DEVELOPING SCIENCE AND LANGUAGE TOGETHER THROUGH EXPLORATORY PLAY

In this clip the teacher uses a story (A Seed in Need) to follow up the exploratory free play which preceded it. The teacher gives time for the children to respond to questions and allows several answers. This not only values individual contributions but enables the teacher to make connections and reinforce and develop vocabulary specific to the topic. Prior learning is evident as the teacher accepts the ideas "water" and "rain" from individuals.

Note towards the end of the clip a child states that some plants live all through the winter and the teacher allows time to elaborate on this comment. Although this is an interruption to the story the teacher values the child’s contribution and uses it to extend their scientific language to learn about the word "evergreen".