Active Experiences for Active Children: Science » (2nd Edition)

Organized around the National Science Education Standards and the Benchmarks for Science Literacy, Active Experiences for Active Children: Science consists of clear, concise, usable guides for planning meaningful learning experiences in science for children in childcare settings, preschool programs, Head Start and other federally funded programs, and kindergarten. Primary-grade children should be engaged in active experiential learning as well, and each experience is extended to the early primary grades (grades 1-3).

The experiences in this book are meaningful because they

• are grounded in children’s interests and needs in their here-and-now world.

• have integrity in terms of content key to science.

• involve children in group work, investigations, or projects based on inquiry learning.

• have continuity: One experience builds on another, forming a complete, coherent, integrated learning curriculum for young children as well as connecting the early childhood setting to children’s homes and communities.
• provide time and opportunity for children to think and reflect on their experiences.

• provide the teacher with the opportunity to document and assess children’s learning.

Part One

Theory of Active Experiences

Chapter 1: Experiences and Science in Early Childhood: Theory into Practice

Cognitive Theories: The Basis of Science Education for Young Children

How Concepts Build

Teaching Strategies for Science Learning

Tools to Help Children Study Science Concepts

Observation and Assessment

Summary

Chapter 2: Active Children—Active Indoor Environments

The Essentials: Health, Safety, Inclusion, and Beauty

Heath and Safety

Planning for Inclusion

Beauty

Indoor Spaces

Integrating Spaces

Science Areas

Art Centers

Woodworking Center

Book and Library Centers

Sociodramatic Play Areas

Areas for Manipulatives

Block Areas

Water and Sand Areas

Music Areas

Computer Stations

Quiet Spaces

The Teacher’s Role

Summary

Chapter 3: Active Children—Active Outdoor Environments

Why Plan for Outdoor Environments?

Sensory Experiences

Observation

Opportunities to Cooperate with Others

Space Planning

Science and Nature Discovery Areas

Art Activities

Physical Activities

Other Considerations

The Teacher’s Role

Summary

Chapter 4: Building Connections to Home and Community Through Active Experiences

Out into the School

Inside the School Building

Outside in the Natural Environment

Out into the Neighborhood and Community

Basic Guidelines for Meaningful Field Experiences

Building Connections with the Neighborhood and Community

Natural Resources

Visitors

Zoos

Science Centers and Museums

The Home-School Connection

Summary

Chapter 5: Experiences and Science Content

Knowledge of Children

Knowledge of the Subject Matter—Science

The Emphasis on Inquiry

Organizing Children’s Experiences

Life Science and the Living Environment

Earth Science and the physical setting

Science in personal and social perspectives and the human organism

Physical science, the physical setting and the designed world

Expanding and Extending Firsthand Experiences

Summary

Part Two

Guides to Active Experiences

Chapter 6: Living Things Grow and Change: Seeds and Plants

For the Teacher

What You’ll Need to Know

Key Concepts

Goals and Objectives

What You’ll Need

Children’s Books

Other Things You’ll Need

The Home-School Connection

Documenting and Assessing Children’s Learning

For the Children

I Investigations of Growth and Change with Seeds and Plants

Using Process Skills with Seeds

Using Process Skills with Seeds and Plants

Using Children’s Books to Motivate Active Experiences with Seeds and Plants

Using Arts and Crafts to Document Active Experiences with Seeds and Plants

Reflecting

Extending and Expanding to the Early Primary Grades

Chapter 7: Living Things Grow and Change: Insects and Small Animals

For the Teacher

What You’ll Need to Know

Key Concepts

Goals and Objectives

What You’ll Need

Children’s Books

Other Things You’ll Need

The Home-School Connection

Documenting and Assessing Children’s Learning

For the Children

Observing Small Animals: Insects

Environments and Life Cycles

Nests

Recognizing Children’s Books in Which Animals Are Depicted with Human Attributes and Feelings

Classroom Pets or Not

Reflecting

Extending and Expanding to the Early Primary Grades

Chapter 8: I Am a Scientist

For the Teacher

What You’ll Need to Know

Key Concepts

Goals and Objectives

What You’ll Need

Children’s Books

Other Things You’ll Need

The Home-School Connection

Documenting and Assessing Children’s Learning

For the Children

Learning to Observe

Learning to Question

Planning and Conducting Investigations

Reflecting

Extending and Expanding to the Early Primary Grades

Chapter 9: How Toys Work

For the Teacher

What You’ll Need to Know

Key Concepts

Goals and Objectives

What You’ll Need

Children’s Books

The Home-School Connection

Documenting and Assessing Children’s Learning

For the Children

Sources of Energy

Vibrations

Reflecting

Extending and Expanding to the Early Primary Grades

Chapter 10: The Earth: Water, Weather, and Space

For the Teacher

What You’ll Need to Know

Key Concepts

Goals and Objectives

What You’ll Need

Books for Adults

Children’s Books

Other Things You’ll Need

The Home-School Connection

Documenting and Assessing Children’s Learning

For the Children

Indoor and Outdoor Activities

Reflecting

Extending and Expanding to the Early Primary Grades

Chapter 11: The Earth: Rocks, Minerals, and Fossils

For the Teacher

What You’ll Need to Know

Key Concepts

Goals and Objectives

What You’ll Need

Children’s Books

Other Things You’ll Need

The Home-School Connection

Documenting and Assessing Children’s Learning

For the Children

Indoor and Outdoor Activities

Reflecting

Extending and Expanding to the Early Primary Grades

Chapter 12: The Human Body: The Senses

For the Teacher

What You’ll Need to Know

Key Concepts

Goals and Objectives

What You’ll Need

Children’s Books

Other Things You’ll Need

The Home-School Connection

Documenting and Assessing Children’s Learning

For the Children

Sound

Smell

Touch

Taste

Sight

Reflecting

Extending and Expanding to the Early Primary Grades

Chapter 13: Healthy Bodies

For the Teacher

What You’ll Need to Know

Key Concepts

Goals and Objectives

What You’ll Need

Books for Adults and Older Children

Children’s Books

Other Things You’ll Need

The Home-School Connection

Documenting and Assessing Children’s Learning

For the Children

Indoor and Outdoor Activities

Reflecting

Extending and Expanding to the Early Primary Grades

References

Resources

Index