Enquiry and Creativity in Early Years and Primary Science

This half-day course for teachers, teaching assistants and subject coordinators provides an opportunity to explore practical approaches and curriculum materials designed to foster creative, inquiry-based approaches to science across the early years and primary phases of education.

The course aims to examine characteristics of creative, inquiry-based approaches to science education and their potential for promoting learning in the Foundation Stage and Primary Education.

It will identify ways in which practitioners can promote children's decision making and creativity in science, building on children's own ideas and questions.

Who this course is for

A wide range of professionals interested in science in the early years (children aged 3-8 years) for example: classroom practitioners, advisers, teacher educators, science subject leaders.

Course content

Participants will:

• examine characteristics of creative, inquiry-based approaches to science learning and teaching in early years and primary education
• consider ways in which practitioners can foster children's decision making and creativity and promote progression in learning building on children's own ideas and questions
• examine the roles of creativity and inquiry in meeting requirements for the Foundation Stage and Primary National Curriculum
• reflect on opportunities for fostering inquiry-based and creative approaches to science within their own classrooms and across the school.

Learning outcomes

The course will enable participants to:

• identify opportunities for creativity in science teaching and learning
• employ strategies that support the development of children's creativity in science
• build on children's capacities as young scientists and creative learners to promote progression
• reflect on opportunities and challenges in implementing creative, inquiry based approaches in their own settings.

Course structure

This practical workshop will build on material produced by the EU funded Creativity in Early Years Science Project. Participants will have opportunities to engage in practical activities and discuss examples from early years and primary classrooms to illustrate creative inquiry-based approaches to science learning and teaching.

There will be time for participants to share experiences and consider implications for practice in their varied contexts. Further information will be given about project resources to support professional development, either as an individual, or as part of programmes of initial and continuing teacher education.

Entry requirements and prerequisites

There are no specific entry requirements, however participants may wish to review the CEYS project website and the website for our previous research project Creative Little Scientists (CLS)  that provided the framework for the approaches and materials discussed during the course.

Here you can find an executive summary of key findings and recommendations for policy makers.

Certificates

You will receive a certificate of attendance for completing the course.

Fees

£90 per participant.

To express your interest in this course, please get in touch with the IOE Short Courses Team: ioe.shortcourses@ucl.ac.uk

Course Team

Dr Esmé Glauert

Esmé, a Senior Lecturer in Primary Education has wide experience of early years and primary science through her previous work as a primary teacher and LEA adviser, and her present role in teacher education and research at UCL Institute of Education.

She was involved in the CEYS project developing curriculum materials and training activities in collaboration with teachers and has been working with school science networks focused on fostering positive attitudes and investigative approaches to science learning.

Image

• Woodlywonderworks via Flickr (CC BY 2.0)