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A Head Start on Science: Encouraging a Sense of Wonder


Edited by: William C. Ritz
$22.36 - Member Price  
$27.95 - Nonmember Price

$29.07 - Member Price  
$36.34 - Nonmember Price
         2008 Winner of the AEP Distinguished Achievement Award
The Distinguished Achievement Award, from the Association of Educational Publishers, recognizes each year’s most outstanding materials in the field of teaching and learning.
Details

Type of Product:NSTA Press Book (also see downloadable PDF version of this book)
Average Rating:
 based on 8 reviews
Publication Date:6/1/2007
Pages:344
Stock Number:PB208X
ISBN:978-1-93353-102-1
Grade Level:Elementary School
Read Inside:Read a sample chapter: Introduction
NSTA Recommends
Our reviewers—top-flight teachers and other outstanding science educators—have determined that this resource is among the best available supplements for science teaching.
[Read the full review]


Description

For the littlest scientists, the whole wide world can be a laboratory for learning. Nurture their natural curiosity with A Head Start on Science, a treasury of 89 hands-on science activities specifically for children ages 3 to 6.

The activities are grouped into seven stimulating topic areas: the five senses, weather, physical science, critters, water and water mixture, seeds, and nature walks.

Because the activities have been field-tested by more than a thousand Head Start teachers over 10 years, you’ll find this collection unusually easy to use in a variety of settings, including elementary schools, pre-K programs, and day care. In addition to clear background and a helpful materials list, you get step-by-step procedures and help preparing for comments and questions children may pose. Each activity ends with a reproducible Family Science Connection—in both English and Spanish—to send home so the whole family can share a learning experience that’s both simple and pleasant.

Thanks to a focus on the fun of exploration and discovery, children probably won’t be the only ones who find these activities irresistible. As Editor Bill Ritz writes in the Introduction, “We hope your own sense of wonder will be heightened as you observe children and as their curiosity leads them to answer their own questions about everything they see, hear, smell, and touch.”

Ideas For Use

Additional Info

Science Discipline: (mouse over for full classification)
Analyzing data
Asking questions
Collecting data
Interpreting data
Observing
Scientific habits of mind
Intended User Role:Curriculum Supervisor, Elementary-Level Educator, Informal Educator, Learner, Parent, Teacher
Educational Issues:Assessment of students, Classroom management, Cultural awareness, Curriculum, Educational research, Informal education, Inquiry learning, Instructional materials, Parent involvement, Teacher preparation, Teaching strategies

Contents

Preface
About the Editor
Introduction

The Activities

Section 1: The Senses
Useful Hand Lenses
Looking at Me
Prism Play
Color Walk
Shape Walk
Light to See
Scavenger Hunt
Tasting
Smelly Cans
Smelling Flowers
Sound: Shake, Rattle, and Roll
A Sound Walk
Vibrations
Noise Makers
A Touch Collage
Matching by Touch

Section 2: Weather
A Wind Walk
A Windy Day
Air That Moves
Parachutes
My Shadow
Shadows on My Playground
Where Did the Shadows Go?
What Is the Weather Like Today?
Snow Tracks and Traces
Snow on the Go
Keeping Warm: Coats

Section 3: Physical Science
What’s Magnetic?
Magnetic Scavenger Hunt
Magnetic Force Through Objects
Magnetic Mazes
The Magnet Contest: Which Magnet Is Stronger?
My Favorite Rock
All Kinds of Rocks
Balance
Balancing Me
Towers
Building With Blocks
Will It Roll?
Ramps
Roller Coasters
Marble Painting
Bubbles Raising Raisins

Section 4: Critters
Critters: Roly-Polys
Critters: Mealworms
Critters: Observing Earthworms
Critters: Snails
Critters: Jumping Crickets
Critters: Swimming Fish
Critter Camouflage
Spiderweb Collecting
Making a Giant Spiderweb
Looking for Birds
Feeding the Birds
Building Bird Nests

Section 5: Water and Water Mixtures
Looking Through Water
Water Painting
Absorbing Water
Absorbing Colors
Water Mixtures
Water Drops
Water Magic
Bubble Makers
Sand Sculptures
Mixing Colors
Color Designs
Water Drops as Art
Making Oobleck
Snappy

Section 6: Seeds
Seeds in Our Food
Where Do Seeds Come From?
Sorting Seeds
How Are Seeds Alike?
Soaking Seeds
Seeds to Plants
Terrariums
An Ear of Corn
Popping Up Some Change
Seeds as Food
Seed Wreath
Pondering Pumpkins: The Outsides
Pondering Pumpkins: The Insides

Section 7: Nature Walks
Nature Bracelets
Observing Weeds
Animal Walk
Adopting a Tree
Visit to a Nursery
Branch Puzzles
Leaves: Falling for You!

Appendix A:
“Head Start Child Outcomes Framework”

Appendix B:
“A Head Start on Science” Project Staff and Other Collaborators

Index


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National Standards Correlation

This resource has 6 correlations with the National Standards.  
[VIEW CORRELATIONS]

This resource has 6 correlations with the National Standards.  
[HIDE CORRELATIONS]

  • Science as Inquiry
    • Abilities necessary to do scientific inquiry
      • Ask a question about objects, organisms, and events in the environment.
      • Use appropriate tools and techniques to gather, analyze, and interpret data.
      • Think critically and logically to make the relationships between evidence and explanations.
    • Understandings about scientific inquiry
      • Scientists develop explanations using observations (evidence) and what they already know about the world (scientific knowledge). Good explanations are based on evidence from investigations.
  • Teaching Standards
    • Teachers of science plan an inquiry-based science program for their students.
      • Select teaching and assessment strategies that support the development of student understanding and nurture a community of science learners.
    • Teachers of science guide and facilitate learning. In doing this, teachers
      • Encourage and model the skills of scientific inquiry, as well as the curiosity, openness to new ideas and data, and skepticism that characterize science.


