Science

Science:

Science makes children gain knowledge of the world by allowing them to explore and ask questions or to discover something new (Howard & Mayesky, 2022). By experimenting with their senses, children will grow up and become creative thinkers and problem solvers (Wilson, n.d.). One of the most important roles is assigned to early childhood teachers who need to present children with simple, but amusing science activities, which help to trigger imagination and curiosity (Australian Government Department of Education [AGDE], 2022). This encourages children to become more confident in thinking creatively and knowing how things work around the children (Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority [ACARA], 2023).

Theories and Perspectives:

The fastest way through which children can learn is through doing and discovery in a nurturing environment (Howard & Mayesky, 2022). Constructivist approach demonstrates that children construct the knowledge through the interaction with the environment and with people, whereas the theory of Vygotsky reveals how educators can nurture and affect the acquisition of knowledge with the dialogues and play (Wilson, n.d.). Children through science activities are stimulated to test ideas, reflect on outcomes and see problems as something to be solved creatively (ACECQA, 2022). Through developmental guides, educators plan educational activities that boosts their curiosity and creative thinking of children depending on their abilities (AGDE, 2022).

Resources for Different Age Groups (0-8 years):

Babies (0–2 years):

Sensory play: Water tubs (Howard & Mayesky, 2022),
Soft natural materials: Leaves, pine cones, small stones (Howard & Mayesky, 2022),
Pouring and filling pots (Wilson, n.d.),
Small spoons and cups,
Nature songs or videos (AGDE, 2022).

Toddlers (2-3 years):

Water tubs for sink or float games (Howard & Mayesky, 2022),
Safe water play toyes (Wilson, n.d.),
Natural materials: leaves, stones, small tree branches,
Magnifying glasses,
E-books or science apps (ACARA, 2023).

Preschoolers (3-5 years):

Magnifying glasses (Howard & Mayesky, 2022),
Measuring cups and mixing tools,
Natural materials: leaves, stone, sand,
Science kit,
Science books, apps (ACARA, 2023).

Older Children (6-8 years):

Motion learning: Ramps, balls (Howard & Mayesky, 2022),
Measuring rulers (ACARA, 2023),
Science kits,
Painting colours,
Tablets with science apps (AGDE, 2022).

Creative Learning Experiences

Babies (0-2 years):

Water Splash Play:

Material List: Cups, spoons, small tubs of water

Activity: Educator provide bottles, cups and spoons to babies with water so that babies can splash and pour using the water and discovering the ways of water moving and the sound it creates (Howard & Mayesky, 2022).

Touching Nature:

Material List: Leaves, Cones, rocks

Activity: Educators engage babies with various natural objects by asking them to touch and feel those objects and they discuss about textures to create initial curiosity and language (Wilson, n.d.).

Toddlers (2-3 years):

Natural Items Sorting:

Material List: leaves, rocks, shells, baskets

Activity: Toddlers match products by colour, size and shape and it allows them to note detail and exercise categorising things (Howard & Mayesky, 2022).

Colourful Bubble Making:

Material List: Cups, soap, water, colours

Activity: Children will be mixing water, colour and soap to create different coloured bubbles which will help them learn about the changes after mixing and adding (ACARA, 2023).

Preschoolers:

Magnifying Glasses Use

Material List: Magnifying Glass, leaves, stones

Activity: Educator give children some magnifying glasses, and children explore different materials with those glasses. It helps children to study things closely and tell about them boosting observations and curiosity (Howard & Mayesky, 2022).

Mixing Colours

Material List: cups, water, food colouring

Activity: Children mix two coloured waters to form new colours, this will help children to know about how mixing causes changes (Wilson, n.d.).

Older Children:

Rolling and Measuring

Material List: Balls, Ramps, measuring tape

Activity: Children roll balls down slopes and educator will be measuring distance. Children will be able to understand science and movements (ACARA, 2023).

Science Journaling:

Material List: Paper, pencils, and crayons.

Activity: Children will write or draw to describe their experiments in order to organise and present their scientific concepts (AGDE, 2022).

Digital Reflection

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Mixing Colour Activity

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Making Colourful Bubbles

Critical Reflection:

The Mixing Colours activity managed to develop skills of curiosity, making a prediction and observation. Young children were excited mixing primary coloured paint to generate new colours through early problem-solving and scientific thinking (Howard & Mayesky, 2022). Such practical learning corresponds to the goal of the Australian Curriculum: Science to make learning about how to understand a topic by asking questions, making predictions, and doing investigations (ACARA, 2023). Most of the children were involved in the process in their own way but some of them did it too fast without careful observations. During our next interactions, I would introduce some questions like, What do you see occurring?, in order to make students think more and gain knowledge (Wilson, n.d.).

Activity of making colourful bubbles sparked their attention. The activity also promoted the children to identify cause and effect, compare bubble colours, and descriptive language, which are identified and promoted in the Early Years Learning Framework as key scientific thinking skills (AGDE, 2022). Some children however were more oriented on bubble play than on observations. An example of how to enforce the connection between play and learning I could provide is a simple chart with colours or I could ask children to communicate about their findings with drawings, which may help to reflect and communicate.

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