please respond to my classmate 100-150 words ( its not an essay)

Not having your text can make you feel as though you have no idea what is going on during class, hopefully my fact sheet can help you!

Understanding the importance of science in a classroom can help children develop in many different areas as well.  Jaruszewicz (2013) explains that scientific thinking includes the approach of curiosity and reasoning to answer questions and teachers enhance the “systematic investigation” that encourage children to ask questions that are open ended.

There are three different types of science that is taught to children that include physical science, life science, and earth science.

Physical science can be explained through simple measures such as when a child pains in art area, or uses magnetic blocks on a light table to even seeing their own shadow while running outside. Children learn through play. As they make observations through everyday objects, they learn about different senses and the different ways things work. For example, Jaruszewicz (2013) suggests that children learn about the natural forces for the world, such as gravity, magnetism, lights and speed through objects they use on a daily basis. Physical science involved lights and shadows, color, magnetism, solids, liquids and gases, weight force and motion, and static electricity. One way to promote development in an educational setting for young children is to use what they already know. For example, when using lights and colors to understand color knowledge. In a preschool classroom, using color shades to mix and make other colors can help children understand that there are other ways to make colors using lights and shades. You can also use shadows as an example because children are able to see their shadow everyday. Incorporating this in the classroom a teacher could use measuring cubes to measure the length of a shadow. Magnet tiles are a good way for children to create shapes and understand the connection that magnets have to make things attach.

Life science focuses on the study of living things and their habitats. Understanding the difference between a living thing that breathes and grows and an object. Our texts suggest that there are concepts that are important for children to focus on. These include

• All living things grow and change
• Things that are living need food
• Living things decompose
• Fossils occur when living things decompose and become remains
• Organisms that are living have a system that make them work
• Things that are living inhabit and interact with different kinds of environments.

Yi-Chin Lan from NAEYC explains 10 different tips that support children’s science learning. Number one being “values your child’s questions”. When children ask us questions it shows that they are thinking about things from their perspective and trying to figure out “who, what, where, when and mostly why” things are the way they are.

For example, using plants to help children understand the point of life science can teach them the idea growth, examination, and observation. Using this in the curriculum a teacher could create a garden with children outdoors and/or a terrarium indoors with children to help them understand the process of plant development and get a better understanding for life science. Planting an individual plan at home and keeping a “life journal” of the plant to track what the child is doing to care for the plant and the progress it is making can also involve parents. Tracking children’s questions can also help the class get involved in what other children are thinking as well.

Earth science includes the exploration of objects that are from nature and earth. Creating concepts for children to understand such as Earth is the place where living things live, it is big, it is always changing, it is made of different materials (such as rocks, dirt, minerals, are, and water), and the sun and moon affect the earth. Making a weather chart showing children that the earth is affected by different weather conditions can help get them involved in how the earth is created and what it is created of.

Promoting science in the classroom can be done through sensory, dramatic play, art, and other areas of the classroom. Providing children with materials such as materials from nature, magnets, blocks, and coloring measure cubes are just a few examples of how you can incorporate the idea of science in the classroom. Using items from nature can help children understand the idea of earth as well as life science with growing plants as living things or having a class pet such as a goldfish. 

Families can get involved by doing things with their children that relate to what is going on in the classroom. For example, like I mentioned before growing a plant and keeping a journal about the progress, or having families bring in an item from a nature walk to contribute to a terrarium for the classroom can encourage families to get involved.

Jaruszewicz, C. (2013). Curriculum and methods for early childhood educators. San Diego, CA: Bridgepoint Education, Inc.

http://families.naeyc.org/learning-and-development/child-development/10-tips-support-children%E2%80%99s-science-learning