science in early childhood

lisa9530

Chapter10.ppt

Home >Science homework help >science in early childhood

Chapter 10

Overview of Primary Science, Life Science, and Physical Science

Teachers of science

Require change in the process of learning science

Much thought must be given to how science is taught

Must be reflective of their own perceptions about science

Utilize practices that enable the student to apply individual and social processes

Interact with their students in a developmentally appropriate manner

Primary children love to collect
Use this inclination to encourage

observation

comparing

sorting

classifying

Use magnifiers for collecting and classifying

Usually begin with a question
After the question, children make predictions

help the children consider the factors (variables) that may affect the outcome by asking more questions

Keep records of observations, results, procedures, information obtained, and measurements collected
Conclusions—tell if the original prediction (hypothesis) was rejected

ask more questions—what happened?

Organize children for learning
Organize materials for learning
Pocket management strategy

To enhance logical thinking
To recognize rules for patterns and shapes
To document and enhance science investigations

All children should develop an understanding of

characteristics of organisms

life cycles of organisms

organisms and environments

Primary children can understand:

organisms have basic needs

organisms can only survive in environments where their basic needs are met

each plant and animal have different structures that serve different functions in growth, survival, and reproduction

behavior of organisms is influenced by internal and external cues

humans and other organisms have senses that help them detect internal and external cues

Primary children should begin to understand:

plants and animals have life cycles

being born

developing into adults

reproducing

dying

plants and animals closely resemble their parents

Upper primary children will begin to understand

all animals depend upon plants

some animals eat plants

some animals eat animals that eat plants

a plant or animal’s behavior is related to the nature of their environment

organisms cause changes in the environment in which they live

Living things

living things can be distinguished from nonliving things

plants and animals are living things

animals and plants affect one another

living things have unique features that allow them to live in different kinds of environments

most living things need water, food, and air

Seeds and Plants

seeds differ in size, color, shape, and texture

seeds germinate and grow into specific plants

some seeds grow inside fruits

some seeds grow into flowers, shrubs, and trees

some seeds grow into food we eat

seeds are dispersed in several ways

seeds need water, light, and warmth to grow

seeds and plants grow and change

Seeds and Plants (continued)

leaves tend to grow toward the light, roots tend to grow toward the soil

plants grow from seed, roots, and stems

some plants do not have seeds, roots, or stems

some plants grow in the light, some plants grow in
the dark

some plants change in different seasons

Animals

need food, water, shelter, and a unique temperature

have individual characteristics

have unique adaptations to help them survive

go through a life cycle

Pets are animals that depend upon us for special care

There are many kinds of pets

Different kinds of pets need different kinds of care to grow and be healthy

Aquariums are places for fish and other living things to grow

An excellent way to develop respect for and knowledge of the daily requirements of all forms of life
Living organisms should not suffer from too much or too little care

be sure you know how to care for the animal

Care of the animal should begin before the animal arrives
Give the new animal a chance to acclimate to its new surroundings

Ensure that neither the children nor the animal are harmed
Check for local regulations
Caution children to never tease the animal

seek medical attention immediately for bites or scratches

Purchase fish from tanks in which all fish appear healthy
Discourage children from bringing personal pets to school

Inside me
Our skeleton has joints
Find the joints
Make a muscle

Children should develop an understanding of

properties of objects and materials

position and motion of objects

light

heat

electricity

magnetism

Exploring bubbles
Air can move things
Air can slow things down

Vibrations
Musical instruments, especially wind instruments

Young children need to understand that

matter can be classified according to observable characteristics

size

shape

color

weight

temperature

ability to react to other substances

Children need concrete experiences with light to provide the conceptual background for later study
Children should understand that

light travels in a straight line until it strikes an object

light can be

reflected by a mirror

refracted by a lens

absorbed by objects