BRAIN POWER: learning how to think about the world around me

We want to teach children 21st century skills. Young children’s natural curiosity of how the world works makes early childhood an optimal time to introduce them to STEM- based learning (science, technology, engineering, and math). Our goal is to harness young children’s innate drive to observe, interact, discover, and explore to set them on a path to develop a love of scientific inquiry and creative problem-solving.

Educators can create a fun and engaging learning environment that helps young children develop their scientific skills and build a strong foundation for future science learning. Early childhood educators do not need a strong background in science to teach these skills effectively. They can use resources such as books, online materials, and professional development opportunities to deepen their understanding of scientific concepts and teaching strategies.

Science

Science encourages investigation, inquiry, hypothesis testing, experimentation, and reflection. Early childhood educators can teach science skills to young children in a variety of ways, such as:

• Encourage children to ask questions and explore the world around them through hands-on activities and investigations.
• Use materials like magnets, magnifying glasses, and microscopes to engage children in scientific investigations and exploration.
• Provide outdoor activities, such as nature walks or garden exploration, for children to observe and investigate the natural world.
• Use children’s books that incorporate scientific concepts, such as animals, weather, or the human body, to introduce children to scientific language and concepts.
• Introduce simple games and puzzles, like sorting or classification games, to help children develop their cognitive and problem-solving skills.
• Help children see science in everyday activities, like planting seeds during garden time or observing the weather, to help them develop a positive attitude toward science and its practical applications.

Technology

Technology includes understanding the purpose of and use of simple tools like magnifying glasses, and more complex ones like microscopes. Here are some effective strategies for teaching technology skills:

• Use child-friendly technology tools, like tablets, digital cameras, and simple coding toys, to engage children in hands-on activities and exploration.
• Teach children about responsible digital citizenship, such as online safety and respectful communication, to help them use technology in a positive and safe way.
• Help children see technology as a tool for learning and play by incorporating it into daily routines, such as using interactive whiteboards during circle time or playing educational games during center time.

Engineering

Engineering involves building or creating things while recognizing problems and testing solutions. Here are some fun ideas for teaching technology:

• Use materials like blocks, Legos, or cardboard to engage children in hands-on engineering projects, like building towers, bridges, or vehicles.
• Pose design challenges to children, such as building a structure that can withstand wind or creating a vehicle that can move a certain distance, to develop their problem-solving and critical thinking skills.
• Encourage children to work together on engineering projects, such as building a city or a complex machine, to develop their collaboration and communication skills.
• Help children learn from their mistakes and experiment with different solutions through trial and error, rather than focusing on finding the “right” answer.
• Help children see engineering in everyday activities, such as building with blocks during free play or designing a fort during outdoor play, to help them value engineering and its practical applications.

Pre-math

Pre-math deals with numbers, patterns, shapes, organizational skills, and much more.

Fun and engaging ideas for helping young children develop their pre-math skills include:

• Use manipulatives, such as blocks, counting bears, or playdough, to teach pre-math concepts like counting, sorting, and patterns.
• Read children’s books that incorporate math concepts, such as counting or measurement, to introduce children to mathematical language and concepts.
• Offer simple games and puzzles, like matching or memory games, to help children develop their cognitive and problem-solving skills.
• Sing and dance to teach mathematical concepts, like counting and shapes.
• Provide outdoor activities, such as exploring nature or playing with water, for children to practice measuring, comparing, and classifying objects.
• Model mathematical thinking and problem-solving skills for children and provide scaffolding support as they practice and develop their skills.
• Help children see math in everyday activities, like measuring ingredients during snack time or counting the number of students in the classroom, to instill a positive attitude towards math and its practical applications.