Science in the Early Years
Building Firm Foundations from Birth to Five
- Pat Brunton - Educational Consultant
- Linda Thornton - The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA
Linking theory to good early years practice, the emphasis throughout the book is on recognizing young children as competent, creative thinkers and building on their ideas. The reader is encouraged to think carefully about the role of the adult in supporting child-initiated learning and discovery by providing open ended resources, asking productive questions and observing carefully.
The authors provide essential background information for all the key areas of scientific knowledge supported by practical ideas suitable for babies, toddlers and children aged 3 to 5 years. For each of these ideas, practice and theory are linked by highlighting the skills, attitudes and dispositions to observe and the questions to ask to challenge young children's thinking and plan for the next stages in their learning.
Chapters cover:
- the place of science in early years curricula in the UK
- the processes of science and the role of the adult in supporting young children's scientific learning
- using open ended resources to create a science-rich environment
- essential background knowledge, covering all areas of early years science
- ideas to use as starting points for exploration and investigation, indoors and outdoors
- pointers for observational assessment and planning
- suppliers of resources and equipment
By making clear links to practice, and providing ideas to use with babies and toddlers as well as with 3-5 year old children, this book enables the reader to fully exploit the potential for exploration and investigation in any early years setting.
Pat Brunton and Linda Thornton are both Education Consultants based in Cheltenham. They run their own training and consultancy company alc associates, and edit Early Years Update.
'I would thoroughly recommend this book to anyone wanting to get the most out of the opportunities for learning about science that seem to be all around us in our settings' - Early Years Update
'[This book] provides a thorough background, putting together relevant knowledge and understanding, key information and practical support, coupled with innovative ideas' - Early Years Educator
'This book is aimed at teachers, trainee teachers and other early years practitioners, providing a thorough background of the science taught for children aged from birth to five. It puts together relevant knowledge and understanding, key information and practical support along with innovative ideas on current thinking in the early years setting. In two easily accessible parts, the book firstly provides guidance on creating a science-rich environment whilst considering the child as a creative thinker; secondly it gives support for practitioners in the scientific concepts needed to deliver science to young children successfully. A very readable and essential book for anyone working in the early years' - Louise Nelson, Senior Lecturer, Initial Teacher Education, Primary Science, Leeds Metropolitan University
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.
A very useful book for students specialising in the Early Years. I found the chapter "Creating a Science Rich Curriculum" particularly useful.
Another practical and useful book for the student and practitioner. Full of useful facts and underlying knowledge. Good explanations to answer the why and how questions often asked. Great book to dip in and out of when needed
Used in planning for EYS science sessions. Students like the format also.
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.
The observation boxes for each subject area have been seen as a good tool to focus the PGCE students.
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.
Great ideas for science in the early years for our learners
This is an excellent book that will give any early years teacher ideas for how to develop many scientific concepts from birth to 5, as well as knowedge of the topics at an adult level, providing theoretical understanding for the teacher.
