Talking and Doing Science in the Early Years

Young children are intuitive, emergent scientists - they observe, raise hypotheses, experiment and notice patterns. Most of our everyday actions at home and in other settings, inside and outside, have a scientific basis and it is through these early experiences that children formulate their ideas about the world in which we live. This accessible book introduces the simplest form of the principles and the big ideas of science and provides a starting point for encouraging children to have an interest and experiential understanding of basic science and engineering. It shows you how you can support young children in exploring everyday phenomena and develop their scientific language skills through readily available resources and hands-on experiences.