Exploring the “S” in STEAM: Tips & Activities for Early Learning Classrooms

Young children are natural scientists. They express their inquisitiveness by asking lots of questions, experimenting with cause and effect, and exploring the world around them. These moments are the foundation of STEAM learning, a model of exploration that combines science, technology, engineering, art, and math. 

In this article, we explore the “S” in STEAM, which stands for science. You’ll find information about what science looks like in early learning classrooms, how it supports kindergarten readiness, and ideas for incorporating scientific learning with the little ones in your care.  

What Does Science Look Like in Early Childhood? 

In early childhood, science is about wonder and curiosity. An article from Head Start.gov notes, “Science is not just a body of knowledge—it’s a way of thinking and acting, a way of trying to discover the nature of things. Science learning at any age involves curiosity, exploration, and discovery…(Young children) explore physical, natural, and social science anywhere and everywhere. They observe, are curious, and investigate to find out more about their world. They gather information as they solve problems.” 

In early learning classrooms, exploring scientific concepts often looks like play, such as when little ones mix paint colors or compare the sizes of leaves in the yard. Through these experiences, children ask questions, test ideas, and form hypotheses, which are all important parts of scientific thinking. 

The National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) explains, “Curiosity motivates children to learn and try new things and is a fundamental scientific attitude. The most important thing adults can do to promote children’s science learning is to nurture their curiosity.” When educators embrace children’s innate sense of exploration, we can help to set children up for success in future academics and STEAM learning. 

How Scientific Exploration Supports Kindergarten-readiness

Science exploration during early childhood helps little ones develop tools for making sense of their world. Experience using these tools will equip them to approach challenges with confidence. When children explore scientific ideas through playful hands-on activities, they develop important cognitive and social-emotional skills, including…

• Foundational thinking skills. Science activities invite children to observe, compare, and make predictions. These experiences become building blocks for foundational cognitive skills, such as problem-solving, understanding cause-and-effect, and drawing conclusions. In this way, children’s natural curiosity supports new tools for thinking that will come in handy as they move into more complex academic subjects in elementary school.
• Language and vocabulary development. Participating in science activities introduces children to new concepts and vocabulary. A variety of new words and ideas, such as sink/float, solid/liquid, heavy/light, and smooth/rough, give children the ability to better describe and understand their observations. 
• Collaboration and other social skills. Many science experiences invite children to work together with their peers by sharing materials, exchanging ideas, and problem-solving together. These experiences create opportunities for little ones to practice important social skills such as conversation, communication, teamwork, collaboration, and empathy. 

Simple Strategies for Incorporating Science into ECE Classrooms

Science learning is most engaging when young children can explore scientific concepts through playful activities and everyday classroom routines that nurture curiosity and allow children to take the lead.

Introduce the Scientific Method during Everyday Play

An article from the National Center on Early Childhood Development, Teaching, and Learning provides a description of the scientific method. “The scientific method includes observing, forming questions, making predictions, designing and carrying out experiments, and discussing. Even infants and toddlers are using a basic form of the scientific method (or performing little experiments) as they explore and discover the world around them!” 

Educators can draw inspiration from the scientific method to support children’s curiosity and to help them begin to think like a scientist by…

1. Asking questions as children play to encourage wonder and curiosity: “What will happen if we…?” “Why do you think that fell down?” 
2. Encouraging children to form hypotheses: “Do you think this is going to float in the water?” “How many blocks do you think we can stack before they fall down?” 
3. Inviting children to make observations: “What do we see?” “What does this feel like in your hands? Is it rough or smooth?” “Which leaf is bigger?” “Does that flower have a smell?” 
4. Encouraging children to reflect and share results: “How did we make that work?” “What did you do differently that time?” “That was such a great idea! Do you think we could try it again?”

For more information about incorporating the scientific method into your early learning classroom, you might enjoy this G2K article from the archives. 

Incorporate Science Learning into Daily Routines

Science is all around us! We can help introduce science concepts during everyday play and conversations with the young children in our care.  

