Science - Preschool Lab - Westminster College Psychology Department

"Young children are more scientists than they are anything else."
Herbert Zim

It is not surprising that many have called children "natural scientists." Young children are curious and intent on making sense of their physical and social environment. Enthusiastic explorers of materials, organisms, and events, they bring to their work and play a sense of wonder and natural desire to inquire. But curiosity alone is not enough for children todevelop skills and promoite their understanding. For children to develop the skills of scientific inquiry, adult guidance is essential. Teachers can foster such inquiry by building on children's spontaneous exploration and gradually guiding them to become more focused and systematic in their observations and investigations.

There are many different skills that make up scientific inquiry. They include children's ability to:

raise questions about objects and events around them
explore objects, materials, and events by acting upon them and noticing what happens
make careful observation of objects, organisms, and events using all of their senses
describe, compare, sort, classify, and order in terms of observable characteristics and properties
use a variety of simple tools to extend their observations (e.g., hand lenses, measuring tools, eyedropppers, a balance)
engage in simple investigations including making predictions, gathering and interpreting data, recognizing simple patterns, and drawing conclusions
record observations, explanations, and ideas through multiple forms of representation including drawings, simple graphs, writing and movement
work collaboratively with others
share and discuss ideas and listen to new perspectives

"Worms, Shadows, and Whirlpools: Science in the Early Childhood Classroom" by Karen Worth and Sharon Grollman
Red hand print

Photograph #1
The children are using simple tools like magnifying glasses to look at "dinosaur bones" in the sand table.

Photograph #2
Children are using all of their senses to observe the Biology Department's Iguana.

Photograph #3
Jacob is exploring the properties of buoyancy and predicting outcomes.

Photograph #4
Working together, children plant new trees at the Outdoor Lab.

Photograph #5
With water, eyedroppers, and magnifying glasses, children observe and collect data about earthworms.

The Westminster College Preschool Lab admits students of any race, color, religion, gender, and national or ethnic origin.