EDUC 413 - Teaching Science in Early Childhood and Elementary Schools

(3 hours) Prerequisites: Admission to the Teacher Education Program; for Early Childhood: EDUC 332, 390, 391 and 423; for Elementary: EDUC 332, 391 and 423. Corequisites: For Early Childhood: EDUC 310, 412 and 420; For Elementary: EDUC 380, 412 and 421. This course promotes a practical “hands-on” learning approach for teaching science in the early childhood/elementary classroom. Emphasis is on direct and inquiry-oriented instructional methods for encouraging discovery learning, divergent thinking and creative problem-solving among early childhood and elementary students. Specific abilities and strategies are demonstrated by designing and implementing an inquiry based approach to the biological, geological, physical, and environmental sciences in the classroom. A clinical experience is required. A 10-hour practicum is required. Students are responsible for arranging their own transportation to designated or assigned sites. This course cannot be challenged. Note: Offered: Fall.