Customer Reviews
Encouraging a Sense of Wonder
  Reviewed by: Gilbert Lori (Enola, PA) on June 23, 2009
  I found this book to be a great resource for early childhood education teachers. The introduction was very informative and gave an excellent overview of what to consider when teaching young children science. I especially liked the part of the introduction that explained the role of questioning and how to use questions effectively throughout each activity. The author provides 89 well-organized hands-on, inquiry-based activities within 7 different science contents: senses, weather, physical science, critters, water and water mixtures, seeds, and nature walks. I also liked how each of the activities allowed for children to have science connections not only in the classroom, but also outside of the classroom. Each activity has a family science connection that allows the family to be involved with their children and to understand what their children are learning in science within the classroom. The author uses the assessment outcomes and possible indicators component to guide teachers in assessing student's progress and to relate their progress to the 8 general domains within the "Head Start Child Outcomes Framework". This book allows educators of young children to provide a discovery-focused, inquiry-based learning environment for all children ages 3-7. All the activities are student-centered and teacher guided to provide a fun, multi-sensory approach to learning science.

A good resource for pre-service teachers
  Reviewed by: Laura Anderson (Cleveland, TN) on July 19, 2008
  I teach pre-service educators on the undergraduate level. This book is a great source as it is developmentally appropriate and well organized. I especially like the way it includess the science indicators and a rubric for assessment for each.

A Head Start in Tampa.Florida
  Reviewed by: Clara Shoe (Zephyrhills, FL) on July 15, 2008
  I really like the layout of the activities provided, including the indicators/assesments that one can write into their plans, along with the literature connections. As my school's science resource teacher, I feel my teachers will be confident with implementing these lessons. I only saw two lessons that were going to be a challenge in the weather section, as we don't often get snow in Tampa (snicker), but we do have a snow cone machine!

Excellent resources for Early Childhood Teachers
  Reviewed by: Cheryl Stephens (Houston, TX) on July 15, 2008
  I have referred this book to countless Early Childhood Teachers. This resource provides teachers with research based comprehensive instructional strategies,assessments, and appropriate material resources that are used in science for early childhood students.

Great EC Science Resource
  Reviewed by: Stacy B (New Oxford, PA) on May 7, 2008
  Book Review: A Head Start on Science- Encouraging a Sense of Wonder This book is an excellent resource for any early childhood classroom. The 89 activities within this text are organized into 7 exciting categories that will spark the interest of all your young scientists. The 7 sections included are: (1) Senses, (2) Weather, (3) Physical Science, (4) Critters, (5) Water and Water Mixtures, (6) Seeds, and (7) Nature Walks. Each section has a general list of internet resources, and a brief introduction to every topic. Activities are appropriate for children ages 3-7, and easily can be adjusted to meet individual students’ needs. Each activity has a universal lesson plan layout. Within this format the author has provided guided questions, identified process skills, connections linking the topic to other centers, and suggested literature. Individual activities are divided into several parts to assist the activity coordinator with useful information in presenting an inquiry-based experience for young learners. In addition, the author has provided a valuable introduction to guide teachers in creating the best science experience for students. The introductory section identifies the importance of using adequate questioning and processes, safe practices, and differentiated instruction within science education. Each activity also includes assessment outcomes and indicators (aligned with the 8 domains of the Head Start Child Outcomes Framework), a rubric to assess student proficiency, and a family page. The family page (available in English and Spanish) provides an extension activity that can be reproduced, and sent home with students. Overall, this text is well-organized, and filled with a variety of inquiry-based activities. The author provides numerous resources for his readers, and has organized a materials list for all activities. Moreover, the book offers teaching aides that are easy to create, and fun to use.

Science for Young Children
  Reviewed by: Rosalind Charlesworth (Ogden, UT) on November 2, 2007
  This is an excellent resource for Early Childhood Teachers. I found the introduction's presentation of NSTA's guidlelines for early childhood science very helpful. This section clearly explains how science for young children should support their exploration of the world. The lessons are set up with open-ended questions, materials and assessments. Family activities are in English and Spanish. A valuable resource for teachers of children 3-7.

Encouraging a Sense of Wonder
  Reviewed by: AnnaLee Tully (Belton, TX) on November 1, 2007
  The Role of Questioning in Science is a powerful piece of this book.Found in the introduction, these comments and questions will encourage young children to take part in conversations and to use higher level thinking skills when sharing their thoughts and ideas. Students will also be encouraged to engage in scientific processes.

Developmentally Appropriate Approach to SResource
  Reviewed by: Lorraine Kinney-Kitchen (Oriskany, NY) on May 26, 2007
  Finally, a resource that presents science in a developmentally appropriate way! I knew I would love it when I read that children will learn science through play and exploration better than through instruction! This is filled with information that has very practical application in the preschool classroom. The activities are all spelled out and explain to even the rooky preschool teacher what the child in learning and how to evaluate what a child got out of the process.

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