Science learning in ECE 10 videos
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Playground Physics
When children play outdoors, they are doing more than developing their gross motor skills and self-confidence. They are also experimenting with the physics of their bodies on swings, seesaws, and jungle gyms. Brayden experiments with a board that tilts, depending on which side holds more of his weight. Brayden’s behavior…
Subjects: body
Ages: fours
Tags: child-object cause-effect invention movement environment outdoor play closed captions
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Shadow Play
Walter, Justin and Shea are exploring shadows with their teacher. Notice that the teacher begins by saying, “When I stand here, look! When I stand here my shadow is on the wall." Consider why the teacher may decide to use a scientific term to talk with the children about their…
Subjects: shadows
Ages: twos
Tags: teaching children-teacher cause-effect exploration environment closed captions
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Sink or Float Explained
What does a young child think it means to give a full explanation of a physical event, such as why a golf ball curves as it rolls toward the hole or why a piece of clay sinks in water? At first the child offers the effect as the reason. When…
Subjects: clay
Ages: fives
Tags: science sink float child-parent explanation closed captions communication
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What Makes these Stars on the Floor?
A faceted mirror ball sprays rays of light throughout the room, radiating outward from the ball, but only when the ball is placed in the path of sunlight coming through the window. Carter created this effect just before the clip began. The action picks up with Carter asking, “Where’d go?”…
Subjects: mirrors
Ages: twos
Tags: cause and effect teacher-child questions closed captions
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Girls Experiment with Mixing Colors Over a Light
Let’s listen to how three girls talk “science” as they use eyedroppers to create colored liquids. The close proximity of the girls, each with her own eyedropper, making new colors that are under-lit by the overhead projector – all of these factors support thinking out loud as they express their…
Subjects: paint
Ages: fours
Tags: experimentation science colors chidren-teacher closed captions
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Child as Teacher
Enjoy observing this wonderful role-reversal between teacher and child. At the water table, Chris has discovered how to use his hands to blow bubbles. Chris has a rich understanding of his newfound skill. Chris’ teacher encourages him to step into the role of instructor. She begins by imitating Chris’ manner…
Subjects: bubbles
Ages: fours
Tags: teaching child-teacher cause-effect force special education child_as_teacher closed captions
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Stacking Tires
Jensen marks the intended use of a heavy automobile tire. Knowing that she has to leave to get a tire to stand on, she leans the tire to be lifted against the existing stack. She rolls another tire close to the stack, and then begins to heft the waiting tire….
Subjects: tires
Ages: fives
Tags: child-object spatial relations invention goal marking outdoor play closed captions
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Learning to Talk about Goals and Strategies
Your first impression in watching this video clip of water play might be that the teacher asks the children many questions. But we must be careful to analyze the form of a conversation before discussing it. How often does the teacher ask the children to provide a strategy to solve…
Subjects: water
Ages: threes
Tags: problem solving science funnels children-teacher closed captions
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Damming Water in a Flume
Two children and a teacher play together at a long flume containing sand and gently running water. As if this flume were a riverbed, the teacher and children explore how the water pools or cascades when the river’s pathway is obstructed, freed, or channeled. Observe how the teacher wonders with…
Subjects: water
Ages: fours
Tags: teaching children-teacher cause-effect force exploration environment outdoor play closed captions
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Designing a Rich Problem Solving Setup
Henry and Caleb watch how feathers and fabric behave differently in two wind tubes made from fans and Plexiglas. The fan on the right pushes less air than the one on the left. This provocation has many variables that present opportunities for discovery. The technical skills required for experimenting are…
Subjects: wind
Ages: threes
Tags: child-object cause-effect exploration force environment science closed captions