Preschool children are naturally curious and love to explore. They wonder how things work and why things happen. On the preschool level the foundations for scientific knowledge are laid out through inquiry and exploration. Westwood Integrated Preschool uses StemScopes-Early Explorer Curriculum.
Inquiry skills
- Ask and seek out answers about objects and events
- Make predictions about changes in materials or objects based on previous experience
- Use simple tools appropriately (e.g., magnifying glass, balance, scales, etc.)
- Record observations through simple means like drawings
Earth & Space Sciences
- Compare, contrast, and explore natural materials such as water, rocks, sand, dirt, shells, looking for living organisms, etc.
- Identify basic weather characteristics
- Explore sunlight and shadows
Life Sciences
- Observe and identify characteristics of living objects and compare them to non-living objects
- Observe and describe plants, insects, and animals as they go through predictable life cycles
Living Things & Their Environment
- Use sense of sight, hearing, touch, smell and taste, to better understand the environment
- Observe and describe seasonal changes in plants, animals and personal lives
- Observe and describe natural habitats
Physical Sciences
- Compare various objects (e.g., size, shape, color, weight, texture)
- Manipulate various textures such as sand, water, clay, or playdoh
- Demonstrate how various objects move
Technology & Engineering
- Use a variety of natural materials (e.g., wood, cotton, fur, stone, etc.)
- Demonstrate and explain the safe use of materials (e.g., glue, scissors, pencils, etc.)
- Explore and identify simple machines (e.g., manipulatives that move, using ramps for cars in the block center, etc.)
