learning forward they have to be curious, but also in
control of their own learning.
Why is curiosity so important?

 1. It makes your mind active instead of

passive Curious people always ask
questions and search for answers. Their
minds are always active. Since the mind is
like a muscle which becomes stronger
through continual exercise, the mental
exercise caused by curiosity makes your
mind stronger and stronger
 2. A Place for Science in the
School
 What is the place of science in school
curriculum?
 The science curriculum aims to help
children develop basic scientific ideas
and understanding about the biological
and physical aspects of the world, and
the processes through which they
develop this knowledge and
understanding.
Why is science important in
school?
 Scienceeducation gives students the
opportunity to gain a better knowledge of
how and why things function. Science can
teach children about the world that
surrounds them. Everything from human
anatomy to techniques of transportation,
science can reveal the mechanisms and
the reasons for complicated systems.Nov
3, 2021
What is the value of science
teaching in school?
 Theybegin to understand the scientific
method, learning how to develop
hypotheses, design ways to test them,
record and compare data. Through
exploration and discussion, preschoolers
learn that science is part of their lives —
and that it's a lot of fun!
How is science use in school?

Science allows students to explore their
world and discover new things. It is also an
active subject, containing activities such
as hands-on labs and experiments. This
makes science well-suited to active
younger children. Science is an important
part of the foundation for education for
all children. Jul 5, 2022
3. Organizing Science for
Understanding
 How is the content of science organized?
 The curriculum content is composed
of four strands: Living Things, Materials,
Energy and Forces, and Environmental
Awareness and Care. These strands,
which are subdivided into strand units,
outline the concepts and ideas to be
explored by children as they work
scientifically, and are involved in
designing and making.
What is science
understanding?

 Science understanding is evident when a

person selects and integrates appropriate
science knowledge to explain and
predict phenomena, and applies that
knowledge to new situations. Science
knowledge refers to facts, concepts,
principles, laws, theories and models that
have been established by scientists over
time.
What are the 3 types of
science?

 Science is a broad career field with many

specialties and areas of study. The three
main branches of science are physical
science, earth science and life science,
and they each have different career
applications.
 Jun 8, 2021
Why is organization important in
early childhood education?

 Organization is important to develop a

structured and consistent approach to
tasks at all times, but is even more
important for those with poor planning
and sequencing, language challenges,
attention difficulties and learning
difficulties
4. The Nature of Science
 What is the nature of Sciences?
 Science is empirically based (based on or
derived from observation of the natural
world). Science is inferential, imaginative
and creative. Science is subjective and
theory laden. Science is socially and
culturally embeded. Oct 7, 2011
What is nature in simple
words?

1 : the physical world and everything in it.

It is one of the most beautiful creatures
found in nature.
 2 : natural scenery or surroundings We
took a hike to enjoy nature.
 3 : the basic character of a person or
thing Scientists studied the nature of the
new substance.
What is the best definition of
nature?
 uncountable noun. Nature is all the
animals, plants, and other things in the
world that are not made by people, and
all the events and processes that are not
caused by people. The most amazing
thing about nature is its infinite variety.
Why is it important for teachers to
understand the nature of science?

 The curriculum requires it

Accurately conveying the nature of

science is common to most science
education curricula worldwide. There is a
clear message that understanding the
nature of science is crucial for effective
science teaching, for valuable science
learning and for responsible participation
in society. Oct 7, 2011
What are the 7 natures of
science?

 These aspects include

 (1) tentativeness of scientific knowledge;
 (2) nature of observation;
 (3) scientific methods;
 (4) hypotheses, laws, and theories;
 (5) imagination;
 (6) validation of scientific knowledge; and
 (7) objectivity and subjectivity in science.
What is an example of nature of
science?

 Scientific Knowledge Assumes an Order

and Consistency in Natural Systems
Identifies patterns in data and can infer
future outcomes from pattern. For
example: earth features such as
mountains and valleys are found on all of
the Earth's crust including the seafloor
Why is the nature of science
important?

 Nature of science (NOS) is a critical

component of scientific literacy
that enhances students' understandings of
science concepts and enables them to
make informed decisions about
scientifically-based personal and societal
issues.
What is the nature and process of
science?

 Scienceis a process for producing

knowledge. The process depends both on
making careful observations of
phenomena and on inventing theories for
making sense out of those observations.
Change in knowledge is inevitable
because new observations may
challenge prevailing theories.
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 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qDkFim5yhFY