1. Presenters: Greg & Julie Fore Ramping Up Your Station

2. Norms 1.Be open to new learning 2.Work together as a community 3.Be fully present by participating actively and cooperatively 4.Invite and welcome the contributions of every member and listen to each other 5.Monitor your technology for learning 6.Use the parking lot for questions

3. What is Science? Science is the process of systematically gathering information to make discoveries about the natural world. (Brewer,1998) For young children science is the process of understanding the world through active involvement.

4. Use Curiosity and Learning Excitement to your advantage!

5. What memories do you have of learning science as a young child? What do you remember from school?

6. Why do we need hands-on experiences? Research studies have shown that: Pre-k, Kinder and 1 st grade students need 80% or 144 days of hands on experiences to understand concepts 2 nd grade students need 60% or 108 days of hands on experiences to understand concepts

7. Increased level of engagement Increased positive peer interactions Opportunity to ask open-ended questions Opportunity to make predictions about outcomes Opportunity to make and share observations with others Learn science and concept vocabulary through hands-on experiences Builds background knowledge in science Benefits of Teaching Science to Young Children

8. Exploring STEM Concepts in the Early Childhood Classroom

9. Science Process for Young Children 1.Observing 2.Sorting and classifying 3.Asking questions 4.Predicting 5.Experimenting 6.Measuring and estimating 7.Designing and making models 8.Finding patterns and relationships 9.Communication

10. The Scientific Method

11. What if I need to adapt my Science Stations to meet STAAR aged students developmental learning needs?

14. The Science Station

15. The Sensory Table!!! The Sensory/Sand & Water Table is a critical piece of furniture in the Pre-k classroom. It creates the perfect space for students to utilize their senses to explore a variety of materials. The possibilities for learning are endless...

16. Turn & Talk What type of materials do you keep/use in your science station? Give examples of different explorations you have created for your students to do in the center.

17. Science Stations Drop It Like It’s Hot!!! (Force, Energy, Motion) Magnetic Attraction (Force) Melting Point (Physics) Under Pressure (Force – Motion, Sink and Float, Density) I Get Around! (Motion) The Wartville Wizard (Recycling)

18. Exploration Working in groups of 4-5… ★ Explore the Science activities set up around the room. ★ Work through each activity and reflect upon its purpose ★ Discuss ideas on how you can create a hands- on Science Station in your classroom.

19. Great Science Websites www.studyjams.com www.quia.com www.Phet.colorado.edu http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/students/ http://virtual.itg.uiuc.edu www.worldwidetelescope.org www.brainpopjr.com www.pinterest.com

20. Additional Supplemental Resources Immersion Learning- www.immersionlearning.orgwww.immersionlearning.org Jason Project – www.jason.orgwww.jason.org City of Dallas Environmental Education Initiative www.dallaseei.org to schedule class presentationswww.dallaseei.org AIMS – www.aimsedu.org (free activities)www.aimsedu.org Dallas Zoo – www.dallaszooed.com (web lessons)www.dallaszooed.com www.dallaszoo.com (workshop opp.)www.dallaszoo.com Regional Science Collaboratives (UNT, Region 10) Fellow Teachers

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