“Current research indicates that young children have the capacity for constructing conceptual learning and the ability to use the practices of reasoning and inquiry (National Research Council (NRC) 2007, 2012). Many adults, including educators, tend to underestimate children’s capacity to learn science core ideas and practices in the early years and fail to provide the opportunities and experiences for them to foster science skills and build conceptual understanding (NRC 2007, p. vii).
The Design Your Own Domain provides opportunities to explore, experiment and study interrelated science units. Students will be introduced to and given many opportunities to practice the steps of the Scientific Method and Design Methods to learn about the world around them. There are four units: (1) Curiosity & Strategies – Why do we have all of these “things” around us where do they come from? The Scientific Method, Engineering Design Method & Science safety, (2) Matter & Measure – What are “things” made of? States of Matter, Experiment and measure (3) Sound & Light/Music & Art– Is sound a “thing” what is sound? – What is light? How do we see color? Explore, Experiment, design and make. (4) Motion & Force - The Way Things Move – Why and how do “things” move? - Explore, test, and measure and make. Students will apply their experiences and ideas toward individual, or class projects and ideas.