Supporting Family Talk and Practice Around Science for Young Children

Session Type: Symposium

Abstract

While most efforts toward improving and studying science education focus on middle and high school, research is accumulating to indicate the importance of inquiry science for early elementary grades in establishing interest and achievement in science later on (Pratt, 2007). To that end, an NSF-funded Math and Science Partnership developed programming to transform PK-3 science teaching through a complementary learning framework. In this session, we present papers that discuss informal education aspects of these efforts. Two focus on the design and research of program events held at local informal science education centers. The remaining two focus on the design and use of extracurricular “family packs” which were sent home to students in the classrooms of teachers participating in the program.

Sub Unit

• SIG-Family, School, Community Partnerships

Chair

• Susanna E. Hapgood, University of Toledo

Papers

• Taking a Layered Approach: Design Principles for STEM Materials and Facilitation Within Informal Learning Environments - Susanna E. Hapgood, University of Toledo; Lacey Jean Strickler Eppard, University of Toledo; Eugenia Johnson-Whitt, University of Toledo

• Family Practices Around Science at Community Science Events - Nicole Tuttle, University of Toledo; Amanda Gilbert, Association of American Medical Colleges; Susanna E. Hapgood, University of Toledo

• A Detailed Analysis of Family Utilization of Science Activity Packs - Lacey Jean Strickler Eppard, University of Toledo; Charlene M. Czerniak, University of Toledo

• Integrating Math Standards Into Science Family Packs - Meredith Lynne Reinhart, University of Toledo; Debra Bloomquist, University of Toledo; Winnifred Namatovu, University of Toledo

Discussant

• Maria Varelas, University of Illinois at Chicago