Preschool children are curious by nature and enjoy learning about their surroundings. Early childhood education classes provide fun and fascinating opportunities to learn about the world.
Learning about science involves much more than simple activities like blowing bubbles and looking through magnifying glasses. Preschool teachers understand that planning for and teaching science to preschoolers is not just about prescribed experiments. They appreciate that science is about being able to explore and discover new things, and about fostering curiosity about the world.
A science lesson focused on apples might include the following questions: How do apples grow? Where do we get apples? What is inside an apple? Why is there an indentation at the top of an apple? Do all apples have the same shape? Are all apples the same color? Do all apples taste the same? What can we do with apples?
Activities in preschool science classes enable children to develop their ability to communicate using descriptive language. Words like float, sink, dry, wet, slow, fast, soft, hard, smooth, rough, cold, hot, heavy and light are concepts that are reinforced to enable preschoolers to understand their environment better.
Many preschool lessons take place outdoors where children can experience real-world activities. Adventures to the park, nature walks, planting, rock climbing and freedom in the fresh air offer children new and diverse opportunities to experience their world using all of the senses. Enjoying the outdoors in varying types of weather and seasons provides even more environmental diversity.
When preschoolers return to the classroom, they often bring nature items with them. Flowers, seeds, leaves, rocks, and dirt are just a few of the concrete materials they can explore within the classroom. Children can explore by counting, sorting and manipulating their new-found nature pieces.
After a substantial amount of time spent on exploring and discovering, preschoolers are then able to make graphs and charts to represent their new concepts and conclusions. They can create these charts individually or in groups. When finished, they give the children a means to talk about their adventures, explorations, and discoveries. These charts often become delightful displays that children can refer to in class or share with family at home.
Heritage Learning Center | Early Childhood Education Classes Mckinney TX | (972) 782-4464
