09 JunACER free resources for improving preschool to Year 2 children’s understanding of science
A set of free resources has been published by the Australian Council for Educational Research (ACER) with the aim of improving young children’s understanding of science. ACER’s Science in the early years series has been developed to help preschool and Foundation to Year 2 educators incorporate the latest research into science learning and development into their teaching.
Research shows that developing the science inquiry skills of observing, predicting, checking, recording and communicating can teach young children that it is acceptable to fail and that learning can come from making mistakes.
ACER’s Science in the early years series includes four activities that educators can complete to develop young children’s science inquiry skills and monitor their science learning. These activities – exploring plants, mixing liquids, floating and sinking, and light and shadows – are also appropriate for parents whose children are learning at home.
The series provides examples of developmentally appropriate ways of monitoring young children’s science skills and knowledge, such as discussing stories, and creating drawings and models. Such monitoring enables educators to determine what the child already knows, identify any misconceptions that require correcting and inform what might be explored next.
Educators do not need a wide science knowledge but rather be open to working together with children to help them make connections and develop their understandings.
The authors of the resources – ACER researchers Christine Rosicka and Gayl O’Connor – emphasise that including science in the early years does not mean educators need to add more to their programs noting that science inquiry skills are integral aspects of both the Early Years Learning Framework and the Foundation to Year 2 Australian Curriculum and can be integrated into other learning areas.
The Science in the early years series can be accessed at research.acer.edu.au/earlyyearsscience/ .
