Search results for ""Author Beth Dykstra Van Meeteren""

Water is a meaningful context for children to engage in inquiry and acquire and use science and engineering practices, such as developing spatial thinking and early concepts of water dynamics. This book shows teachers how to engage children with opportunities to engineer water movement through pouring and filling containers of various kinds and shapes, observing how water interacts with surfaces in large and small amounts, exploring how water can be moved, and using water to move objects. These experiences build a foundation that will support children's more complex study of this phenomena in later schooling, as well as encourage interest in STEM fields. The text provides guidance for arranging the physical, intellectual, social–emotional, and promotional environments of the early childhood classroom; for integrating literacy learning; and for building essential partnerships with administrators and families to enhance STEM learning for our youngest learners.Book Features: Introduces WaterWorks, an integrative STEM experience developed by young children, their teachers, and early childhood researchers. Describes an approach that engages children in doing science and engineering, rather than teaching children about these fields. Offers children the opportunity to engage in STEM experiences every day in their classrooms alongside literacy learning. Illustrates ways to plan and use over ten types of engineering experiences appropriate for children ages 3–8. Includes guidance for documenting children's learning over time. Aligns to the Early Learning Outcomes Framework and the Next Generation Science Standards. Contributors: Allison Barness, Shelly L. Counsell, Lawrence Escalada, Judith Finkelstein, Linda Fitzgerald, Sherri Peterson, Jull Uhlenberg, and Wendy Miller.

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Children are intrigued by switches that power a light source and by items that reflect light and sparkle, and they take notice of personal shadows cast on the playground. Many fields in STEM draw upon understanding of light and shadow, such as astronomy, biology, engineering, architecture, and more. This second volume in the STEM for Our Youngest Learners Series shows teachers how to engage children (ages 3–8 ) with light and shadow in a playful way, building an early foundation for the later, more complex study of this phenomena and possibly piquing the curiosity of children that will ultimately lead to professions within the field of STEM. The text offers guidance for integrating literacy learning and investigations and for building partnerships with administrators. Each volume in this new series includes vignettes showing educators and children engaging in inquiry learning, guidance for selecting materials and arranging the learning environment, modifications and accommodations for diverse learners, establishing adult learning communities to support professional development, and more.

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The premiere volume in the STEM for Our Youngest Learners Series introduces the Infant Toddler Inquiry Learning Model, a new way to think about how young children (birth–age 3) explore, think, and learn STEM. Accessible to educators from a wide range of educational backgrounds, it is designed specifically to help guide the implementation of STEM experiences into the early childhood curriculum. Readers will see how the model works in real life; how STEM topics can be naturally embedded in daily routines and activities; and how to observe, understand, and interact with children as they explore. This accessible guide presents content and pedagogy aligned with what is known about how children learn and also addresses the challenges educators encounter when implementing STEM with infants and toddlers. Each volume in this new series includes vignettes showing educators and children engaging in inquiry learning, guidance for selecting materials and arranging the learning environment, modifications and accommodations for diverse learners, establishing adult learning communities to support professional development, and more.

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