The “s” in “science” is omitted in the search for the “3 Rs” (eg, “reading, writing, and ‘rhythmetic’) as a foundation for an early childhood curriculum. However, science is invaluable in education, especially in the kindergarten and preschool years. Science is about more than learning chemical equations and memorizing the bones of the body. It can also form a foundation for a richer understanding of the world and other subjects.

How young children learn

Children in preschool learn best from experience, not from lectures. Early childhood education specialists agree that a hands-on approach to learning is most effective in this age group. Children are still developing their own verbal skills and usually cannot associate words with concepts unless shown. Instead of being told something, they should be shown something, or better yet, allowed do on your own. By allowing sensory input while receiving verbal instructions, young children can interconnect things in their own way.

science is everywhere

Adults forget that children start with a blank slate. For them the world is a vast science laboratory, where everything is a new experience. Every experience they have is an opportunity for them to learn a new concept. By growing a lima bean in a cup, a child can understand several things at once. They learn that light, air and water are necessary for growth, demonstrating the relationship that things have with their environment. Things take days to grow, showing the passage of time, counting and measuring, and encouraging patience. By giving feedback, children learn to verbalize their thoughts, describe events, and compare them to others.

repetition and learning

It takes more than one session with a preschooler to understand a concept. Science fits this fact perfectly by expressing the same concept in various ways. Children love repetition, because repetition is reinforcement. Every time a child hears the same story or repeats the same type of experience, she learns something new. For example, a week-long program on light and color might start with applying food coloring in and on things and end with mixing paint colors. The child may think that the first lesson is “magic”, but for the final lesson, she can usually predict what will happen.

How to integrate science

There are many ways to integrate science into an otherwise dry curriculum, especially in early childhood. Preschoolers love to participate and learn best this way. For example, in a math lesson on measurement, children can learn to measure different substances (rice, sand, water). You will see how, although they all occupy the same space, they have different physical characteristics and properties. On the other hand, in an ongoing lesson on growth and change, children can discuss and note the various changes their caterpillar is undergoing, bridging the verbal, written, and scientific realms.

making science accessible

Incorporating science and discovery into a preschool or daycare lesson plan is simple and inexpensive. Lessons can be turned into rich sensory experiences with a little planning and supplies. Sand, beans, rice, food coloring, magnifying glasses, plastic cups, potting soil, flashlights, rope, building blocks, etc. it can be accumulated cheaply or through parent donations. Just about anything can be used as a tool for a science experiment or demonstration with a lesson. By allowing them to do new things and experience the results of their actions, children form rich mental representations of nonverbal concepts.

Science is all around us and preschoolers want to explore it. By engaging their attention and engaging their senses, children can get more out of their lessons in areas other than science. A comprehensive early childhood development curriculum will feature science and exploration prominently, ensuring faster and more comprehensive learning.