Teaching Science to Kindergarten Children
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Provide objects for children to examine
When teaching science to young children, provide them with lots of objects to examine from the natural and physical world.
What topics do I include when teaching science?
1. Life Sciences - characteristics of living things
2. Physical science - the study of non-living things
3. Earth and Space Sciences - investigate features of the Earth and its atmosphere
1. Life Sciences - characteristics of living things
Studying insects is a great way for students to observe characteristics of animals and offers lots of material for data collection, recording sheets, poster displays and more.
Whether learning the names of trees, planting seeds, or making a leaf 
collection, children have opportunities to count, measure, classify, compare and extend their vocabulary.
Local parks often have great programs to help teachers and parents learn how to involve children in the outdoors.
Students will be able to:
- describe characteristics of some local plants and animals e.g. color, shape, size, texture
- compare local plants and animals
- learn what plants and animals need to stay healthy
- compare the life cycle of an animal hatched from an egg with one born from the mother
- describe the appearance and behavior of a variety of animals
- identify similarities and differences among animal species
Living creatures in the classroom When teaching science, include teaching children how to respect and treat living creatures when studying them. Tapping on bug bottles, shaking the container, leaving living things in the hot sun should all be discouraged. Teach the "Four Ls" Look at them, learn about them, let them go (after an hour or two), then leave them alone. |
2. Physical science - the study of non-living things
Kids love to sort piles of objects, take things apart, and make collections of things. As students play, observe, and classify things they begin to identify the properties of these objects and think about their similarities and differences and how each one may be used. Winter is a great time to for teaching kindergarten science lessons involving water and ice.
Students will be able to:
- describe properties of materials, color, shape, texture, size, and weight
- identify materials that make up familiar objects
- describe ways to rethink, reuse, reduce, refuse, and recycle
- tell the difference between solids, liquids, and gases
- identify common types of forces (magnetism, gravity..)
- use a variety of objects to describe motion and changes in motion
- describe the properties of a variety of common objects
- identify a variety of changes that cannot be reversed (popped popcorn)
- recognize changes in properties of matter when water is added
- recognize changes in properties of matter when it is heated or cooled
- describe how objects can change over time
3. Earth and Space Sciences
Whether collecting soil samples and rocks from different areas of the schoolyard or helping the teacher construct mini water cycles out of an old aquarium, children love investigating and observing features of the Earth and its atmosphere.
When teaching science, introduce new vocabulary to describe the characteristics of rocks, soil, water, and weather conditions in your students' surroundings as they play.
Students will be able to:
- observe their surroundings
- describe features of their nearest environment
- identify characteristics of each season
- describe the properties of air
- identify some living and non-living materials found in soil
- classify rocks and soil according to their physical characteristics
- describe some characteristics of rocks, soil, and water
- describe the effects of water and wind on rocks and soil
- describe the effects of weather on living things
- understand the relationship between the position of an object, its shadow, and the sun
A great way to teach science using the preceding skills as a guide is to have a kindergarten science center in your classroom.
All science pages:
Science lessons -Read to find out what science skills your kindergarten students need to learn and what topics to teach.
Teaching science - When teaching science to young children, provide them with lots of objects to examine from the natural and physical world.
Science center - Create a child centered kindergarten science center that is easy to change and reflects the skills and knowledge that the children need to learn.
Science center materials & equipment - There are many everyday items as well as commercial science center materials and equipment that are available to teach children about science. Suggestions are listed in the three main science skill categories.
Kindergarten science fair projects - that match the kindergarten science learning outcomes are preferable. A project that represents mostly parent thinking, planning and presentation benefits the parent more than the child.
More kindergarten science fair ideas - Play with friction, air, plants, your dog and more.
Show & Tell - a springboard for science and math education - Use show and tell times to increase science and math concepts.
Light and color - teach science vocabulary such as opaque, transparent, translucent, reflection...
Winter science activities - observe the power of ice and learn about the properties of water
Apple Science - learn how tools help us and practice the skills of observation and data collection
