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I'm Colleen, and I teach preschool
in a Head Start classroom.
My assistant Kelly and I have 18 preschoolers,
ages three to five years old.
- Whoa!
- That is a lot of soil!
- Where do you think the buds are on the plant?
- Here.
- When my children are doing science, I can see them talking,
wondering and asking questions.
- Without soil it won't grow.
- All of this is called science talk.
- This looks like rain.
See?
Rain puddles.
- See, look.
They match.
- Oh, that's a great observation, Adriel.
Well, in here we have some beans.
I want to see how they grow.
Here's yours, Darlene.
We're investigating plants and seeds in lots of different ways.
Put it in your soil.
Both inside...
Oh, there's another dandelion!
And outside.
What do we need to add to our cup?
- Soil! - We need some soil.
- We started our exploration by planting soaked kidney beans
and grass seed in soil.
- What are we going to add to our plant next?
- Water!
- We got to put some water in our plant, okay.
I try to ask open-ended questions rather than
yes or no questions because it encourages them to really think
about what they are seeing and doing.
- All wet.
- It is all wet.
What do you think's happening to the bean?
- Growing, I think.
- Planting these beans and grass seed gives us lots to discuss,
observe and compare.
- Two. - Two?
- It's big grass.
- Soil is brown.
- Look at how much is growing.
- Yeah, I see a root, it's right there.
Oh, beans.
And look it, I see a skin.
- My bean is growing and growing.
- Are you guys ready to go outside to look at the plants?
- Yes. - All right.
During our plant unit, I try to use every opportunity
to encourage science talk and get our children making
observations about the plants and seeds in their environment.
How about we put one of the hula hoops right here?
We take time to study what's growing in a small area
marked by a hula hoop.
Use your observation skills to describe what you see.
- A dandelion.
- Oh, I see some dandelions.
- Everywhere.
- Do you see any that are the same?
Throughout our exploration, I model how to use science words
like bigger, smaller, observe and compare.
So Douglas, can you compare this leaf to the blade of grass?
- That it's green.
That's green and it has this thing, it's like spikes.
Oh yeah, and this one and this one compare because
this one is a circle and this one is a different shape.
- Oh, you're right.
We're going to go back to our classroom now.
Where do you think the seeds are in this cantaloupe?
- Inside here.
- We even look for seeds in our food.
- The seeds are inside.
- Inside?
- Seeds.
- Whoa!
- I told you!
- Were you right on your prediction, Douglas?
- Yeah, I said the seeds were in there.
- I'm going to give you each a strawberry.
You use your observation skills.
- I bet these are tiny seeds in there.
- Comparing seeds in fruit really gets them
using science talk.
- I see a seed.
- They are outside.
- Oh, the seeds for the strawberries are outside?
- Oh!
A star!
- What's inside the star?
- Apple seeds.
- Do you think a beanstalk will grow?
- No, apples will grow.
- You think apples and an apple tree?
They've been building their understanding
of seeds and plants and using great science talk with me
and with each other.
- See, I saw seeds in here.