Science Education for Young Children: Development and Trial of Lessons on Materials and Buoyancy

Abstract

As far as we know, much Japanese science education for young children involves the biology of natural experiences and observation, but little content from physics and chemistry. However, foreign countries report systematic lessons in the latter fields. However, directly importing lessons and presenting them in Japanese elementary and lower secondary schools is difficult. Therefore, we created a science education program with the following two features: (1) Substances, objects, and phenomena closed to Japanese children are included and (2) lessons are suitable for presentation at a nursery school, kindergarten, and science museum. Specifically, we developed an experimental classroom on “materials and buoyancy” in physics and presented its lessons in a nursery school, kindergarten, and science museum. An assessment of its value was also performed.