Science Everywhere
Science Everywhere is an early learning initiative, emphasizing the importance of Inquiry-Based Learning. Spearheaded by the New York State Education Department's Office of Early Learning and Office of Cultural Education, the initiative seeks to foster a love for science and nature in young children through hands-on learning experiences.
Science Everywhere offers cost-free prekindergarten explorations based on inquiry, which can be implemented in any local community, providing students with a wider understanding of natural science and the world. The initiative aligns with the New York State P-12 Science Learning Standards. As the Science Everywhere team continues to develop additional resources, the program's website will expand accordingly.
Science Everywhere is pleased to present a collection of inquiry-based explorations designed as a valuable resource for early educators. While these investigations are tailored for Prekindergarten students, the hands-on activities can also be modified for classrooms ranging from Kindergarten through Grade 2.
As the Science Everywhere team continues to expand its resources, a wider range of investigations will become available.
Bird Nests: A Prekindergarten Scientific Exploration
Appendix A....."I Wonder Wall" Think Bubble Template
Appendix B..... Printable Vocabulary/ Word Wall Words
Appendix C..... Printable New York State Bird Photographs
Appendix D..... Printable Bird Nest Photographs
Appendix E..... Building A Bird Nest Sequencing Activity
Appendix F..... Bird Inspired Yoga
Appendix G..... Bird Nest Exploration Internet Resources
Appendix H..... Bird Nest Exploration Classroom Library
Appendix I..... Bird Nest Exploration Family Involvement Letter
Appendix J..... Learning Center Planning Pages
Appendix K..... Printable Anchor Chart
Appendix L..... Collecting Bird Data Activity
Science Everywhere is an initiative designed for four-year-old children.
- Encouraging curiosity and exploration: Science Everywhere aims to foster the natural curiosity of four-year-old children and provide them with opportunities to explore the world around them.
- Developing critical thinking and problem-solving skills: It helps in developing critical thinking skills and problem-solving skills by encouraging children to ask questions, make observations, draw conclusions, and reflect based on their own investigations.
- Promoting hands-on learning: Science Everywhere emphasizes hands-on learning experiences, allowing four-year-olds to engage in experiments, sensory activities, and exploration of materials to deepen their understanding of scientific concepts.
- Building foundational knowledge: It aims to build a foundation of scientific knowledge aligned with the NYS Prekindergarten Early Learning Standards by introducing basic concepts through age-appropriate activities and discussions.
- Fostering collaboration and communication: Science Everywhere promotes collaboration and communication among four-year-olds, encouraging them to work together, share ideas, and discuss their findings with their peers and teachers.
What Science Everywhere Is Not:
- Strictly teacher-led: Science Everywhere does not rely solely on teacher-led instruction. It allows room for children to lead their own investigations, ask their own questions, and make their own discoveries.
- Rote memorization: Science Everywhere does not focus on rote memorization of facts or information. Instead, it encourages active exploration and understanding through hands-on experiences.
- Limited to a specific curriculum: Science Everywhere is not limited to a specific curriculum or set of predetermined topics. It encourages exploration across various scientific domains, allowing children to follow their interests and curiosity.
- Solely focused on outcomes: Science Everywhere is not solely focused on achieving specific outcomes or predetermined answers. It values the process of inquiry, exploration, and discovery, emphasizing the development of scientific thinking skills rather than right or wrong answers.
- Passive learning: Science Everywhere is not based on passive learning where children are simply recipients of information. It actively engages children in hands-on activities, encouraging them to think, question, and explore the world around them.
IBL is an instructional approach to learning where students take the lead in their learning process, starting with questions stemming from their own curiosity. This approach transforms both indoor and outdoor learning environments into lively spaces for exploration, fostering a scientific mindset among students. By posing questions, making decisions, and conducting explorations to find solutions, students actively engage in the learning process. This method not only captivates children's interest but also nurtures qualities like curiosity, creativity, and persistence, while enhancing problem-solving and critical thinking skills (Daniels, 2017).
In the book, The Curious Classroom, by Harvey Daniels (2017) he states, "Inquiry is building instruction out of children’s curiosity, rather than from a textbook. It’s an active, lively classroom where children make choices and take responsibility of their learning. It’s backed by research, and it promotes deep student engagement.”
IBL has four distinct types of inquiry:
Structured - students follow the teacher’s lead as the entire class engages in the investigation together.
Controlled - the teacher selects the topic and identifies the resources students will use to answer the question.
Guided - the teacher selects the topic(s) or guiding question(s) and students investigate to answer the question(s).
Open - the teacher acts as a guide and facilitator as students select their own topics, resources, and methods for the investigation.
The Inquiry Cycle serves as a vibrant learning process within the Inquiry-Based Learning (IBL) approach. This cycle comprises five phases where the child takes the central role and is propelled by their natural curiosity to steer the inquiry. While the process is structured, educators are urged to tailor the guidance to align with students' learning preferences and curiosities, allowing for a non-linear progression in the cycle. After students engage in reflective practices and acquire knowledge, educators can introduce fresh inquiry challenges related to the current subject or delve into new topics.
By encouraging students to interact with new materials and observe scientific phenomena, educators can naturally stimulate further inquiries. It is crucial to underline the significance of continuous exploration of previous subjects, even as the class transitions to new areas, as this practice is not only endorsed but fundamental to the principles of IBL (Inquiry Science | Science in Pre-K, n.d.).
The phases of the IBL cycle include:
- Prepare the Learning Environment- Create a space for exploration that will immerse students in the topic being investigated
- Engage- Ask open-ended questions to ignite students' curiosity and determine the question to be investigated
- Guide- Guide students through the learning activities within the investigation
- Share- Provide opportunities for students to share understandings and draw conclusions
- Reflect- Reflect on the learning and discoveries throughout the investigation
Inquiry-Based Learning (IBL) revolves around activating children’s natural curiosity and desire to ask questions. It leverages developmentally appropriate learning experiences to foster critical thinking, problem solving skills, and reflection to deeply understand a topic. IBL is a valuable tool in cultivating a lifelong fascination with nature and science for our youngest learners. Through questioning, exploration, investigation, and experimentation, children develop a foundational understanding of scientific processes, adapted to match their level of comprehension. Employing IBL at the prekindergarten level further stimulates children's innate curiosity and sense of wonder.
“Inquiry is an exciting and energizing way to engage kids’ hearts and minds- and to cover content and meet standards.” - Harvey Daniels (2017)
All domains and content areas of the New York State Prekindergarten Early Learning Standards can be incorporated throughout any IBL investigation.