Professional Reading
Ramps and Pathways (from NAEYC, download)
This article has specific information about developmentally appropriate physical science experiences with specific instructions for ramp exploration.
Ramps and Pathways (Betty Zan and Rosemary Geiken, NAEYC)
This excellent article contains concrete suggestions for setting up group ramp activities. Though written for classroom use, it contains lots of useful information about preschool science.
Early Childhood Science Education: NSTA Position Statement
This National Teachers Association (NSTA) document focuses primarily on children from age 3 through preschool and identifies the key principles to guide the leaning of science among young children. Essential information for program development and interactions with children, parents and other care givers.
Science in the Preschool Classroom (NAEYC)
Explores inquiry science and young children with an emphasis on language and literacy development.
Science in Early Childhood Classrooms: Content and Process (Karen Worth)
This paper address the question of what the nature of science teaching and learning in the for young children. It proposes four basic ideas: (1) doing science is a natural and critical part of children’s early learning; (2) children’s curiosity about the natural world is a powerful catalyst for their work and play; (3) with the appropriate guidance, this natural curiosity and need to make sense of the world become the foundation for beginning to use skills of inquiry to explore basic phenomena and materials of the world surrounding children; and (4) this early science exploration can be a rich context in which children can use and develop other important skills, including working with one another, basic large- and small-motor control, language, and early mathematical understanding. The paper describes a structure for learning through inquiry and criteria for the selection of appropriate content for young children. d representation, and the teacher’s role.
Bryn Mawr College, Serendip Studio: Science Inquiry in the Preschool Classroom
Developing the Process of Scientific Inquiry. An overview of the inquiry process with specific activities and connections to standards.
Physics in Preschool: Teaching STEM With Ramps and Pathways (Betty Zan)
The whys and hows of exploring ramps and pathways with young children.
ALA's Great Websites for Kids (Science Websites)
This section of ALA’s Great Websites for Kids has the best list for science sites appropriate for young children (connects to Peep and the Big World, Lawrence Hall of Science, etc.)
NCAA Guide to Inquiry Science (download)
Inquiry science is all about exploring and thinking. This 50-page guide has suggestions of what adults can do to help children (birth to 5) make sense of the world around them. Good planning and talking points for all programs. Produced by the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NCAA).
Supporting Scientific Thinking and Inquiry of Toddlers and Preschoolers Through Play (NAEYC)
An article from the National Association of Young Children (NAEYC) Young Children.
Preschoolers Learning Science: Myth or Reality (download)
A scholarly paper including: “Can preschoolers learn about scientific facts?” and “Can preschoolers learn to generate science knowledge?” Thought provoking information.
"Inquiring Minds" (Book Links download)
Book strategies to help encourage inquiry skills while sharpening children’s language and literacy skills. Although these are Classroom Connections for grades 3 to 7, the information and annotated bibliographies will be helpful for programming and collection development.
"Connecting Science and Poetry" (Book Links download)
(Classroom Connections, Preschool to Grade 8). Excellent information about using poetry to connect with science learning. Also, an annotated bibliography and Common Core Connections. Includes Cynthia Cotten’s inquiry science poem “Scientific Steps.”
"Forces and Motion" Classroom Connections (Book Links)
(Preschool to Grade 8) Annotated force and motion bibliographies that present basic push-and-pull physics concepts. Includes Common Core Connections.
Stop Faking it: Force and Motion; Finally Understanding Science So You Can Teach it (NSTA)
W. C. Robertson (NSTA, 2002), 92 pages. A chapter may be reproduced for professional development work.
Next Generation Science Standards
Within the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS), there are three distinct and equally important dimensions to learning science. These dimensions are combined to form each standard—or performance expectation—and each dimension works with the other two to help students build a cohesive understanding of science over time. The three dimensions are: Cross-Cutting Concepts, Science and Engineering Practices and Disciplinary Core Ideas.