hands on science in the early years chris creamer teacher adviser/primary science 01299 873963...
Post on 21-Dec-2015
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HANDS ON SCIENCE IN THE EARLY YEARS
Chris CreamerTeacher Adviser/Primary Science
01299 [email protected]
Think of a topic
WINTER
Think of a story
Knowledge and understanding of the world In this area of learning, children are
developing the skills, knowledge and understanding that help them to make sense of the world
To give all children the best opportunities … practitioners should plan for activities based on first-hand experience that encourage exploration, observation, problem solving, prediction, critical thinking and discussion
Early Learning Goals DfEE
Early learning goals for exploration and investigation
Investigate objects and materials by using all of their senses as appropriate
Find out about, and identify, some features of living things, objects and events they observe
Look closely at similarities, differences, patterns and change
Ask questions about why things happen and how things work
Let’s explore!
RAISING QUESTIONS
VISITS / VISITORS
SCIENTIFIC ENQUIRY IN
THE FOUNDATION STAGE
THINKINGSPEAKING
LISTENINGAND
LINKS WITH OTHER
CURRICULUM AREAS
ROLE PLAYOUTDOOR ACTIVITIES
STORIES AND
RHYMES
Observing
Sorting Purposeful
play
Solving a problem
Observing activities
Find out about, and identify, some features of living things, objects and events they observe
Ice hands over a period of time – describe changes - make annotated drawings – record with digital camera – use to make sequence and tell story
How could we make an ice hand melt more quickly?
Think of a collection
Winter and summer clothing
Sorting activity
Look closely at similarities, differences, patterns and change
Summer/winter clothes – how can we sort the clothes? Accept all sensible suggestions
Make comparisons – what is the same/different about e.g. a T-shirt and a jumper; a sandal and a boot
Purposeful play
Investigate objects and materials by using all of their senses as appropriate
Water tray – add ice to the water (make by freezing water in a variety of moulds – bowls, jelly moulds, small buckets, plastic cups – use food colouring)
How could we stop the ice from melting?
Problem solving
Ask questions about why things happen and how things work
Freeze object inside ice e.g. key/small plastic toy
“How could we get the key out quickly?”
Personal, social and emotional development
Show care and concern for others, for living things and the environment
Feed the birds Encourage children to bring in crusts
etc for the birds Set up a bird table/bird nuts near a
window Children observe the birds coming to
feed
Communication, language and literacyInteract with others … and take turns in conversation
Talk about own experiences, talk about the weather at the time, describe and compare objects
Use picture cards to stimulate conversation: Would you like to go skiing? Can you think of some other things that melt? I wonder how they made the snowman? Why does it snow in winter? Does it snow in
summer? Would it be nice to play in the snow in your
swimsuit? I wonder what would happen if I put my ice lolly
into a hot oven?
Vocabulary
Extend their vocabulary, exploring the meanings and sounds of new words
Winter/summer Warm/warmer Hot/hotter Cold/colder Freeze/freezing Melt/melting Snow/rain/sun/ice Weather
Other stories and rhymes
Listen with enjoyment, and respond to stories, songs…rhymes and poems
“The Snowman” Raymond Briggs
“One Snowy Night” Nick Butterworth
“Mr Snow” Roger Hargreaves
“The North Wind Doth Blow” Anonymous
“Snowman” Gregory Harrison
“Robin” Iain Crichton Smith
“The Snowman” Roger McGough
Role play
Use language to imagine and recreate roles and experiences
The Arctic – re Ginn “Foundation”
Mathematical development
Talk about, recognise and recreate simple patterns
Make ice bowl – washing up bowl as mould
Measure circumference with strip of coloured paper
Set timer – measure every hour
Arrange strips to form bar chart – talk about what is happening – identify pattern - make predictions about what will happen
Mathematical development
In practical activities…begin to use the vocabulary involved in adding and subtracting
10 woolly mittensHanging on the lineAlong came (Gemma)And said “They’re mine!”
8 woolly mittens…
Mathematical development
Use language such as “greater”, “smaller”, “heavier” or “lighter” to compare quantities
Snowmen: compare size – bigger/smaller how many? order by size match scarves
Physical development
Move with confidence, imagination and in safety
Create a tunnel using large cardboard boxes with holes in their sides – put items in each box related to a part of the story e.g. tray of mud, clump of turf – children recall the journey in the story as they crawl through the tunnel
Sort out problems arising from children wanting to go in both directions
Outdoors
Move with confidence, imagination and in safety
Explore outside – look for signs of winter – collect some things – take some photos
Make a den – sticks, blanket and frame
Make a trail – footprints – re-tell story
Look closely at items collected (hand lens/digital microscope) – talk about objects – make drawings - match photos to objects
Creative development
Explore colour, texture, shape, form and
space in two or three dimensions
Provide materials for children to make drawings, collages, paintings, models of e.g. snowmen; snowflakes; winter trees; birds; bears; ice hands
Visitor
Do you know someone who goes skiing/snowboarding?
Could you ask them to bring in their ski clothing/gear and some photos and talk to the children?
Cooking
Make ice lollies/ice cream
Make hot soup/hot chocolate
Water tray
“Snow” TTS Insta-Snow is a polymer that turns
ordinary water into a white fluffy substance that looks and feels like real snow. Add a little water and the white powder will expand to 100 times its original size!
£5.69 reference FSNOW
http://www.tts-group.co.uk
Recording
Display – blue cloth, collection, sparkly snowflakes, doilies, question/picture cards, photographs, children’s annotated drawings, collages, key word cards
Big book – use annotated photographs/drawings to make a class book about “Winter”
Assessment
Observe children
Listen to the children
Talk with the children
Evaluation
Did the children learn?
Did the children enjoy learning?
Is there something I should change?
And finally…
If we’re lucky enough to have a snowy day!
let the children get outside and play in it – take some photos
bring some snow indoors and see what happens to it
ENJOY!
WINTER