Science in the Early Years

Building Firm Foundations from Birth to Five
Pat Brunton - Educational Consultant
Linda C Thornton - The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA
Science in the Early Years
December 2009 | 200 pages | Sage UK
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Description

Giving early years practitioners and students the confidence to effectively support scientific exploration and investigation with young children, this book explains the science behind young children's knowledge and understanding of the world.

Linking theory to practice and the Early Years Foundation Stage, the emphasis throughout the book is on recognizing young children as competent, creative thinkers, and building on their ideas. The book is packed with critical questions and opportunities for reflection, to encourage the reader to think carefully about the role of the adult in supporting child-initiated learning and discovery.

The authors look at all the key areas of scientific knowledge, and provide practical ideas suitable for babies, children aged 2 years, and children aged 3 to 5 years. There is also advice on using observations to help with assessment, and for planning the next steps in children's learning.

Chapters cover:

  • Links to the early years curriculum in England ,Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland
  • Creating a science-rich environment
  • Linking science learning opportunities to areas of provision
  • Exploration and investigation, indoors and outdoors
  • New vocabulary to introduce, and when to do it
  • Handling tricky questions
  • Suppliers of resources and equipment


By making clear links to practice, this book enables the reader to implement new and exciting ideas in any early years setting

Contents

PART ONE

  • Supporting Young Children's Scientific Learning
  • Creating a Science Rich Environment

PART TWO

  • Introduction to Part 2
  • Living Things
  • Habitats and Sustainability
  • The Structure of the Human Body and Healthy Living
  • Materials
  • Forces
  • Air and Water
  • Magnets and Magnetism
  • Electricity
  • Sound
  • Light, Colour and Shadow
  • The Earth

Additional materials

Description

Giving early years practitioners and students the confidence to effectively support scientific exploration and investigation with young children, this book explains the science behind young children's knowledge and understanding of the world.

Linking theory to practice and the Early Years Foundation Stage, the emphasis throughout the book is on recognizing young children as competent, creative thinkers, and building on their ideas. The book is packed with critical questions and opportunities for reflection, to encourage the reader to think carefully about the role of the adult in supporting child-initiated learning and discovery.

The authors look at all the key areas of scientific knowledge, and provide practical ideas suitable for babies, children aged 2 years, and children aged 3 to 5 years. There is also advice on using observations to help with assessment, and for planning the next steps in children's learning.

Chapters cover:

  • Links to the early years curriculum in England ,Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland
  • Creating a science-rich environment
  • Linking science learning opportunities to areas of provision
  • Exploration and investigation, indoors and outdoors
  • New vocabulary to introduce, and when to do it
  • Handling tricky questions
  • Suppliers of resources and equipment


By making clear links to practice, this book enables the reader to implement new and exciting ideas in any early years setting

Contents

PART ONE

  • Supporting Young Children's Scientific Learning
  • Creating a Science Rich Environment

PART TWO

  • Introduction to Part 2
  • Living Things
  • Habitats and Sustainability
  • The Structure of the Human Body and Healthy Living
  • Materials
  • Forces
  • Air and Water
  • Magnets and Magnetism
  • Electricity
  • Sound
  • Light, Colour and Shadow
  • The Earth

Additional materials

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Science in the Early Years

Building Firm Foundations from Birth to Five

Pat Brunton , Linda C Thornton
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December 2009 | 200 pages | Sage UK

Format Published Date ISBN Price

Giving early years practitioners and students the confidence to effectively support scientific exploration and investigation with young children, this book explains the science behind young children's knowledge and understanding of the world.

Linking theory to practice and the Early Years Foundation Stage, the emphasis throughout the book is on recognizing young children as competent, creative thinkers, and building on their ideas. The book is packed with critical questions and opportunities for reflection, to encourage the reader to think carefully about the role of the adult in supporting child-initiated learning and discovery.

The authors look at all the key areas of scientific knowledge, and provide practical ideas suitable for babies, children aged 2 years, and children aged 3 to 5 years. There is also advice on using observations to help with assessment, and for planning the next steps in children's learning.

Chapters cover:

  • Links to the early years curriculum in England ,Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland
  • Creating a science-rich environment
  • Linking science learning opportunities to areas of provision
  • Exploration and investigation, indoors and outdoors
  • New vocabulary to introduce, and when to do it
  • Handling tricky questions
  • Suppliers of resources and equipment


By making clear links to practice, this book enables the reader to implement new and exciting ideas in any early years setting


Table Of Contents:

  • PART ONE
  • Supporting Young Children's Scientific Learning
  • Creating a Science Rich Environment
  • PART TWO
  • Introduction to Part 2
  • Living Things
  • Habitats and Sustainability
  • The Structure of the Human Body and Healthy Living
  • Materials
  • Forces
  • Air and Water
  • Magnets and Magnetism
  • Electricity
  • Sound
  • Light, Colour and Shadow
  • The Earth

Recent Product Reviews:

Knowledge of the world is an area that has lost some of its focus in the EYFS curriculum yet young children are fascinated by the world in which they live and in the ways in which it works. This book re-emphasies the importance of this vital area of the curriculum and offers thoughts on how these can be introduced in the EYFS programme. Building on good scientific principles the books offers practical ideas on the teaching of science to the youngest children given them firm foundations for the statutory curriculum.
Mr Paul Hopkins, Centre for Educational Studies, Hull University
This book would be useful for the science links to the curriculum on the eYPS course that we are looking at offering. Easy reading so suitable for all learners.
Mrs Kerry Clayton, Early Years Dept, Hopwood Hall College
The observation boxes for each subject area have been seen as a good tool to focus the PGCE students.
Mrs Maxine Rushton, School of education, University of East Anglia
A good practical text, it includes a range of ideas that could be used with children. I like the observations sections as they provide ideas that could be undertake in school.
Mr Paul Purser, Faculty of Education, Birmingham City University
Great ideas for science in the early years for our learners
Mrs Ellen Smallbones, Care and Early Years, Tresham Institute

Recommendations