Any good science curriculums that can be adapted for early learners?

TheyCan · October 10, 2010, 2:31am

I feel I’m all over the place when it comes to science (basically, EK). (Does anyone else feel this way??) I get library books on different topics everytime we visit, show different LR and PowerPoint slides, show various science flashcards, and also do various “field trips” to the zoo, etc. However, I have really ended up jumping around all over the place when it comes to topics. Sometimes we go in depth and other times we only touch a topic once or twice. Maybe this is really good - to just be exposed to everything?? However, I really would like to feel more structured now that he’s getting a little older (27 months). It would also be great to have something laid out to tell me what key facts should be taught regarding a particular subject. Does anyone know of curriculums that could be easily adapted for early learners? Something that doesn’t rely on worksheets…that is maybe more for the teacher, rather than the student? Or…do you think it’s good at this age to keep up random topics? Thank you for any suggestions!!

TeachingMyToddlers · October 10, 2010, 3:03am

we haven’t gotten real deep into science yet, but I have heard on these forums that http://scienceforpreschoolers.com/ is good, along with the books http://www.amazon.com/Mudpies-Magnets-Preschool-Science-Curriculum/dp/0876591128 although I have no read the series myself.

sidenote- I just did an unsuccessful search for Maggots to Mupies…guess I remembered the name wrong LOL.

TheyCan · October 10, 2010, 4:12am

Thank you for these! I just picked up a book I forgot I had - Handbook of Nature Study. It’s huge. It’s meant for the teacher though - to educate them on how to teach very young children about nature. I think I’ll start reading it. Hmmm…now I feel like I have two different subjects - very casual nature study/observation and formal science learning (more direct, list of hard facts, more topics, etc).

lhdvm00 · October 10, 2010, 5:35am

I ran into this, too! I’m definitely a science geek (maybe that’s just a geek, in general!), so that was a big question for me, too. My oldest is 5 now, and looking back, I think exposing her to as many different topics as possible in as many ways as possible was best. We have spent a ton of money on books, some simple, some advanced. Lots of dvds, and we pre-viewed everything to make sure there was nothing inappropriate! We’ve done as many projects as we could, although the children didn’t know that’s what they were: hatching chickens in an incubator on the kitchen counter, raising a tadpole and now pet frog, worm farm, butterfly hatchery, gardening, nature walks, field trips, telescope, posters, drying flowers, rock collections, bird watching, etc… I try to do delight-directed stuff.
We also have Handbook of Nature Study and our oldest reads it on her own - it’s SO big that I do help her find what she’s looking for!!!
I have tried 3 different curriculums so far, and nothing has been a good fit for us, but I’m still hopeful! I am starting to think that maybe at this early age exposure to LOTS of good books that they can read, with some that are harder, is best. My oldest 3 are 2,4, and 5yos, and they want to do school together, so I treat everything as a unit study! It’s a lot of fun!
Would looking at a scope and sequence help you? I think World Book encyclopedia has one on-line, and I’m sure there are others. You’ve hit on a great idea - a list of topics to cover! Even if you don’t follow a strict order, it would at least be a checklist to go by…

Chris1 · October 10, 2010, 11:36am

The Pleasure of Finding Things Out (1 of 5)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WT0oyzoR_ik&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=axsSiQg9vU8&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RzPfKI4b-dg&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Br_PJY-LZTw&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ipd-lJ9rHDI&feature=related
Chris

TmS · October 10, 2010, 2:55pm

Feynman is my science hero!!!

I highly recommend reading his story (as written in the book “genius”

His take on the problems with maths and science education are most interesting.

He saw the world differently to the rest of us and I think this is why he was so innovative. A truly brilliant man!

aangeles · October 15, 2010, 6:00pm

I am planning to use Earlybird Science, from the same publishers as Singapore Math: http://www.singaporemath.com/Earlybird_Start_Up_Science_1_2_3_and_4_p/ebsci.htm

Here are some sample pages. I think they’re a good combination of simple activities and easy worksheets.
http://www.singaporemath.com/v/vspfiles/assets/images/sp_ebs3.gif
http://www.singaporemath.com/v/vspfiles/assets/images/sp_ebs2.gif
http://www.singaporemath.com/v/vspfiles/assets/images/sp_ebs1.gif
http://www.singaporemath.com/v/vspfiles/assets/images/sp_ebs4.gif

The description says for 7-8 year olds but I think they are easily adaptable to even younger kids. The table of contents also gives me a good idea of what topics to introduce.

aangeles · October 15, 2010, 7:33pm

I forgot to mention that I also like Science A-Z: http://www.sciencea-z.com/scienceweb/description.do

If you go to the bottom of the page, there is a list of science units for each grade level. However, this site requires a subscription to access the full program. I signed up for the 7-day free trial which allowed me to download multiple books and activities throughout the trial period. My daughter loves the Early Concept books from the grade K-2 units (Animals, Plants, Senses, Weather, Earth, Moon, Sun, etc.)

ariel · October 15, 2010, 8:12pm

here’s another great book:
http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_i_1_39?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=365+experiments+with+everyday+materials&sprefix=365+experiments+with+everyday+materials

TheyCan · October 18, 2010, 1:45am

Thank you everyone for all the great resources! Anngles - I love how simple and basic the content is in the earlybird science book! It would definitely let me know what basic message to focus on because I always want to teach everything and it becomes a huge project :)! I think the book would be a great introduction to concepts. I’ve looked at their math books, but never clicked over to the science for some reason. Thank you! The A-Z website also looks great.

lhdvm00 - I’ve spent a chunk of the weekend reading the Handbook of Nature Study! I definitely want to do as you’ve done - lots of nature “projects” that aren’t viewed as projects/learning - just part of life. One main message I got from the book was to focus on having the child love nature and have a passion for learning more on their own. However, I realized how much I need to learn! I can’t just ramble off facts casually right now! I would love to be able to just take a stroll outside an be able to give an exact name to everything he points to. Someday! Sounds like your kids have really fallen in love with nature like described in the book lhdvm00!

So…I think I’ll have the time outdoors not seem like teaching at all - just be true enjoyable nature study - and I’ll follow his lead. And then have separate science lessons at home that may or may not corespond with what he’s observing outside - and follow one of the resources listed. We’ll see!

TheyCan · November 3, 2010, 5:12am

Update…I bought the Singapore Start Up Science books aangeles suggested - http://www.rainbowresource.com/product/Earlybird+Start-Up+Science+1%2C+2%2C+3+and+4/046046/1288757197-354884 and a book called “Science Play” - http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0824967984/ref=ord_cart_shr?ie=UTF8&m=ATVPDKIKX0DER !

I love these reources. They are both very basic and seem perfect for a 2 year-old. The Start Up Sciece books give me a good outline of concepts to teach and they’re fun for my son to look at and read (he’s too young to actually fill it out). Everything is very straight-forward. The Science Play book has good ideas for having little kids SEE basic facts. There aren’t many explanations/elaboratons to the concepts presented, but there are some thought-provoking questons to ask the child and discuss.

Thank you everyone!

TmS · November 3, 2010, 5:14am

Awesome, thanks for the info - can’t wait will have to buy now