ECE 130 - Science for Early Childhood Education

3.0 Credits
Focuses on strengthening knowledge of life and physical sciences that build a foundation for young children’s understanding of science. Students actively learn strategies that encourage inquiry and problem-solving in teaching science at the early childhood level.
Course-level Learning Objectives (CLOs)
Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:

Document understanding of the role of science in everyday life for adults and young children.
Demonstrate how scientific communication and investigation presents information to increase young children’s understanding of scientific principles.
Demonstrate scientific methods of inquiry, observation, exploration, hypothesis, data collection and analysis.
Investigate and interpret foundational elements of life sciences that apply to young children’s learning.
Demonstrate beginning understanding of life processes of plants, animals and people and their interdependence.
Demonstrate foundational knowledge (appropriate for young children) of conditions that sustain life on earth, and include explanations of air, heat, water, food, protection, and gravity.
Demonstrate beginning knowledge (appropriate for adults and young children) of the spatial relationships that affect the sun, earth, and moon.
Investigate and interpret how natural and processed materials are used and ways that materials can change.
Demonstrate knowledge of similarities and differences between common sources of energy: electricity, heat, motion, sound, light, magnetism and chemistry.
Document a personal and professional perspective of the value of integrating of foundational knowledge of science into the practice of teaching young children.

Course Typically Offered
Spring