• Talk with children about the plants and wildlife in your yard to introduce simple concepts in biology related to plants, trees, bugs, birds, and other animals. You might even invite children to draw pictures of wildlife or to use binoculars or magnifying glasses to look more closely at individual examples of wildlife. These are great opportunities for children to practice observing the environment around them and to spark curiosity about nature! 
• When children are playing with a ball, toy car, or other item that rolls, ask them to think about what makes those items move, and what could cause them to move more quickly or slowly. You might show the children how to make a ramp with blocks, and watch together to observe how the ramp affects the speed of their ball or truck. This conversation about toys that move is a simple and engaging way to introduce basic concepts about physics and motion. 
• Observe the weather and talk with the children about how it changes each day. Invite children to notice the clouds in the sky, or to ask where the rain comes from and where it could have gone when the wet ground has dried. Or, invite children to think about why they can see stars at night but not during the day, and where the stars go when the sun comes up every morning. Children love to wonder about changes in their surroundings, and conversations that encourage them to wonder become opportunities to introduce basic concepts in more complex sciences, such as climatology and meteorology. 

Create Simple Science Experiments Using Everyday Materials

Science activities can be easy to set up by using everyday materials that you already have available in your classroom! 

Sink or Float Sorting: Fill a sensory table, a large plastic tub, or a large bowl with water. Set out a variety of items that you have on-hand such as buttons, popsicle sticks, twigs, leaves, ice cubes, bottle caps, plastic animals, or other household items. Invite children to predict whether each of these items will sink or float, and then help them test and sort their findings. Through this activity, little ones will learn about density, which is a foundational concept in physics, while also practicing observation and pattern-recognition. This printable from the University of Alaska museum has helpful tips for explaining density to young children and ideas for using this activity to expand learning. 

Shadow Play: Using flashlights, sunlight, or lamps, invite little ones to explore shadows and discover that shadows are created with light. Children can stand in the sun and use chalk to trace the shadows made by their bodies, or hold flashlights inside a darkened room and use their hands to make shadows. Encourage the children to notice the way the shadows change as the light moves! Through this simple activity, children get to learn about light, reflection, and cause and effect. This G2K article from the archives shares more fun ways to explore shadows with little ones. 

Read Science-themed Books

Ada Twist, Scientist

This popular children’s book, written by Andrea Beaty and illustrated by David Roberts, invites little ones to think like scientists, by asking why. The book celebrates the power of curiosity and perseverance, drawing inspiration from real-life makers and famous women in STEM, Ada Lovelace and Marie Curie. 

Find a free read-aloud version of this book on Youtube.

Dream Big, Little Scientists

This rhyming board book, written by Michelle Schaub and illustrated by Alice Potter, introduces eleven branches of science – from astronomy to physics to chemistry to geology. The picture book highlights famous scientists in the field and introduces some of the basic lab equipment that scientists use for their experiments. 

Find a free read-aloud version of this book on Youtube.

Cece Loves Science

This children’s book, written by Kimberly Derting and Shelli R. Johannes, with illustrations by Vashti Harrison, celebrates curiosity and encourages little ones to ask: Why? How? And What if? The book follows a young girl as she investigates, researches, and collects data for a class project. The story lends itself to conversations with young children about the scientific method. 

Find a free read-aloud version of this book on Youtube.

Helpful Resources

If you are looking for more inspiration and ideas for incorporating science into your early learning program, you might enjoy the following resources: 

• Early Science Matters, a website for early learning professionals to help foster the development of early science skills in children from birth through age five.
• Science Tip Sheet for ECE Professionals from Stanford’s FIND-PD Program, which explores effective teaching practices in science.
• Everyday Science for Preschoolers from PBS, a collection of short, child-friendly videos that builds on little ones’ natural sense of curiosity, wonder, and discovery to create an interest in science. 
• Good2Know Network’s STEM Learning section, a variety of free articles and activity ideas for early learning professionals to encourage toddlers and preschoolers to explore and experiment.