Kindergarten years are among the most valuable for children. This is when they start understanding their world by critically analysing what happens around them. They also begin to develop their interests, explore their talents and find out what they would like to pursue in future years.
Kindergarten teachers incorporate science and nature lessons in the classroom in many different ways. Some bring in plants and let children explore them, while others design experiments that are fun and engaging. Understanding the different ways nature is explored in the classroom can help you further nurture the talent and interests of your kindergartener.
Exploring plants and animals
Plant nature is always an area of interest among children. One simple way that kindergarteners explore plants is by watching beans germinate. They may start by observing a bean seed, touching it and drawing it. The class then plants a few seeds and watch it grow over the course of several days. In this way, children begin understanding the process of plant growth and conditions that are favourable for plant development. Similarly, children may read books about trees in the classroom and then observe these trees in real life — either in or around the school.
Activities for a rainy day
Weather patterns such as rainfall can also serve as an excellent nature lesson for kids. During a rainy day, kindergarten teachers may toss away the books and make things more practical. For example, water-based activities such as dissolving salt in a jar of water can serve as an excellent science lesson.
Some teachers also work with kids to experiment on how different materials react with water. This fun activity helps keep children calm and sparks their imagination further.
Exploring the sky, moon and stars
Astronomy is always exciting for kindergarteners. Teachers may bring a telescope and give kids turns in looking into the sky. Children can compare what they see to astronomy books or even draw their observations and share them with the class.
Another approach teachers use is to encourage children to look at constellations in the sky at night, and then share their observations with the class.
Physics
Science and nature classes would be incomplete without a touch of physics in the classroom. There are many ways of exploring the forces that act on objects every day. Kindergarten teachers use energy tubes, batteries in toys, Christmas lights and other simple devices to give kids a hands-on approach to physics and energy.
If you're choosing a nursery for the first time, then you won't have much experience of choosing a child care centre yet. You know that you need to look around nurseries before you choose one. As you see centres, you'll get a feel for places and how they might suit your child.
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