NAEYC’s HELLO online forum is a great place to have conversations and create connections with peers around important early learning issues.

Excerpts from HELLO have been edited for style and length.

Question

I am planning an investigation of earth science with preschoolers. What are your experiences exploring this or other natural sciences with young children?

—Carla-Michelle, California

Answers

Playing in the natural environment—grass, gardens, soil—invites children to engage all their senses and discover the diversity and complexity of what appear to be simple landscapes, such as tree bark or the various components of soil. It doesn’t have to involve a lot of planning or resources—just get outside and get up close to whatever nature is around.

—Rebecca, Florida

I enjoy exploring science with my 3- to 5-year-old preschoolers. We have explored the biomes in our state, simple machines and how they work, and night and day, among other topics. I generally start by reading all or part of a children’s book about the concept. I take time to answer children’s questions and let them point out things in the book that stand out to them. Then we do some sort of a hands-on or play activity to explore the idea. Last week we were talking about animals in the forests around us. We read about animal homes. I set up spaces around the room that represented several different types of homes (a table with a blanket over it for a cave, a pop-up tent for a den, etc.). I taped a laminated picture of an animal that lives in that type of home near each of the spaces. The children pretended to be the animals in the different homes. They had so much fun, and several continued this play as we transitioned into free play time.

—Diane, Utah

Earth science, including geology and atmospheric science, is great for the early years and is relevant to aspects of children’s daily lives. As a result, it is a constant thread in my class, whether it is specific rock explorations, exploring the origins of pigment colors, observing the weather and how it affects our daily lives, examinations of land art, or discussion of how a new development in town would affect the people and wildlife, to name just a few.

—Anne, Nevada

We love water at our program! We ask questions like “How can you move it?” and “Where does it come from?” We have water tables inside, and in the summer we have water and mud tables outdoors. In our science center we always have rocks and shells along with related informational books. In the winter we explore snow outdoors and bring it inside. We also work to connect these explorations with literature.

—Allison, Connecticut

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