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Book Chapter
Nature of Science and Science Process Skills
The nature of science (NOS) is usually described as having six or more basic understandings or aspects. In this chapter eight aspects are listed, and the lesson provides a very simple example of how to voice your observations, make inferences and off...
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This lesson includes early childhood activities for ages 3 and up that direct children’s exploration to the concepts of force, motion, and the properties of matter. The activities are not intended to stand alone but should be incorporated into a sc...
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In this chapter, the activities use light to explore matter as it moves through magnifying lenses and other materials, investigate processes including melting and dissolving, and provide experiences that can help children understand the properties of...
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Mixing and Making a Change: Chemical Science
Mixing and making a change engages children in learning chemistry long before they are able to understand the atomic structure of materials. This chapter focuses on activities of mixing materials in the kitchen to help children understand the differe...
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This chapter focuses on early childhood science standards related to the senses. It includes learning that all organisms have external parts that the organisms use to sense and communicate information and how teachers can use sensory explorations to ...
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Learning About Plants and Animals: Biological Science
This chapter focuses on learning about living organisms and how children develop this understanding by taking care of living organisms and observing, documenting, and discussing their changes as they grow. Chapters 1 and 2 are also included in this b...
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As children explore the properties of water, they build a foundational knowledge of a material that is important in all the areas of science. This chapter focuses on activities of water play that is so common in early childhood programs, such as in t...
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Talking about the weather is a daily opportunity to increase children’s awareness of the natural world. This chapter highlights some of the core science ideas children can investigate about weather events and includes suggested activities, such as...
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Designing and Building to Solve a Problem: Engineering
This chapter focuses on the engineering part of STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) as it is often neglected in early childhood programs. Educators are seeking to change this by focusing increased attention on developing integrat...
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This chapter highlights the need to explore electronic technology for the ways that cameras, digital microscopes, sensors, tablets, and phones can add to your students’ understanding of using tools to investigate the world and document learning. Ch...
Book Chapter
What Can Young Children Do as Scientists?
In this chapter, the objective of the activity “Scientists at Work” is to relate students’ work to the work of “real scientists” by looking at many photographs of scientists in action. Chapters 1 and 2 are also included in this book selecti...
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In this chapter, the objective of the activity “Melt Away!” is to learn that heating a solid can make a change in states called melting, which can be seen, felt, and measured. Chapters 1 and 2 are also included in this book selection. Chapter 1 f...
Book Chapter
In this chapter, the objective of the activity “Footprint Fun” is to explore how feet differ from animal to animal and to think about how foot structure is related to animal behavior and habitat. It includes two activities, My Foot and Animal Pri...
Book Chapter
In this chapter, the objective of the activity “Wheel Work” is to experience the way work is made easier with the use of wheels. Chapters 1 and 2 are also included in this book selection. Chapter 1 focuses on science inquiry and the use of “The...
Book Chapter
In this chapter, the objective of the activity “Name That Object” is to practice asking questions and use reasoning along with the senses of touch and sound to discover the identity of a hidden object. Chapters 1 and 2 are also included in this b...
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In this chapter, the objective of the activity “Measuring Hands” is to introduce measuring as a tool of scientists. Chapters 1 and 2 are also included in this book selection. Chapter 1 focuses on science inquiry and the use of “The Early Years�...
Book Chapter
In this chapter, the objective of the activity “Pretend Rocks” is to notice the range in grain size in sedimentary rocks and think about how such rocks are formed. Chapters 1 and 2 are also included in this book selection. Chapter 1 focuses on sc...
Book Chapter
In this chapter, the objective of the activity “Bird Shapes” is to identify birds common to your area by shape and color and to introduce scientific illustration. Chapters 1 and 2 are also included in this book selection. Chapter 1 focuses on sci...
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In this chapter, the objective of the activity “Making Sun Prints” is to understand that although we can’t see the ultraviolet light part of sunlight, it can have an effect on plants, our skin, and light-sensitive chemicals. Chapters 1 and 2 ar...
Book Chapter
In this chapter, the objective of the activity “What Do Caterpillars Eat?” is to notice the interrelatedness of the cabbage white butterfly and the Brassicaceae (or Cruciferae) family of plants. Chapters 1 and 2 are also included in this book sel...
Book Chapter
In this chapter, the objective of the activity “How Can We Move Water?” is to explore the idea of work as expending energy to move water, to raise the question of what force(s) move water, and to gain experience using different science tools (spo...
