Science activities for young children
Table of Contents
Case Study
Marcia is taking care of her neighbour’s two young children for the afternoon and the mum has asked that the children do an activity outside. Marcia is concerned that it is very windy out today and the trees are blowing about quite noticeably.
Marcia, although quite young, is very sensible and raises her concern with the parent. The mum wisely asks her to wrap the children up so they don’t get cold and then take them out just for a while. If the weather worsens Marcia should bring them in, but at the moment it did not seem like there was any risk as it was not windy enough to blow debris or knock down trees.
Marcia goes outside with the children and is wondering how she can make this time fun when she notices that the youngest child is mesmerised by the movement of the leaves in the tree directly in front of her. Marcia decides to lay a rug down so they can sit for a while watching the leaves rustling and swaying, pointing out the sounds they make when the wind rushes through them. She then gathers up some fallen leaves and they try to create a tree picture out of leaves on the ground. The leaves, of course, keep blowing away, the children get up and start to run after the leaves.
Marcia encourages these two little children to pretend to be leaves dancing in the wind. She talks to them about sound and movement, giving them new vocabulary to support this lovely experience.
- What activities do you think Marcia could do with the children once they go back indoors to extend this learning and continue the theme?
- What were the children learning whilst in the outdoors?
- What areas of their development might have been encouraged and supported by the activity?
- What health and safety checks should Marcia have done before and during the activity?
It is rare that there is just one way to respond to a scenario or situation, so do not consider that the response you have chosen to this scenario will be judged as right or wrong. Share your scenario with a work colleague and ask them to tell you if they think you have responded appropriately. Ask them to challenge your response if necessary. You do not need to submit this task for assessment unless asked to do so by your tutor.