Tag Archives: play

Sensory play for science learning

By Peggy Ashbrook | Published: February 15, 2019

Children and people of all ages continually explore and learn through their senses. Prior experiences that build understanding of how we use our senses to learn about the world are the foundation for understanding the Next Generation Science Standards Disciplinary Core Ideas. Some children seek out specific experiences such as the two-year-old who would enthusiastically […]

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Online community on learning science through play

By Peggy Ashbrook | Published: March 14, 2018

Play may mean many things, but in early childhood education it can include learning science concepts. Looking for resources on “Learning Science Concepts Through Play“? Check the The NSTA Learning Center Early Childhood Forum, a community that includes early childhood educators in all roles in the profession and is free to all with registration.  Looking for resources […]

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Intersection and integration of play and science learning

By Peggy Ashbrook | Published: October 1, 2017

I was at a conference proudly wearing my tee shirt that says “Play” when I was given a chance to reflect on what I meant by an esteemed colleague and mentor who asked, “Ah yes, but what kind of play?” My reflection continues as I continue to work with children and other educators in early […]

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Investigating water with Early Childhood educators

By Peggy Ashbrook | Published: October 16, 2016

“At what age can a child begin science learning?” asked one participant at an early childhood education workshop on investigating the properties of water in a fun, scientific way using observation, documentation and reflecting on that work. The group answered the question, “As infants,” “My babies do,” and “At any age,” just as I put […]

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Wooden unit blocks and representing their use in early childhood education

By Peggy Ashbrook | Published: July 27, 2016

Working with and reading about the work of other educators is inspiring. While observing or mentoring in different programs I am given an education and opportunity to reflect on my own practice. The teachers in the Clarendon Child Care Center had been closely observing children’s block play and discussing it. The director introduced the Thinking […]

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Sound inquiry–open exploration and direct teaching?

By Peggy Ashbrook | Published: May 25, 2016

As early childhood educators, no matter what program we teach in or administer, we want to help children build knowledge of the world through experiences, teacher-supported investigations, and direct teaching. A conversation I had recently with a teacher made me think about how we balance direct teaching with open exploration: Teacher: So, as I thought […]

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Problem solving and engineering in play

By Peggy Ashbrook | Published: January 1, 2015

Unless teachers and parents resist the urge to help as soon as we first see that a child has a problem, we might miss seeing how the child can solve it, possibly developing new skills in the process. (Of course, we use our knowledge of the individual child and the situation to judge when to […]

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Patterns: a crosscutting concept

By Peggy Ashbrook | Published: November 8, 2014

Children notice patterns in nature in small moments as they play in natural areas and find a new kind of leaf, or suddenly realize one morning that they are leaving for school before the sun comes up. Did that happen recently with any of your children with the daylight savings time change? Teachers can build […]

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Science in Washington, DC at the NAEYC 2013 annual conference

By Peggy Ashbrook | Published: November 25, 2013

Meeting to plan the ECSIF annual meeting. Early childhood educators meet to discuss science teaching at the annual meeting of the ECSIF. I had such a good time at the NAEYC 2013 annual conference—personally enjoyable and professionally productive! The handouts at the Early Childhood Science Interest Forum table at the IF Café were picked up […]

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