Teaching Science and Technology in the Early Years (3-7) celebrates young children's amazing capabilities as scientists, designers and technologists. Research-based yet practical and accessible, it demonstrates how scientific designing and making activities are natural to young children.

List of figures, tables and learning stories List of contributors Acknowledgements Part One: The principles of teaching science and technology in Early Years settings 1.Introduction 2.Young children as scientists, designers and technologists - theories of learning 3.Talk, narrative and sustained shared thinking 4.Outdoor learning in science and technology 5.Assessing and documenting children's learning 6.Planning for science and technology in the Early Years setting Part Two: Guidance on teaching thematic science and technology topics 7.Sowing the seeds - a thematic approach to plant life in Early Years education 8.A thematic approach to humans and animals in Early Years education 9.A thematic approach to everyday materials in Early Years practice 10.A thematic approach to changing materials in Early Years settings 11.A thematic approach to forces, magnets and electricity in Early Years settings 12.A thematic approach to sound, light and space in Early Years settings 13.Moving on - transitions in Early Years science and technology References Index