Science and technology

Summary: A scientist is someone who observes, describes, experiments, and attempts to explain natural phenomena. By that definition, young children are natural scientists. Early science education builds on their sense of wonder and curiosity to help them understand how the world works. Early learning in science and technology is based on a model of scientific inquiry that involves asking and answering questions and applying problem-solving strategies. Children engage in science when they pose and answer "how...?" "what...?" and "why...?" questions; resolve discrepancies between what they expect to happen and what they actually observe; and solve problems using and transforming materials. Preschoolers use their emerging abilities in observation, communication, representation, and reasoning to explore the world and reasoning to explore the world and share their discoveries. Adults effectively and intentionally support this process by providing hands-on materials and multisensory experiences that build on children's discoveries and help them develop the habits of mind and skills associated with scientific thinking. Science and Technology is one of eight curriculum content areas in the HighScope Preschool Curriculum. Within these content areas are HighScope's 58 key developmental indicators (KDIs) - observable milestones that guide teachers as they plan experiences and interact with children to scaffold (support and gently extend) their learning. This book describes how young children's understanding of science and technology develops. It summarizes current research in easy-to-understand terms, describes general teaching strategies in this area, and details specific practices to support each KDI.

Record details

ISBN: 9781573796576 (soft cover : alk. paper)
Physical Description: print
vi, 102 pages : illustrations ; 26 cm.
Publisher: Ypsilanti, Michigan : HighScope Press, [2012]

Content descriptions

Bibliography, etc. Note:

Includes bibliographical references.

Formatted Contents Note:

The importance of science and technology: What is science and technology?; Components of science and technology; About this book -- General teaching strategies for science and technology: General teaching strategies: Introduce children to the steps in the scientific method; Encourage reflection; Create opportunities for surprise and discrepancy; Encourage documentation; Encourage collaborative investigation and problem solving; Key developmental indicators -- DKI 45. Observing: How observing develops; Teaching strategies that support observing: Provide a sensory-rich environment; Establish a safe environment with all their senses; Provide the vocabulary to help children label, understand, and use their observation; Ideas for scaffolding KDI 45. Observing -- KDI 46. Classifying: How classifying develops; Teaching strategies that support classifying: Encourage children to collect and sort things; Call attention to "same" and "different"; Use "no" and "not" language; Ideas for scaffolding KDI 46. Classifying -- KDI 47. Experimenting: How experimenting develops; Teaching strategies that support experimenting: Ask and answer "what if...?" "why...?" and "how...?" questions; Encourage children to gradually replace trial-and-error exploration with systematic experimentation; Provide materials and experiences for investigating how things change with time; Ideas for scaffolding KDI 47. Experimenting -- KDI 48. Predicting: How predicting develops; Teaching strategies that support predicting: Help children reflect on the similarities between their past and present experiences; Encourage children to say what they think will happen; Encourage children to verify their predictions; Ideas for scaffolding KDI 48. Predicting -- KDI 49. Drawing conclusions: How drawing conclusions develops; Teaching strategies that support drawing conclusions: Provide materials and experiences that work in similar but not identical ways; Encourage children to reflect on the processes and outcomes they observe; Ideas for scaffolding KDI 49. Drawing conclusions -- KDI 50. Communicating ideas: how communicating ideas develops; Teaching strategies that support communicating ideas: Use scientific language as you talk with children about their actions, observations, and discoveries; Provide opportunities for children to symbolically represent their scientific experiences; Ideas for scaffolding KDI 50. Communicating ideas -- KDI 51. Natural and physical world: How knowledge about the natural and physical world develops; Teaching strategies that support learning about the natural and physical world: Provide materials and experiences for children to gather knowledge about the natural and physical world; Encourage children to make connections to explain how the world looks and functions; Ideas for scaffolding KDI 51. Natural and physical world -- KDI 52. Tools and technology: How use of tools and technology develops: Experimenting with tools; Using computers and other technology; Teaching strategies that support use of tools and technology: Provide a variety of tools in all areas of the classroom; Help children consider how and why to use tools in various ways; Choose and mediate children's use of appropriate technology; Ideas for scaffolding KDI. Tools and technology -- References.