How do young children learn science, design and technology? How can we support young children and help them to develop scientific, design and technology skills? This practical and accessible text answers these questions and provides guidance for adults working with young children in a variety of formal and informal settings. Concrete advice is given to show how parents, carers, teachers and other professionals can provide a rich learning environment and support children in this important area of the curriculum. The differing needs of both adults and children are recognized and a variety of stimulating activities is illustrated. A clear and helpful discussion of a developmental framework enables readers to strengthen their own practice and understanding. The book will be of value to all early childhood professionals as well as being of great interest to parents and carers.

Teaching Science and Technology in the Early Years (3-7) celebrates young children’s amazing capabilities as scientists, designers and technologists. Research-based yet practical and accessible, it demonstrates how scientific, designing and making activities are natural to young children, and have the potential for contributing to all aspects of their learning. By identifying the scientific and design-related concepts, skills and activities being developed, the book enables the reader to make more focused diagnostic observations of young children and plan for how they can help move them forward in their learning. This second edition has been thoroughly updated and features: Six new chapters providing practical advice and examples for enhancing scientific and technological learning through thematic approaches a new chapter focusing on the outdoor learning environment and how this can support science and technology new case studies of successful early years practice, alongside examples of practical planning for learning, and advice on documenting children’s learning stories, guidance on the role of talk, narrative, documentation and planning in relation to early years science and technology Based on the latest research and the first hand experience, this practical and accessible book is essential reading for early years and primary students on undergraduate and Masters level courses.

This practical text seeks to answer such questions as how young children learn science, design and technology and how they can be supported to develop these skills. It gives advice on providing a learning environment and recognising needs.

This book gives teachers, student teachers and other Early Years practitioners a clear understanding of how science and design and technology contributes to children's learning. It will help teachers make more focused, diagnostic observations of young children's play by identifying the scientific and design concepts, skills and attitudes being developed. It gives clear guidance for planning experiences and interventions that will help move the children forward in their learning within specific areas of the foundation stage curriculum, while giving a critical insight into the implications of this approach for teaching and learning and assessment in Key Stage 1 and beyond. It includes a focus on young children's learning, covering what we know from research about how young children learn and the centrality of their early scientific and designing/making experiences to this learning. The authors also present case studies of successful Early Years practice in science and design and technology; examples of practical planning for learning, written by Early Years practitioners; an analysis of the contribution of Science and Design and Technology towards meeting the Early Learning Goals; and advice for adults working in different Early Years settings. Founded on both research and first hand experience, this practical and accessible book demonstrates how scientific and designing/making activities are natural to young children, and have the potential for contributing to all aspects of their learning.

Published in 1998. The Desirable Outcomes for pre-fives and the National Curriculum for Key Stage 1 set out the requirements for learning from nursery through to the end of Key Stage 1 in both science and technology. This book will increase the confidence of the classroom assistants by offering suggestions for improving their subject knowledge in line with these requirements, and advice on how to support the teacher and the child through appropriate learning activities. The handbook will also benefit headteachers and teachers in early years settings who are training volunteers or classroom assistants (perhaps taking STA, BTEC or NNEB courses).

Early years education forms the foundation for future learning for all children, and science and technology are vital building blocks in this process. This book shows how the two subjects have developed, how they can be built upon to create an exciting, creative and meaningful curriculum and how this curriculum can be managed in a range of environments. Research supported by good early years case studies allows the reader to understand clearly how theory can be translated into practice.

Written in line with the 2005 specification for the BTEC National in Early Years qualification, this photocopiable book contains guidance notes, quiz sheets, OHTs, and assignments. The CD-ROM incorporated in the pack provides editable worksheets and activities to help tutors customise the course to suit the needs of their students.