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Wilderness Times | Winter 2021
FACULTY IN FOCUS
EARLY LEARNING The Importance of Science in the Early Years
We believe that science is an essential subject in early childhood, not only for developing scientific knowledge and inquiry skills but also because it provides a rich context for cultivating other valuable skills. In our Early Learning Centre (ELC), science is a critical component of our curriculum, and our work has been guided by Belonging, Being and Becoming – The Early Years Learning Framework for Australia and the National Quality Standard. From the very beginning of their early learning experience, our girls discover how to care for chickens. They observe the hatching of the eggs, chart their growth and development and support the educators to care for them. In providing food scraps for the chickens, the girls also learn about sustainable practices and by collecting
the eggs, they develop an appreciation for where our food comes from. As with all learning in our ELC, it is navigated by the girls’ natural curiosity and in this case, also by our chickens. When Nali (our chicken) sustained a leg injury and visited the vet, the girls took great interest in her care. Consequently, the cubby house transformed into a vet clinic, and all aspects of operating a vet were explored through play, thus providing a rich context for further learning. In this project of scientific inquiry, the girls made important connections and careful observations. They wondered, questioned, researched, developed explanations and worked collaboratively. In Term 2, the girls became engaged in observing and learning about the magical life cycle of a butterfly.
This project provided an excellent opportunity for children to become confident and involved learners by reading about butterflies, mathematically sorting pictures to create life cycles and creating wonderful works of art. This learning also took an exciting turn when ‘Sparkles’ refused to fly away, requiring the girls to create a sugar syrup solution and temporary home to help him ‘pump up his wings’ before taking off. Both projects have certainly provided the children with an opportunity to connect with their world, and this has extended into the Annie House. The National Quality Standard, which sets a high benchmark for early childhood education and care, rightly calls upon all early childhood centres to care for the environment and support children to become environmentally responsible.
