Ideas for Teaching and Documenting

Observe and note “why?” questions that suggest science-related concepts.  Develop small group or center-based activities to encourage concrete inquiries into questions that are raised by children. Also ask children to provide ideas for how to investigate their own questions.

Look for opportunities to explore phenomena in various learning centers.  For example, mixing colors in the art area, exploring how the shape and size of blocks affects balancing in the block area, cooking in the dramatic play area, sinking and floating in water play, mixing dry and wet substances in the sensory table, and observing the movement of insects in the outdoor area. 

Introduce children to science tools and materials that will be useful to them in their scientific explorations, including magnifiers, balance scales, and other simple measurement tools.

Model the use of books, the internet, and non-fiction magazines to do research to find answers to children’s questions.  Doing so is especially useful when children ask questions about, or show interest in, objects and events that are not in their immediate environment (e.g., children in Iowa want to know about sea animals or preschoolers in Miami are interested in snow). 

Provide opportunities for children to draw or write about their experiences and ask them open-ended questions about the objects and events that they have depicted.

This information is also available in the ELS Guide Book for future reference.