Sandbox Scientist: Real Science Activities for Little Kids
resources in the appendix are truly priceless Doris O Smith Professor Emeriti Early Childhood Education California State University Fresno
Acknowledgments Thanks to Sherry Grazda and her students in Mckin leyville for inviting me to explore with them Many thanks to Ellen Jones and Cyndi Rose for always wel coming me and my stuff at the El Portal Child Devel opment Center I am especially indebted to Allison Bown who became a true partner in exploring the world of scientists at play Last but not least this book is a tribute to all of the children I watched play ing at the El Portal Elementary School the El Portal Child development Center and my local neighbor
Introduction ESPRIORER TH O Kids are scientists at play watch them While they bake mud pies or construct worm playgrounds you might catch them conducting playful experiments Listen to them Amidst the giggling you may hear an exchange of astute observations or sensible theories Playfully explore with them and you may be aston ished at how their attention span far outlasts yours Children use many of the same science process skills as adult scientists Similarly they develop ideas about our world based on experiences with real things Though kids naive notions may often seem silly they are the offspring of serious thought Kid science reaches into two worlds reality and fantasy As children immerse themselves in rich experiences the two worlds become more separate Through experimentation and constant
reality is gently unmasked Adult science facts and prescribed step by step experiments are an inade quate substitute for explorations of a child's own choosing For kid science is divergent rather than lin ear It is process rather than product facts and con cepts It is real science Whether you are a parent teacher or another caretaker of young children you can easily become a patron of kid science All you have to do is let kids explore their world and accumulate a diverse collec tion of experiences Sandbox Scientist is a guide to out fitting young adventurers for playful expeditions at home school or at childcare centers Included are ideas on how to set up environments that stimulate opened ended investigations information on where to get inexpensive or free materials and tips on rec ognizing and nurturing science process skills Sandbox Scientist is a guide not a cookbook Rather than recipes for Gee whiz Dr Science type experi ments you'll discover ideas information and resources to help you assist kids in their own playful science journeys The science activities consist of putting together and using Explorer Kits Gather up the recommended materials and whatever additional things you think will spark the kids and let the learning happen Put kids with the kits in this book and scientific exploration will follow Explorer Kits
