3.00 Credits
Teaching Science in Early Childhood is designed to prepare teacher candidates with a background for teaching science in the primary level classrooms using inquiry centered, hands-on, "minds-on" approach. The connection between inquiry and science content is stressed throughout the course. The course is designed to build content knowledge, pedagogical knowledge, assessment, and connections to other disciplines in the classroom. The course utilizes exemplary science programs grounded in research. Teacher candidates will utilize science tools, materials, media, and technological resources to engage students in the learning of science content. The course models current research that focuses on student achievement and the role of the teacher in the classroom. The course will focus on the planning of inquiry-based science programs, actions taken to guide and facilitate student learning, the assessments made of teaching and student learning, the development of environments that enable to learn science, the creation of communities of science learners, and the planning and development of the school science program.