Table of Contents

Introduction / Peggy Ashbrook and Ingrid Chalufour
Science in the Air / Sherrie Bosse, Gera Jacobs, and Tara Lynn Anderson-Topete
Toddlers’ Scientific Explorations: Encounters with Insects / Lauren Foster Shaffer,Ellen Hall, and Mary Lynch
STEM Comes to Preschool / Sally Moomaw and Jaumall A. Davis
Science Education for Preschoolers through Gardening and Nature-Based Play / Alyse C. Hachey and Deanna L. Butler
Young Thinkers in Motion: Problem Solving and Physics in Preschool / Julia Stoll, Ashley Yeagley Hamilton, Emilie Oxley, Angela Mitroff Eastman, and Rachael Brent
Preschool and Kindergarten Classroom Strategies for the Young Scientist / Ann Gadzikowski
Supporting the Scientific Thinking and Inquiry of Toddlers and Preschoolers through Play / Maria L. Hamlin and Debora B. Wisneski
Integrating Science Inquiry with Reading and Writing in Kindergarten / Helen Patrick, Panayota Mantzicopoulos, and Ala Samarapungavan
Science Learning in Out-of-School Time: Family Engagement Activities and Resources / Elizabeth O. Crawford, Emily T. Heaton, Karen Heslop, and Kassandra Kixmiller
Kindergartners Investigate Rocks and Sand: Addressing Multiple Learning Styles through an Inquiry-Based Approach / Uchenna Ogu and Suzie Reynard Schmidt
Books to Investigate: Children’s Literature with Science Themes / Holly Bohart
The Role of Science Standards in Early Education / Linda Froschauer
Resources for Exploring Science with Young Children
Reflecting, Discussing, and Exploring: Questions and Follow-Up Activities

Promotional Information

Children’s early SCIENCE experiences, at school and at home, are the foundation for future science learning and comprehension—throughout the school years and life. This collection of articles from NAEYC’s journal Young Children showcases exciting ways to support children’s science explorations from infancy through age 8. The authors offer ideas for science-rich environments and hands-on activities that promote young learners’ investigations and discovery. The articles describe teaching approaches and child-initiated projects that introduce children to scientific and engineering practices, and concepts in the physical, life, and earth and space sciences and in engineering and technology.

The book includes a professional development guide with questions and activities to help readers reflect on current science teaching practices and incorporate new ones.

This book is part of NAEYC’s best-selling Spotlight series—great resources for the college classroom and for professional development.

About the Author

Amy Shillady is journal editor for NAEYC’s award-winning Young Children. She facilitates the peer review process, performs developmental editing of articles, and serves as the primary editor for journal columns. Amy also edits selected NAEYC Spotlight Series books.

Leah Schoenberg Muccio was editorial associate at NAEYC.

Reviews

“Spotlight on Young Children: Exploring Science shows what exceptional science teaching looks like in action for all young children. It is an outstanding resource that will provide guidance for both novice and experienced teachers as they engage children in rich, in-depth investigations.” — Elizabeth A. Sherwood, Associate Professor at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville

“Whether touching cicada shells, looking closely at sand, or rolling balls on ramps, the children in the examples actively build scientific knowledge and skills as they use reading, writing, and measuring to record what they notice and discussion to reflect on those observations. The study guide section—a series of questions and follow-up activities—will help you reflect on and strengthen your practices.” — Peggy Ashbrook, preschool science teacher and author of Science Is Simple: Over 250 Activities for Preschoolers

 “As demonstrated in the collection of articles in this book, active sensory exploration integrated with the arts across disciplines encourages habits of mind that empower children to investigate, make connections to their world, and become problem solvers and lifelong learners.” — Lori A. Phillips, Associate Director of Professional Development at the Wolf Trap Institute for Early Learning Through the Arts