Science The answer to “why?”

A recent report by the National Science Foundation, among many similar reports, found American students lagging behind much of the rest of the world. The reasons include the way it has been taught and the recent over-emphasis on teaching to the subjects tested. This has led to a national re-training of science teachers at the adolescent level, to make science more concrete, relevant, interesting and thought-inducing This has led to a national re-training of science teachers at the adolescent level, to make science more concrete, relevant, interesting and thought-inducing

Young children are natural scientists. They are explorers who ask “why?” Early science exposure has been linked to earlier reading and higher grades. Early science exposure has been linked to earlier reading and higher grades.

More importantly: There is a dangerous anti-science mood in the country. Global warming Global warming Evolution Evolution Stem cell research Stem cell research Funding for medical research Funding for medical research Science is misunderstood as a set of opinions

What is science at the Early Childhood level? “Sciencing” (the active pursuit of science) 1. Formal sciencing (teacher-initiated activities) 2. Informal sciencing (child-initiated activities) 3. Incidental sciencing (teachable moments)

4 primary benefits of early science 1. Developing scientific thinking skills 1.Predicting, hypothesizing, analyzing, questioning, experimenting, remembering, communicating 2. Providing concrete foundation for abstract science to come 3. Becoming familiar with use of scientific tools 4. Encouraging scientific values and qualities 1.Wisdom, curiosity, persistence, self-reliance, teamwork, appreciation of life, imagination, skepticism, wonder, responsibility, etc.

Importance of Piaget’s theories 1. Three types of knowledge 2. Constructivism 3. Developmental stage: pre-operational 1.Thinking: 1. Egocentric, magical, animistic, motivational, moralistic, phenomenistic 2. Helps us understand how children think, why they answer the way they do, what they are asking, how to respond to their questions, etc. 3. Should try to reflect questions back to them 4. Where needed give honest, age appropriate answers

Role of the teacher in science Faciliatator Asking questions: why, how, what if Examples : What do you think? How do you know? How do you know? What do you think will happen? What do you think will happen? Why do you think it will happen? Why do you think it will happen? Why do you think it happened? Why do you think it happened? What else do you think could have happened? What else do you think could have happened? How else could that have happened? How else could that have happened? What might happen if ( ) was done? What might happen if ( ) was done?

Other teacher roles Observer of children and WITH children Role model of curiosity and wonder Preparer of the environment, tools and activities To provide time and opportunities, not answers

Science Area – often very minimal or entirely absent Table and shelf or shelves Table and shelf or shelves Magnifiers and scopes of various kinds Magnifiers and scopes of various kinds Other tools like magnets, scales Other tools like magnets, scales Sensory experiments (feel boxes, sound jars, smell jars) Sensory experiments (feel boxes, sound jars, smell jars) –And sensory tables, and things to heighten and deprive the senses Other types of experiments Other types of experiments –water, color, air Collections to explore Collections to explore Things to take apart and to inspire interests Things to take apart and to inspire interests – viewmasters, dinosaur skeleton, human body, radio Living things Living things – plants, pets, living environments

Outdoor Science Natural area for seasonal nature walks Natural area for seasonal nature walks Garden Garden Adopted space for ecology and burial Adopted space for ecology and burial Playground Playground –Inclined planes, pendula, balances –Air/wind, light/shadow, sounds/smells, insects/birds, sand/dirt Activities Activities –Kites, balloons, bubbles, pinwheels, rainbows Trips Trips –Botanical gardens, arboretum, museums, zoo, aquarium, farm, planetarium, woods, beach, nature preserve, ecology center, recycling plant, factories

Sciencing Kit Flashlight, aquascope, magnifier, string, jars, water, straws, tape, scale, dye, spoon, shovel, ear cups, stethoscope in first aid kit Flashlight, aquascope, magnifier, string, jars, water, straws, tape, scale, dye, spoon, shovel, ear cups, stethoscope in first aid kit

Appropriate sciencing themes Growth – human, plant and animal Growth – human, plant and animal Animals – pets, observable, ecosystems, trips Animals – pets, observable, ecosystems, trips Senses – taken one at a time Senses – taken one at a time Seasons – also one at a time Seasons – also one at a time Weather – can make weather in classroom Weather – can make weather in classroom Air – must make concrete Air – must make concrete –balloons, fans, kites, bubbles, straws, pumps, plastic bags, jar upside down in water Water – various experiments Water – various experiments –buoyancy, dissolving, evaporation, color, oil, changes in states of Light – refraction, shadows, color, beams Light – refraction, shadows, color, beams Color – mixing, wheel, rainbows, dyes Color – mixing, wheel, rainbows, dyes

2 more abstract potential themes Nutrition Nutrition –Children need to discover elements of nutrition Not memorize or guess it Not memorize or guess it Most of us are not equipped to teach nutrition Most of us are not equipped to teach nutrition –Or they can simply learn by doing Serve only nutritious snacks, do taste tests Serve only nutritious snacks, do taste tests Environmentalism Environmentalism –Not developed by preaching, not restricted to a day –Built on real 1-to-1 connection to a living thing –Also built on concrete activities Air pollution, water filtration, recycling activities, cleaning, not wasting Air pollution, water filtration, recycling activities, cleaning, not wasting

Specific issues in science Potential danger of balloons Potential danger of balloons Use of alcohol not mercury thermometers Use of alcohol not mercury thermometers Researching Researching –Poisonous plants, biting or contagious pets, allergic reactions Values Values –Stepping on bugs, pulling flowers, painting natural objects, careful treatment of animals –We should act as helping guests in the home of nature –Not wasting food, paper, time and opportunities

So many students don’t like science. We have to make it concrete, relevant, thoughtful and enjoyable, built on their curiosities and levels. Note to Instructor: Relay story on Environmental Science class at Bank Street College