Developing Early Science Skills Outdoors

Developing Early Science Skills Outdoors provides practitioners with practical planning for how to develop and enhance the outdoor area to facilitate science learning. The activities throughout the book are low cost and easy to set up, aiming to reassure practitioners and give them confidence to plan more scientific learning experiences outdoors. This is further supported with planning guidance and resource ideas, as well as advice on observation and assessment, including suggestions for how to reduce the paperwork burden and a useful observation template. The book includes an introduction to each method, explaining why it is important and outlining the fundamental skills and concepts that underpin it; ideas for adult-led and adult-initiated activities that aim to develop children's early knowledge, skills and understanding; suggestions for how to enhance continuous outdoor provision so that it promotes the use of each method of scientific enquiry; pointers and tips about teaching science in the early years and ideas for how to involve parents and carers.