From playground equipment to skyscrapers, structures have a major role in our lives. The second topic in the Young Scientist series, Building Structures with Young Childrenpresents to teachers explorations that deepen children's understanding of building block structures—including concepts such as gravity, stability, and balance.
Looking at science in a new way, this nationally field-tested curriculum supports the early development of important science-inquiry skills such as questioning, investigating, discussing, and formulating ideas and theories—all aimed at helping children
· Learn to build with a variety of materials.
· Experience how forces such as gravity, compression, and tension affect a structure’s stability.
· Understand how the characteristics of materials affect a structure’s stability.
· Develop scientific dispositions including curiosity, eagerness to explore, an open mind, and delight in being a builder.
For teachers who want children to do serious science—not just passively experience it— this resource-rich curriculum gives you all the tools you need. Subject areas in this curriculum correlate to the Head Start Child Outcomes Framework. Softbound, 168 pgs.
"Building Structures with Young Children is a timely book because of the blending of science with applications like building and construction in the classroom. Building Structures is teacher-friendly, with hypothetical teacher questions answered in helpful ways. The answers focus on what to do and why things are done. The book is full of examples. It emphasizes teacher observation as one of the most effective ways to assess skill development in children."
—Sharon MacDonald, author of Block Play
"Building Structures with Young Children is much more than a book about building with blocks. The authors include numerous examples of extension activities, science experiences, and social interaction scenarios that make this a must-have book for anyone who takes unit block construction seriously—as we all should."
—Nancy P. Alexander, Director, Northwestern State University Child and Family Network, author of Early Childhood Workshops that Work
"Chalufour and Worth present material in a way that helps students understand the foundational philosophy. They help students become 'double specialists' as Piaget recommended. Students learn about child development and learn about science content. They can then prepare lessons that are meaningful to children and facilitate understanding of concepts."
—Jane Harvey, M.S., Department of Child Development and Family Studies, Purdue University
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