Scientific Play
Children are naturally curious with full of questions about what is around them and this will also drive them into investigate how things are working. “Before we can develop our children’s understanding in science, first we must encourage them to observe well and to think about their observations” – Stem Learning, 2017.
Here is a video of Peggy Ashbrook talking about the importance of starting science education in early years.
Whilst being in placement, I have seen different activities being linked within science, for example; playing in the water area and seeing what materials will float or sink, another activity was them going outside and looking for insects in the schools garden, and ticking off what insects they found. All these activities are helping the child understand the world around them, it is getting them to question and discuss, discovering new things and sharing their findings with others in the class.
Science education/play is important because;
- It fosters a love for science, because children will want to explore and experiment. First discoverers states that 'research suggests that by the age of 7, most children have developed either a positive or negative attitude towards education that will remain entrenched. So by tapping into their natural predispositions early on, during this key development phase, we can nurture and establish a positive approach to science eduction that will stay with them into the future."
- Studies have shown that students being to develop an interest in science, technology, engineering and mathematics during their elementary years" according to learning liftoff, 2018.
- Encourages children to solve problems, whilst it can also help with their listening and communication skills.
- Develop their own options and increase their knowledge
