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Digging into Earth SciencesDigging into Earth Sciences in the Preschool Yearsin the Preschool Years
OutcomesToday we will:•Interact with earth materials•Read the Earth Sciences strand from the Preschool Learning Foundations (PLF, Vol. 3) •Connect the PLF reading to strategies from the Earth Sciences strand of the Preschool Curriculum Framework (PCF, Vol. 3)•Identify strategies specifically supportive to dual language learners in the earth sciences•Practice utilizing UDL strategies to enhance opportunities to support all children in the earth sciences •Plan an activity to apply all ideas from the day with engaging family strategies
Children’s direct contact with the natural environment enhances their connection to nature and constitutes an essential and critical dimension of healthy development (Kellert 2002). PLF, Vol.3, p. 59
• Earth materials • Natural objects in the sky (e.g., sun, moon,
stars, clouds) and how they appear to move
• Changes in the weather• Changes in the environment• Caring for and respecting the environment
Is your interest peaked by anything?Is your interest peaked by anything?
As a group, stand up if you have As a group, stand up if you have something on your group chart that might something on your group chart that might create an opportunity to “dig into.”create an opportunity to “dig into.”
Is your interest peaked by anything?Is your interest peaked by anything?
As a group, stand up if you have As a group, stand up if you have something on your group chart that might something on your group chart that might create an opportunity to “dig into.”create an opportunity to “dig into.”
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Earth Sciences
• Earth materials • Natural objects in
the sky (e.g., sun, moon, stars, etc.), and how they appear to move
Social EnvironmentThe indoor and outdoor environments provide the context for children’s physical and social explorations and construction of scientific concepts.
PCF, Vol. 3, p. 142
The indoor and outdoor environments provide the context for children’s physical and social explorations and construction of scientific concepts.
PCF, Vol. 3, p. 142
The social environment must support exploration and investigation and encourage children to pursue their own questions and develop their ideas.
PCF, Vol. 3, p. 147
The social environment must support exploration and investigation and encourage children to pursue their own questions and develop their ideas.
s • Investigate characteristics (size, weight, shape, color, texture) of earth materials such as sand, rocks, soil, water, and air. 60
Mo
nth
s60
Mo
nth
s• Demonstrate increased ability to investigate and compare characteristics (size, weight, shape, color, texture) of earth materials such as sand, rocks, soil, water, and air.
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Naturally occurring Naturally occurring materials found on materials found on
earth, including earth, including minerals, rocks, soil, minerals, rocks, soil,
Encourage Encourage children to children to come up come up with their with their own criteria own criteria for sorting… for sorting… PCF, Vol. 3, p. 218PCF, Vol. 3, p. 218
describe natural describe natural objects in the sky objects in the sky (sun, moon, stars, (sun, moon, stars, clouds) and how they clouds) and how they appear to move and appear to move and change. change.
60 M
on
ths
60 M
on
ths 2.12.1 Demonstrate an Demonstrate an
increased ability to increased ability to observe and describe observe and describe natural objects in the natural objects in the sky and to notice sky and to notice patterns of movement patterns of movement and apparent changes and apparent changes in the sun and the in the sun and the moon. moon.
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• What is the main difference between 48 and 60 months?• What opportunities do you need to provide as a teacher to
support this development?
Extensions …[science]
experiences provide ideal opportunities to expose all children, including English learners, to new words and scientific vocabulary…
…all children start with similar mental representations of the earth. PLF, Vol.3, p. 93
Mental representations of the earth held by children who live in different cultures may contain some elements from their particular culture. PLF, Vol. 3, p. 93
Developed Over Developed Over TimeTime
Developed Over Developed Over TimeTime
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Moon Example
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Engage children in observing and describing the sun and the moon and other natural objects in the sky. PCF Vol. 3, p. 222
Invite children to
make predictions PCF Vol. 3, p.
222
Teacher traced shadow of flower at:•10:30 am (beginning outside time)•11:30 am (end of outside time)•12:15 (as children left)
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Use technology to support children’s scientific experiences.PCF, Vol. 3, p. 144
• Use your device to download the Star Chart App (made by NASA).
• Hold your device to the sky. What do you see?
• Take your science journal with you and document your observations.
How would you use the Star Chart App with your children?
Preschool children can notice, observe, and describe day/night, weather, and seasonal changes, butare not ready to grasp scientific explanations for such earth phenomena.
•How does this How does this example differ example differ from the from the “common” “common” weather weather recording at recording at circle?circle?
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Exposing children to “science talk” helps them to establish a pattern of “scientific conversations,” which may assist in developing patterns of “scientific thinking” (Eshach 2006, 14). PLF, Vol. 3, p. 54
the effects of weather the effects of weather and seasonal and seasonal changes on their own changes on their own lives and on plants lives and on plants and animals.and animals. 60
Mo
nth
s60
Mo
nth
s 2.32.3 Demonstrate an Demonstrate an increased ability to increased ability to notice and describe notice and describe the effects of weather the effects of weather and seasonal and seasonal changes on their own changes on their own lives and on plants lives and on plants and animals.and animals.
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Explore Earth Materials
Use opportunities to explore earth materials in Use opportunities to explore earth materials in the context of studying living thingsthe context of studying living things… … PCF, Vol.3, p. 219PCF, Vol.3, p. 219
awareness of the awareness of the importance of caring importance of caring for and respecting the for and respecting the environment, and environment, and participate in participate in activities related to its activities related to its care.care.
60 M
on
ths
60 M
on
ths 2.32.3 Demonstrate and Demonstrate and
increased awareness increased awareness and the ability to and the ability to discuss in simple discuss in simple terms how to care for terms how to care for the environment, and the environment, and participate in participate in activities related to its activities related to its care.care.
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Significance of Environmental Concerns[Preschool children [Preschool children
can] recognize the can] recognize the significance of significance of environmental environmental
concerns such as:concerns such as:•Water pollutionWater pollution