Behind the Science: Using Experiments to Teach Science Concepts

If you are employed in a state that uses a registry to track professional development hours, you will be able to provide your registry ID (Stars, MOPID, Registry or other ECE ID#) after you have completed the quiz for the course. If you pass the quiz we will report your course completion to the state registry using the registry ID that you provide.

Explore engaging, hands-on strategies for introducing scientific concepts to preschool and school-age children through fun, developmentally appropriate experiments. Designed for early childhood educators, this online, self-paced course demonstrates how to teach Newton’s Laws of Motion, density, mass, and simple physics using interactive activities that inspire curiosity, critical thinking, and scientific discovery. Participants will gain practical ideas for making complex science concepts meaningful, exciting, and accessible for young learners. Course length – 2.0 hours.

The course will help answer the following questions:

• Can children this young, learn Newton’s Laws of Motion?

• Can children understand density at this age?

• Is how much mass an object has related to how heavy it is?

• Are there animals that use catapult technology?

Participants who successfully complete this course will be able to:

• Explain the basic principles of Newton’s Laws of Motion and density using age-appropriate language with 90% accuracy on the course assessment.

• Identify at least five hands-on science experiments that demonstrate motion, force, mass, or density for preschool and school-age children.

• Differentiate between the concepts of mass and weight by correctly identifying examples with 80% accuracy.

• Describe at least three real-world examples, including examples from nature, that illustrate Newton’s Laws of Motion or catapult-like mechanisms.

• Develop a science activity plan that incorporates inquiry, prediction, observation, and discussion to help children explore motion or density concepts.