Effective Science Education for Young Children in Early Years Contexts
A special issue of Education Sciences (ISSN 2227-7102). This special issue belongs to the section "STEM Education".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 November 2025 | Viewed by 45
Special Issue Editors
Interests: reflection; ePortfolio; early childhood science and STEM; technology in early childhood; NAPLAN perspectives; documentation of learning
Interests: personal values (i.e., individual motivational goals) in adults and children; relationships between personal values and wellbeing (including self-esteem); relationships between personal values and social behaviours; best–worst methodology; teacher and pre-service teacher's personal values impact their teaching style, wellbeing and behaviour, and social and emotional development and learning; STEM in education
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Young children are innately curious about the world around them and learn through direct contact with their environment as they explore, test and question. In education settings, however, these opportunities for exploration and learning can sometimes be missed due to a multitude of reasons. In addition, when children commence formal schooling, the preferential focus given to literacy and numeracy means that science is not given due consideration in the weekly schedule of activities or lessons, despite the opportunities for the integration of these three (and more) content areas. When educators/teachers are cued in to notice opportunities regarding science, rich learning can occur for the children and those guiding the learning that exceeds expectations held by people about young learners and those set within the curriculum requirements.
This Special Issue of Education Sciences aims to showcase effective practices in engaging young children in science learning within formal and informal learning contexts and reports on research that enhances the knowledge, skills and confidence of pre- or in-service teachers and educators to engage in science with young learners.
The scope of this Special Issue includes, but is not limited to, the following:
- Educational effectiveness;
- Learning and teaching;
- Pedagogies;
- Teacher education;
- Testing and evaluation.
Suggested themes:
- Early childhood education
- Curriculum and instruction
- STEM education
Dr. Pauline Roberts
Dr. Patricia Collins
Guest Editors
Manuscript Submission Information
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Keywords
- early childhood science
- teacher confidence in science
- formal science
- informal science
- educator knowledge and skills
- young children and science
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