Category Archives: Early Years

Tips and classroom resources for early childhood school science educators. Click on a headline to read the entire post.

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Anticipating conference joy, 2012

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I am so looking forward to the NSTA national conference in Indianapolis in March 2012! It’s not that I’m tired of my everyday life and teaching work—it’s that I’m eager to be back from the conference with fresh ideas and new connections to create in the curriculum. NSTA conferences are joyful events, populated with educators [...]

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When understanding science concepts becomes especially important

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There is nothing like a family illness for making the point that it is important for the average person to have a basic understanding of science concepts. Several recent hospitalizations among family and friends have made me aware of how much there is for me to learn about medical science and engineering, even though I [...]

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Moon and the Earth and the Sun, and more

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Happy New Year! This year I look forward to more conversation in the early childhood community about science education. The January 2012 Early Years column adapts an activity about making craters from Marie Faust Evitt’s book, Thinking BIG, Learning BIG. Craters on the Moon are visible without a telescope, even in daytime, a time when teachers [...]

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Practices of science and engineering

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With any profession, including teaching, experience helps the practitioner be better at the job. Not every part of teaching gets easier with years of experience (unbending my knees) but I no longer have to remind myself to use clear phrases to set limits or further children’s thinking, to plan some next steps in the science [...]

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Two items for Monday, Nov.11/28/11: NSTA membership deal and Professional development online from NCQTL

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Gentle readers, here are two opportunities for us to be part of a larger professional community. For just 24 hours, beginning 9:00 a.m. on Monday, NSTA membership for $50 The National Science Teachers Association publishes four journal, including Science and Children, the journal for early childhood through grade 6. The December issue has 5 articles written [...]

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Anecdotes from parents: what is important from the child’s viewpoint

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It is always nice to hear from the parents of my students: Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family. Wanted to share with you Sasha’s painting. She did it yesterday while I was cooking. That is what she wanted to paint and she said that this is a caterpillar. I remembered that you did this [...]

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Report from the NAEYC 2011 national conference

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Being away from my daily routine is both exciting and a little anxiety-producing, as in Look at all the other early childhood educators who are attending a session on science! and Did I remember to ask someone to feed the fish? Here are descriptions of a few of the sessions I attended at the 2011 [...]

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Early childhood teachers respond to request for resources on Earth and Life Science

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Do you have resources for early childhood teachers who are struggling to teach earth science or life science concepts? Especially for teachers who understand that young children need to be physically involved with their learning but not simply making a craft project to take home? Teachers who responded to this NSTA members’ email list request [...]

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NAEYC Early Childhood Science Interest Forum

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The National Association for the Education of Young Children  2011 national conference takes place next week in Orlando. This conference will be the site of the first meeting of the NAEYC Early Childhood Science Interest Forum and I hope to see you there!

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Outstanding Science Trade Books 2012 Awards Reception

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Trade books are an important way for young children to learn about the wonders of the natural world outside of their neighborhood, and the details of the natural world at their doorstep. From giant squids to the day’s weather, from craters on the Moon to craters made by ant lions in the backyard dust, trade books both [...]

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