Engaging Early Childhood Learners in Scientific Inquiry

“I should ask that a gift to each child in the world be a sense of wonder so indestructible that it would last throughout life...”

(Rachel Carsen, The Sense of Wonder (1998).

ExplorationsDid you know…

“Children and adults have similar needs as learners. Both groups derive important understandings about themselves and the world around them… For adults, hands-on-play and reflection lead to personal growth and foster insight into how children learn.” (From Play to Practice; M.Nell, W.Drew, D. Bush; 2013; NAEYC)

Let’s Play!

Play, think, talk!1. Play!

2. Think about your play experience. What did you feel, wonder and/or learn?

3. Share your experience with a partner. Discuss your thoughts about the importance of play in helping children expand their literacy skills.

The Importance of playMuch of children’s early learning takes place

through play…

Play is so important that its significance in

children’s lives is recognized by the United Nations as

a specific right…

United Nations Convention on The Rights of The Child,

Article 31:

“…recognize[s] the right of the child to rest and leisure,

to engage in play and recreational activities appropriate to

the age of the child and to participate freely in cultural life

and the arts.”

1989, Ratified by Canada 1991

Did you know…•play is a profound biological process that has evolved over eons in many animal species to promote survival

•play shapes the brain and makes animals smarter and more adaptable

• play fosters empathy and makes possible complex social groups

(Play, How it Shapes the Brain Opens the Imagination, and Invigorates the Soul, pg. 5)

Did you know…• play lies at the core of creativity and innovation

• play is directly correlated to the development of the brain’s frontal cortex (responsible for cognition)

(Marilyn Chapman, International Innovations in ECE, July 2012)

The wonder of learning“Imagine children who continually question why things look and function the way that they do. Where their natural sense of wonder is at the centre of their learning and informs the direction it will take.” (Natural Curiosity: A Resource for Teachers,

University of Toronto, pg. 1)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V0mCy9asVk0

Inquiry-based scientific inquiryInquiry-based learning is a process of intellectual activity that naturally builds on children’s innate curiosity and sense of wonder. Children are engaged in activities that help them… • play & explore,• investigate & plan,• experience rich materials, • actively pose questions,• solve problems,• draw conclusions about the world,• become researchers,• do meaningful work,• reflect on learning. (Full Day Kindergarten Program Guide, British Columbia, p. 19)