Young Investigators: The Project Approach in the Early Years

Young Investigators has been expanded to guide today’s teachers through the process of conducting meaningful investigations with young children. This fourth edition of the bestseller begins with a new chapter, “How Children Really Learn,” which summarizes insights from mind-brain education research, showing how experiences firmly rooted in children’s curiosity and interest build intellectual capacity. The book then introduces the Project Approach with step-by-step guidance for incorporating child initiation and direction into curriculum while simultaneously addressing content standards. A new focus on critical Teacher Decision Points uses fresh-from-the-classroom examples to show how teachers think through project work. Also, for this edition, the emphasis on STEM experiences has been expanded to include STEAM. This book makes project-based learning possible with younger children (toddlers through 2nd grade) who are not yet proficient in reading and writing, but capable of deep, focused thinking. Throughout, readers empathize with teachers’ concerns, witness how they find solutions to challenges, and feel the excitement of children during project work. Young Investigators is appropriate for teachers new to using the Project Approach, as well as for those who already have experience. Book Features: Examples of projects from child care centers and preschool, K–2, and special education classrooms. Instructions for incorporating standards and STEAM skills into project work. A variety of experiences to help children connect to the natural world. Toddler projects that reflect knowledge from recent mind-brain research. Tools for integrating required curriculum goals and for assessing achievement. A Teacher Project Planning Journal that leads teachers through the major decision points of project work. Full-color photographs of children engaged with projects. A study guide for pre- and inservice teachers (available at www.tcpress.com).

Table of Contents:
Contents Preface  xi Acknowledgments  xv Introduction: How Children Really Learn  1 Potatoes, Potatoes, Potatoes  1 Learning Is in the Brain  2 Connected Learning  3 Synaptic Junctions  5 Brain Structures  6 Pruning  8 Respecting Child Thinking  9 Play as Mental Development  10 Pillars of the Mind  11 Using What We Know  14 1.  Projects and Young Children  15 The Project Approach  16 Intellectual Competencies of the Early Years  22 More on Building Mind and Brain Capacity  23 Guiding Projects With Young Children  25 2.  Getting Started  29 Issues in Selecting Topics for Projects  29 Anticipatory Teacher Planning  38 Building Common Experiences  44 Finding Out What Children Already Know  45 Developing Questions for Investigation  48 Setting Up the Classroom for Investigation  48 The Next Phase  51 3.  Developing the Project  53 Beginning Phase II  53 Preparing for Investigation  56 Moving Into Investigation  62 4.  Investigation  63 Field-Site Visits  63 Debriefing  70 Moving Into Phase III  80 5.  Concluding the Project  81 Culminating the Project  81 The Power of Documentation  86 Types of Documentation  87 Using Materials and Equipment for Documentation  95 Distilling Documentation  96 Evaluating the Project  97 6.  Preschoolers Engaged and Learning  99 The Camera Project  99 Learning as a Journey  112 7.  Using the Project Approach With Toddlers  113 The Fire Hydrant Project  113 The Sign Project  122 Diverse Pathways to Rich Experiences  125 8.  How Projects Can Connect Children With Nature  127 Thinking About Children’s Contact With Nature  127 Finding a Project Topic on Nature  128 Overcoming Teachers’ Fears of Science  130 Investigating Nature  131 Sharing Nature Projects to Educate Others  134 The Canada Goose Project  135 9.  Project Investigations as STEAM Experiences  141 STEAM and the Project Approach  141 STEAM Disciplines  143 The Airplane Project  147 STEAM in the Airplane Project  150 10.  Responding to Challenges Teachers Face in Project Work  153 “Yes, But” Thinking  153 Focusing on Teacher Decision Points  156 Final Thoughts From the Authors  172 References  175 Index  181 About the Authors  190 Project Planning Journal