I love starting the year with all about me as it helps me learn about the students while they learn about themselves. When I taught three-year-olds we talked about our senses (and talked about some of our favorite things that go along with them!). This year I'm teaching pre-k, and I will again do all about me, but I will expand the topic to talk more about what's going on inside our bodies as well (like our hearts, lungs, muscles, and bones). We have a decent outdoor playground and a woods nearby where we can walk to for a field trip. I plan to have the children collect items from these places and have them put the items in our science center for their exploration and the exploration of the younger children as well. They can use magnifying glasses, do rubbings, journal, weigh the items, etc. We can talk about what they feel, see, smell, etc. I try to have the kids participate in the composition of our centers since if they are interested in what is there they are more likely to engage with it. I want what we are talking about to help me get to know the kids and what they value. Perhaps this is something you could try? Definitely start with a balance scale and magnifying glasses and teach the kids how to use them. Those are great tools. Best of luck!
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Stephanie Gessford
Licensing Director
Learning Tree Cooperative Preschool
Midland MI
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Original Message:
Sent: 07-24-2019 09:57 PM
From: Anne Lowry
Subject: As the new school year approaches....
As many of us are looking at starting new students soon, I was wondering about science learning in your classrooms. Sharing all brings out new ideas, so here are three questions to start the conversation
Do you have a go to science exploration to start the school year?
If so, what is it?
And what tools do you start with in your science center?
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Anne Lowry
Teacher
Aleph Academy
Reno NV
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