Ideas Page:
Early Years Science
Looking for ideas on how to use your new 'Early Years Science' equipment? You're in the right place!
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Please note that these are all links to external websites and organisations. While we endeavour to keep the information here up-to-date and relevant, the Edina Trust is not responsible for the content, reliability, or accessibility of other websites and services.
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If you have any comments or suggestions, please contact us.
The PSTT offers a selection of activity examples for early years (age 3-5) Sort by the topic "Animals" for your caterpillar and butterfly resources, or "Forces" for your gears and truck resources.
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We recommend checking out:
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The Very Hungry Caterpillar
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Dinosaurs' Day Out
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Both of these provision maps are based around easy-to-read and enjoyable books. Other provision maps are available for more general topic areas such as Winter, Autumn Leaves, etc. Resources can also be filtered for Science Enquiry, Practical Science, and Outdoor Learning too.
NUSTEM have created a great list of suggested, adult-led and child-initiated activities for EYFS children. The resources are all part of their Play, Be, C initiative which looks at resources and activities around a STEM job.
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If you are looking for ideas for your magnetic resources, we suggest The Magnet Engineer. The activities and ideas are all linked to characteristics of effective learning, Early Learning Goals links, and include a progression document as well as a question prompt card based on "No-bot the Robot with No Bottom!". Activities include magnetic fishing, magnetic art, and the classic attract and repel activities. ​​
Other investigations on Play, Be, C we recommend with the Early Years Science resources are linked to Arborist, Civil Engineer, and Pharmacist, with accompanying linked books and activities.
TTS Blog
​​This super blog gives a range of quick ideas and suggestions for setting up a natural outdoor area to enable a real-life opportunity to use the magnifying glasses and magnifying sheets. Or, if your focus is specifically about connecting children with the natural world, this blog offers practical ways to inspire their curiosity.
Crest Awards
CREST AWARDS have recently adapted some of their STAR Awards to make them suitable for children from 3 years of age. Many of the activities will support the use of resources such as the magnifiers and butterfly garden, for the Animal Adventures and Plant Detectives. Other resources such as the jumbo test tubes, eye droppers, etc. can be used while investigating Sniffly Sneezes or Useless Umbrellas. These activities come with teacher demo videos as well as supporting slides that can be printed as cards, to prompt and support both adults and children carrying out the investigations.
These provide easy-to-run activities suitable for children from 4-6 years of age. They help children develop their understanding of the world around them. Resources are linked to areas within the Early Years Framework such as the natural world, themselves, materials, floating and sinking, and rolling cars down ramps. Each sheet contains key vocabulary, learning points, and activities using easily-obtainable resources, providing children with the stimulus to discuss and explore the world.
Where to find more ideas?
Explorify provides a range of stimulating starting point for exploring any aspect of science with Early Years children. By filtering for the 3-5 age range and the topic you want to explore, you can find many activities such as "Zoom In, Zoom Out", "Odd One Out" activities, and "What's Going On?" videos.
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An extension to the starting points on Explorify is a planning support document for early years practitioners.