Book Chapter
Counting a Culture of Mealworms
In this chapter, the objective of the activity “Beetle Roundup” is to count, sort, and collect data, while observing the change in body form of an insect as it matures to adulthood (metamorphosis). Chapters 1 and 2 are also included in this book ...
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In this chapter, the objective of the activity “Exploring Magnifiers” is to introduce the hand lens or magnifier and explore its properties and to become so comfortable using magnifiers that students will use them throughout the year. Chapters 1 ...
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In this chapter, the objective of the activity “Attracting Invertebrates” is to plant food source plants and create conducive environments to attract invertebrates for study in the fall. Chapters 1 and 2 are also included in this book selection. ...
Book Chapter
Objects in Motion: Crash Dummy Fun!
In this chapter, the objective of the activity “Crash Dummy Fun!” is to provide experience using models to explore motion and force. Chapters 1 and 2 are also included in this book selection. Chapter 1 focuses on science inquiry and the use of �...
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In this chapter, the objective of the activity “Moving Air” is to experience air’s mass and the force it can exert on objects. Chapters 1 and 2 are also included in this book selection. Chapter 1 focuses on science inquiry and the use of “The...
Book Chapter
Bring on Spring: Planting Peas
In this chapter, the objective of the activity “Planting Peas and Observing Growth” is to notice and participate in the arrival of spring by planting seeds and observing them sprout, grow, and produce fruit. Chapters 1 and 2 are also included in ...
Book Chapter
In this chapter, the objective of the activity “Playing With Light” is to explore how light passes through, or is blocked by, transparent, translucent, and opaque materials. Chapters 1 and 2 are also included in this book selection. Chapter 1 foc...
Book Chapter
In this chapter, the objective of the activity “Make a Kazoo” is to feel vibrations that create sound. Chapters 1 and 2 are also included in this book selection. Chapter 1 focuses on science inquiry and the use of “The Early Years” column to ...
Book Chapter
In this chapter, the objective of the activity “Measuring Up” is to measure and collect data about precipitation (rain, hail, and snow). Chapters 1 and 2 are also included in this book selection. Chapter 1 focuses on science inquiry and the use o...
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In this chapter, the objective of the activity “Some Like It Cold” is to learn about the needs of flowering bulbs and to observe seasonal changes in plants. Chapters 1 and 2 are also included in this book selection. Chapter 1 focuses on science i...
Book Chapter
In this chapter, the objective of the activity “Do You Smell What I Smell?” is to experience using our sense of smell and notice the variety in favorite smell choices. Chapters 1 and 2 are also included in this book selection. Chapter 1 focuses o...
Book Chapter
In this chapter, the objective of the activity “Will It Protect Me From the Water?” is to explore the relation between a hat’s structure and function. Chapters 1 and 2 are also included in this book selection. Chapter 1 focuses on science inqui...
Book Chapter
In this chapter, the objective of the activity “How High Can You Build With Sand?” is to explore water, sand, the force of water-surface tension that holds sand grains together when wet, and wet sand as a building material. Chapters 1 and 2 are a...
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In this chapter, the objective of the activity “A Scientist Visits” is to introduce a scientist (through a classroom visit from a real scientist or by the teacher dressing as a historical or living scientist), to learn science content about a top...
Book Chapter
Developing Observational Skills
In this chapter, the objective of the activity “Making and Observing Bubbles” is to make bubbles and make observations about their shape. Chapters 1 and 2 are also included in this book selection. Chapter 1 focuses on science inquiry and the use ...
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In this chapter, the objective of the activity “How Much Is Enough?” is to introduce the idea of investigating a question and to investigate how much water is best for mung bean sprout growth through a fair test. Chapters 1 and 2 are also include...
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In this chapter, the objective of the activity “Properties of Water” is to engage children in ongoing inquiry by exploring a question or material (in this case, the properties of water) for a period of weeks, using productive questions to stimula...
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In this chapter, the objective of the activity “Playdough Guidebook” is to record and report on data about various playdoughs to compare their characteristics (e.g., texture, smell, stiffness, and ability to harden). Chapters 1 and 2 are also inc...
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In this chapter, the objective of the activity “Temperature Changes” is to determine what children know about temperature changes due to solar radiation absorption. Chapters 1 and 2 are also included in this book selection. Chapter 1 focuses on s...