Science in the early years by Jo Baranek

25th April 2017

“The science of today is the technology of tomorrow” Edward Teller

Exploration and investigation are essential in early years and teaches our children many skills as well as developing their senses and physical attributes, but what does this have to do with science I hear you say. Science in the early years is not about test tubes, Bunsen burners and the periodic table, it is much more fundamental than that and paves the way for our future explorers, investigators, inventors and scientists. We need to support and challenge our children with new ideas, resources and access to the natural world in order to develop these investigative skills.

Science in the early years starts right from our youngest children with lots of opportunities for sensory exploration, e.g. treasure baskets with lots of different materials and textures in, sensory play such as water, sand, paints, cornflour gloop, playdoughs, puddles, mud…. The list is endless! Any opportunity for the children to explore different materials with their hands, feet and mouths is essential at this age. Ensure your youngest children are able to go outside and explore the wider world, experience the different weathers, smell the flowers, feel the grass between their fingers and toes and visit new places. All of this will help the children develop their understanding of the world around them, develop their senses and also start to understand the differences and similarities between objects, however our role as facilitators is vital. We need to introduce and reinforce language associated with the textures, colours, smells etc. This is how our children will learn.

Moving onto the toddlers, we should continue with these types of activities to further develop these skills and knowledge. However, as the children grow they are becoming more active and more inquisitive so we need to support this with the resources and environment we provide. Offer opportunities for the children to go into the wider world and start to explore on a larger scale, e.g. mud areas with different materials for the children to add into the mud, including water. Talk to the children about the difference water makes to the mud, what about adding sand into the mud?  The more children can explore the aspects of science the better placed they are as they progress through lifelong learning.

Preschool children are naturally explorative and want to learn much more about the world by delving in, getting involved and pulling apart and putting things back together, as a practitioner we are instrumental in supporting this by providing the right resources and environments.

Think about resources that the children can take apart and investigate how they work, e.g. old keyboards, telephones, remote controls, doorbells etc. Ask your parents to bring in old equipment from home and these activities will cost you the price of a screwdriver! Boys in particular love to deconstruct and reconstruct and this is all great problem solving as well as exploring how things work.

Take the children into the outdoors and explore the natural world, the weather, the insects, plants, flowers, trees, textures, manmade and natural resources, notice the differences, similarities and properties of all these different materials. Use the natural (and FREE!) resources around you!

Other ways of engaging children in science is to do fun experiments with everyday materials such as baking soda, vinegar, balloons, potatoes, straws and plastic bottles and other junk modelling equipment. There are lots of fun activities in NDNA’s publication “Your Essential Guide to Inspiring Your Little Scientists” and new online course “Little Scientists Leading the Way” and a select few of these will be showcased at Childcare Expo Manchester in my interactive workshop where you can come along and have a go and poking a kebab stick through a balloon without it popping amongst others!