Supporting the Scientific Thinking and Inquiry of Toddlers and Preschoolers Through Play

1. Supporting the Scientific Thinking and Inquiry of Toddlers and Preschoolers Through Play Written by: Maria Hamlin and Debora B. Wisneski Presented by: Emily Spink

2. Learning Through Play • Young children do most of their learning through play and hands on activities • “Some of the richest learning for children come through child-initiated or child- directed play” • According to The Alliance for Childhood there should be at least three daily periods of an hour or longer for children to play within a typically Kindergarten classroom • Children use their everyday understanding to make sense of their play experiences

3. Magnets

4. Sylva, Bruner, and Genova’s research • Classic study about children’s problem solving • Two groups: “Taught” and “Play” Group • “Taught” Group would tend to have ‘all or nothing’ pattern of responses • “Play” Group were more inventive in devising strategies to solve the problem and persevered longer if their initial attempts did not work • “Taught” Group would have trouble trying to use a different strategy to solve the problem

5. Why is Scientific discovery important? • Enhances skills: • Observing • Asking questions • Describing • Predicting • Providing explanations • Using tools and instruments • Engaging in the “What ifs” • Planning investigations • Recording what happens • Communicating and sharing ideas

6. Important for Teachers • Engage with the students and making play enjoyable • Provide child with the information and skills to encourage learning • Provide opportunities for children to learn • Observe the children • Comment on the children actions • Ask “What if” questions • Document changes in children’s understanding

7. Supporting Scientific Play • Three things to consider: • Types of materials (page 172) • Use different materials and demonstrate playfulness and wonder • Questions to ask children prior, during, and after • What will happen if… • What happened when… • Additional exploration opportunities to build upon what they just learned • Page 171 explain