Growing Our Young Scientists

NAEYC Shares about Preschool Science

Looking to lift the level of your science understanding or further fill your toolbox? Check out this article from the National Association for the Education of Young Children.

 

  

Machines and Holiday tranditions

Depending upon the make up of your students, this book may be the perfect combination of science and engineering (think simple & complex machines) meets holiday customs and questioning.

In the book, How Santa Lost His Job by Stephen Krensky, readers learn of little elf Muckle's specially designed machine that will do the work of Santa much, much faster.  As the big day nears, the Deliverator and Santa are put to the test and the big machine actually proves better. So this Christmas Santa stays home while Muckle's machine delivers presents...or tries to. Read and have kid talk to one another about, "Is this machine better than Santa?" Why or why not?  "What would be some great machines to invent? What machines are better left uninvented?" Great for probing deeper questions and considering the pros and cons of machines. Sure the make work faster, but would  you want a "hugging machine" in place of human hugs? Not me! 

Looking for the tie into SIMPLE MACHINES you've been investigating all week checkout the last page. S.D. Schindler has surprised the reader with various simple chains that DO work well at  the North  Pole. 

 

To Procure Curiosity

This week is all about your budding scientist, learner of literacy, and amazing mathematician....and awesome artist. To get things going, what kind of hook could you start with at morning meeting? What object could you hold up and begin to inquire about? What would pique your kids' interest and get those questions flowing?
Maybe it's a crayon:  

Or a shape that you want them to see in a new way:

What else can you notice or say about this shape? 

Or show a famous piece of art and ask what they notice and wonder about or question:

Mondrain's famous artwork

I love how this site helps us to consider how to take famous artists artwork and integrate and further preschool students' thinking and learning.

http://hubpages.com/education/Art-Critiques-for-Children

Or could it be a scientific tool to touch: 

Tweezers, a magnifying glass, or other tool.

What might your "hook' be as you lead your students' learning and procure curiosity for the week of learning to come? 

Share your ideas below so others can tap into your great thinking.

The New ABC Charts: Watch to Learn

So you have your new Reading Recovery ABC Charts! No time like the the present to begin using them. And you wonder...How do we use them?  This video shows you 3 options for using the chart (Yes, your chart has different images, but the use is the same.) depending upon the purpose/phase you wish to emphasize at the time. 
Phase: 

1. Naming Letters
2. Naming Upper and Lower Case letters
3. Letter Sounds 

The phase you emphasize is contingent upon the needs of the child. You know that your different groups have different learning needs. 

Questions:

 

• Could this be introduced whole group as you SAY the letter names (rather than sing them)? Of course!
• Could this be used in small group when reviewing and introducing new letters and sounds? Of course!
• Could this be used ANYTIME you refer to a letter and want to emphasize something about that letter? Of course!
• Do I need to be intentional when I use this ABC Chart? Of course! 
• Could I do a Phase 4 that has "A- as I point to the As, /a/, apple"? Of course!

A KEY practice in addition to USING the chart is to DISPLAY the chart so students can access it.