From very early on in their lives, children show interest in the world around them. They want to touch, hold and see how objects work. Once they start to talk, they soon begin asking questions. At first, children begin with ‘What’s that?’, but this soon leads on to ‘why’ questions. So, it is perhaps not surprising that early science activities form part of the early years curriculum.
FIVE THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW
1. Understanding the world
In England and Wales, early science activities are part of the curriculum area known as Knowledge and Understanding of the World (Wales), and Understanding the World (England). In Scotland, early science activities form part of the sciences section within the Curriculum for Excellence. In all early years systems, children are encouraged to explore, notice changes and differences in the world around them. Your child’s nursery or childminder is likely to look at nature, but also at properties of materials such as water and sand. In addition, your child’s setting is likely to plan specific activities such as planting seeds or going for a nature walk.
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