Early Years Science Education

Mike Watts is Professor of Education at Brunel University, London, UK. He conducts ‘naturalistic’ people-orientated research in learning and teaching in science education. He has conducted major studies in both formal and informal educational settings in the UK and abroad, and has published widely on teaching and learning through books, journal articles and numerous conference papers. His work relates to ‘Public understanding of science’, ‘Inclusion and science education’, ‘Family science and Intergenerational learning’; ‘Museum education and indigenous science’; among many other issues. He teaches at all levels within Brunel’s Department of Education and currently supervises 10 PhD students.Alison Silby lectures in Primary English Education and is Assistant Director of the Primary School Direct programme at the University of Reading, UK. Her work focuses on Initial Teacher Training at both undergraduate and postgraduate level, with a focus on the design and delivery of challenging degree programmes, as well as the recruitment and professional development of trainee teachers. She works in close partnership with a large number of schools to ensure that outstanding training is provided. Her specific research interests include the exploration of ways in which pupils engage with reading and writing across the primary curriculum, and she supervises a number of PhD and Ed.D. students.

• Introduction – Early years science education: a contemporary look 1. Substantive conceptual development in preschool science: contemporary issues and future directions 2. Ecological literacy – preparing children for the twenty-first century 3. Developing a framework of scientific enquiry in early childhood: an action research project to support staff development and improve science teaching 4. Inquiry-based learning: a framework for assessing science in the early years 5. Playful teaching work of school science teachers fundamental in a municipal school in Pernambuco, Brazil 6. Talking everyday science to very young children: a study involving parents and practitioners within an early childhood centre 7. Empowering teachers to teach science in the early years in Mauritius 8. But is it science? 9. An updated perspective on emergent science